What I learned about power from LBJ and Robert Moses
Dwarkesh Podcast

What I learned about power from LBJ and Robert Moses

B2Upper-intermediateOctober 29, 202624 min
  • Politics

I recently got to interview Robert Caro, who is my favorite author of all time. This gave me the excuse to reread his biographies of Lyndon Johnson and Robert Moses, and to compile my prep notes into this video essay. These guys pulled off some truly incredible schemes. Thanks to Max Farrens, who paired with me in writing the script for this video essay. If you just want to read the essay: https://www.dwarkesh.com/p/lessons-in-power This is a public episode. If you would like to d...

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of Lyndon Johnson, and he spent another seven years before that writing the biography of Robert

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B2 · Upper-intermediate

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So I recently interviewed Robert Carroll. He spent the last 50 years writing a four-volume biography of Lyndon Johnson, and he spent another seven years before that writing the biography of Robert Moses, who was a master builder of New York. His books are widely regarded as the best explorations of political power that have ever been written, and they also happen to be literally my favorite

0:21

books ever. Whenever I meet somebody new, one of the first questions that they often ask me is who's the person you most want to interview that you haven't yet. And for six years, I've answered that question in the same way. Robert Cara.

0:33

And I've actually spent a lot of time trying to make this interview happen. I've chased down his agent, I've called this publisher, I've contacted the museums which are hosting his archives, I've even sent him handwritten letters.

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