One sentence summary
The Passage of Power: The Years of Lyndon Johnson is a biography of Lyndon Johnson’s four years in office, focusing on his achievements and failures.
Book genre
Non-fiction
Main topic of the book
The book is a biography of the life and times of Lyndon Johnson, the 36th President of the United States, focusing on his four years in office.
Key Ideas
- The book offers a comprehensive look at Johnson’s personal and professional life, from his rise to power to the ultimate failure of his Presidency.
- The book examines Johnson’s achievements, including his efforts to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as well as his failures, such as his decision to escalate the Vietnam War.
- The book explains Johnson’s political strategies and illustrates how his actions shaped the modern U.S. political landscape.
Main Parts of the Book and a Short Summary
Part One: The Rise of Lyndon Johnson covers Johnson’s rise to power, including his roles in Congress, as Senate Majority Leader, as Vice President and as President.
Part Two: The Great Society covers Johnson’s legislative efforts, such as the passage of the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act.
Part Three: The Vietnam War traces Johnson’s refusal to commit to total victory in the war and eventual withdrawal.
Part Four: The Reversal of Fortune covers Johnson’s ultimate failure as President, including his decision not to seek a second term.
Key Takeaways
- The book provides an in-depth look at Lyndon Johnson’s life and Presidency, examining both his successes and failures.
- It explores how Johnson’s decisions and actions shaped the modern political landscape in the United States.
- The book provides valuable insight into the strategies and tactics employed by Johnson during his time in office.
Author’s Background and Qualifications
Robert A. Caro is a Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer and bestselling author. He is best known for his four-volume biography of Lyndon Johnson. He has also written acclaimed biographies of Robert Moses and New York’s Mayor Fiorello La Guardia.
Target Audience
The book is intended for anyone interested in Lyndon Johnson’s life and times, American history, and the politics of the era.
Publisher and first publication date
The book was published by Knopf in 2012.