Robert A. Caro: The Years of Lyndon Johnson IV: Passage of Power

[selenak]

Wherein Our Antihero finally reaches the White House, but as Vice President, is profoundly depressed by the experience and then experiences a classic reversal of fortune. I'm not just kidding or making Bryan Cranston jokes when I say the whole thing reminds me of Breaking Bad, season 4, because Walt there

Comments

[herself_nyc]

I didn't know a lot of details about JFK's pre-presidential life, and so was very impressed and moved by Caro's mini-bio of him. The things he did in WWII would be heroic even if done by a well man, but that he managed those actions as someone who perhaps was too delicate to be on active duty in the first place kind of blew my mind. It was an aspect of him I wasn't aware of, and cynical as I am about pols (and men in general!), I gained some serious respect for him through reading that.

[selenak]

I knew vaguely that the boat he'd been on got hit and he'd saved someone's life, but no more than that and no details, so I was impressed as well, especially since Caro makes it clear how constant his physical condition was. I mean, I wouldn't have wanted to be married to him for the world (all that cheating), but for that and also for not blowing the world up during the Cuba Missile Crisis, but keeping his head during intense pressure from almost everyone to act hawkishly, I respect him. (Can you imagine someone like Dubya with the finger on the red button during the Cuba Missile Crisis? Hello, World War III.

[herself_nyc]

Shit yes.

And I shared your bewilderment about Reagan.