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Master of the Senate: The Years of Lyndon Johnson, Volume III (Part 3 of a 3-Part Recording) Audiobook
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Master of the Senate, Book Three of The Years of Lyndon Johnson, carries Johnson’s story through one of its most remarkable periods: his twelve years, from 1949 to 1960, in the United States Senate. At the heart of the book is its unprecedented revelation of how legislative power works in America, how the Senate works, and how Johnson, in his ascent to the presidency, mastered the Senate as no political leader before him had ever done. It was during these years that all Johnson’s experience—from his Texas Hill Country boyhood to his passionate representation in Congress of his hardscrabble constituents to his tireless construction of a political machine—came to fruition. Caro introduces the story with a dramatic account of the Senate itself: how Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, and John C. Calhoun had made it the center of governmental energy, the forum in which the great issues of the country were thrashed out. And how, by the time Johnson arrived, it had dwindled into a body that merely responded to executive initiatives, all but impervious to the forces of change. Caro anatomizes the genius for political strategy and tactics by which, in an institution that had made the seniority system all-powerful for a century and more, Johnson became Majority Leader after only a single term-the youngest and greatest Senate Leader in our history; how he manipulated the Senate’s hallowed rules and customs and the weaknesses and strengths of his colleagues to change the “unchangeable” Senate from a loose confederation of sovereign senators to a whirring legislative machine under his own iron-fisted control. Caro demonstrates how Johnson’s political genius enabled him to reconcile the unreconcilable: to retain the support of the southerners who controlled the Senate while earning the trust—or at least the cooperation—of the liberals, led by Paul Douglas and Hubert Humphrey, without whom he could not achieve his goal of winning the presidency. He shows the dark side of Johnson’s ambition: how he proved his loyalty to the great oil barons who had financed his rise to power by ruthlessly destroying the career of the New Dealer who was in charge of regulating them, Federal Power Commission Chairman Leland Olds. And we watch him achieve the impossible: convincing southerners that although he was firmly in their camp as the anointed successor to their leader, Richard Russell, it was essential that they allow him to make some progress toward civil rights. In a breathtaking tour de force, Caro details Johnson’s amazing triumph in maneuvering to passage the first civil rights legislation since 1875. Master of the Senate, told with an abundance of rich detail that could only have come from Caro’s peerless research, is both a galvanizing portrait of the man himself—the titan of Capital Hill, volcanic, mesmerizing—and a definitive and revelatory study of the workings and personal and legislative power.
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"I knew practically nothing about Lyndon Johnson when I started to read this. Other than knowing he was in office when the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed, and having a deep familiarity with the employment law aspects of that act, I knew little about him other than his "Great Society" legislation, and even that vaguely. This book chronicles, with great detail, his time in Congress, particularly that time he spent in the Senate. I am not certain I have ever taken so long to read a single book, but this was a very dense read. While Caro's political views become clear at various points throughout, I never felt he was saying things that were unjustified, in part due to the extremely thorough documentation. That being said, he made the story compelling and the people involved real. He avoided the twin traps of many biographies; he was neither apologist nor accuser. He sometimes ranged towards one side or the other, but overall I come away with the impression of a well-balanced view of an extraordinarily fascinating man."
— Denae (4 out of 5 stars)
Awards
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A #1 New York Times bestseller
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Winner of the 2002 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Biography
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A USA Today bestseller
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Winner of the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Biography/Autobiography
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A 2002 National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist
Master of the Senate Listener Reviews
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" One of the best books I have read...Robert Caro's research is impressive...he deserved the award... "
— Srinivas, 2/20/2014 -
" I read this book years ago....while I was reading all of Julia Alvarez books. Liked it then. Since it is this month's book club book, I listened to the Audible recording. Excellent. Each of the four Mirabel sisters had a different actress/reader reading her part. Julia Alvarez' family escaped from the Dominican Republic during the Trujillo regime. During the same time....the Mirabel sisters fought for democracy and lost their lives. This is a work of fiction based upon what the lives of these celebrated sisters may have been. It is historical fiction of this time in the Dominican Republic. Well worth reading. "
— Kathy, 2/14/2014 -
" Easily one of the finest books I have ever read. Looking forward very much to the final two volumes. "
— Spencer, 2/12/2014 -
" One of the best biographies I have ever read. A firmer editorial hand would have reduced the bulk of this monstrous volume. (We get it: Johnson's support for civil rights waxed and waned with what his ambition required at any given moment. Johnson liked poor people and minorities, but he loved power most of all.) The book is worth it for Caro's portrait of Richard Russell alone, not to mention sketches of dozens of minor characters. "
— Rick, 2/10/2014 -
" This is a good book to learn more about the people who were urder control by republican government. It is a good book. "
— Onyi, 2/7/2014 -
" Super worth the read to learn about the Mirabal sisters and the end of the Trujillo era. Tragic. "
— Julia, 2/4/2014 -
" Very long but worth it. Now I must wait until 2012 for the forth volume. This book would be a wonderful tool to use with students at the high school or college level. "
— Mary, 2/3/2014 -
" I enjoyed the history and I really liked the voices that Alvarez gave each sister. There is a certain power in having a voice and I think she really nails the dynamic of the power of giving someone a voice and making that voice so powerful that is sparks a revolution. It doesn't have to be a revolution on a large scale but maybe just a little one, one that inspires all those who read today to remember the past and the sacrifices made by the brave butterflies! "
— Annie, 2/3/2014 -
" Such a masterpiece. It teaches so much about the Senate and the legislative side of the civil rights struggle, and it does so in a way that never feels like work and is completely fascinating. "
— Cwelshhans, 1/27/2014 -
" The history and structure of the U.S. Senate alsone is worth the substantial commitment of tackling this tome. I found LBJ's horrible personality traits the hardest thing to push through in this classic of biography and political history. Also surprising was the extent of what looks like out and out, no sugar coating, fat envelopes of cash like a money laundering drug dealer corruption. This volume of Caro's treatise on LBJ may well be an indispensable part of the American nonfiction canon. "
— Geoff, 1/27/2014 -
" Caro has a style that's unlike any other nonfiction writer I've experienced, he has the dramatic turn of phrase of a novelist and the eye for detail of a documentary filmmaker. As good as the previous two books in this series are, this one has much greater nuance in its portrayal of Johnson. I can't wait for the planned fourth volume. The only better biography that comes close is The Power Broker, Caro's biography of Robert Moses. "
— Owen, 1/22/2014 -
" It's unbelievable that a book this long and containing large chunks of Congressional debate could be a page-turner, but it is. I finished the whole, heavy thing and felt as sad to be done and as desperate for another, please, as I did at the end of the Potter series. "
— Sarita, 1/19/2014 -
" Amazing. It's so sobering to have sat there reading the book and knowing that these sisters, families, all suffered and existed long before me. This book makes me nostalgic for a life I've never had. "
— Claudia, 1/16/2014 -
" Lamentably brief after the passage of the 1957 Civil Rights Act. "
— Ben, 1/15/2014 -
" The best of the series. "
— Jack, 1/13/2014 -
" If there is a better living biographer, I do not know who that would be. This tome on LBJ is lengthy, but riveting. The narrative is driving. The portrait rich and textured and nuanced. Caro is exhaustive in his research without there being a lot of extraneous information that does not add to the complexity and richness of the portrait. A phenomenal history of the Senate and LBJ and the Legislative process. "
— Joseph, 1/13/2014 -
" After the fascinating Means of Ascent, this book focuses on LBJ's years in the U.S. Senate, and the power he wielded. Quite fascinating, but being a serious work this book is very detailed. For the casual reader it's a bit too dense. For others it will be a treasure trove. It also depends on one's view of Robert Caro. "
— RJ, 1/12/2014 -
" "Master of the Senate: The Years of Lyndon Johnson, Vol. 3 by Robert A. Caro (2003)" "
— Joe, 1/11/2014 -
" This is the best book I've ever read about the inner workings of Congress. Reading this you realize it'll be a long time before someone like LBJ shows up in American politics. Read it if you are curious about the U.S. in the middle of the 20th century. "
— John, 1/11/2014 -
" I read this book for school sophomore year and really liked it. It was the only book I liked that year. I really liked learning about what the four sisters went through. It was a very insightful book and I really appreciated everything they went through for a cause they were passionate for. "
— Leah, 1/9/2014 -
" I have the attention span of a gnat, so I think this is why I could not enjoy this book. I liked the concept of this book and I loved "Yo!" by the same author. However, this book moved too slowly and too BEAUTIFULLY for me! And it was very confusing. Was not the right book for me. "
— Kirei, 1/5/2014 -
" Absolutely killer deep dive into legislative politics and political mastery with a huge and important historical context. Must read for anyone interested in politics or American history. "
— Stephen, 12/30/2013 -
" Interesting book. Although I wasn't sure what the facts of the story were until the epilogue at the end. Well written. The different viewpoints made the story more interesting. It was nice to have the whole story from the four sisters. "
— Kara, 12/29/2013 -
" Loved this book! After I went to the Dominican Republic this past summer, I was interested in learning more about the country. A good book on history, you will not be disappointed with the page-turning suspense. "
— Katee, 12/29/2013 -
" Caro is a brilliant biographer. Now that I am no longer in law school, I'd like to read more of his books. They are epic, however. "
— Misty, 12/28/2013 -
" Best book ever written on the US Senate "
— Timothy, 12/27/2013 -
" This is the best of the series so far. It's a thesis on the Senate as well as a great book about LBJ. Thi should be read by any student of politics or the US government. "
— Jeni, 12/24/2013 -
" Having read The Path to Power and Means of Ascent, I expected Master of the Senate to blow me away, and I was not disappointed. "
— Rachel, 12/20/2013 -
" This book had a great impact on me while I was growing up. It is the story about the Mirabal Sisters who fought against Rafael Trujillo's regime in the Dominican Republic. It inspired me to not be afraid to speak out and stand up for my rights. "
— Marisol, 12/18/2013 -
" Wow. This book was absolutely amazing and is one of the books that will change my life forever. It was beautiful, tragic, and inspiring. "
— Gaby, 11/24/2013 -
" fascinating, gripping, artfully and skillfully told. a tour de force of legislative process and a man's mastery of it, set in the historical context it should be set against. "
— Chris, 11/22/2013 -
" Absolutely killer deep dive into legislative politics and political mastery with a huge and important historical context. Must read for anyone interested in politics or American history. "
— Stephen, 11/21/2013 -
" This is the very sad story of Las Mariposas, 4 sisters fighting in the resistance in the Dominican Republic. It tells the story from each sisters point of view and shows how each of them was brave in their own way. "
— Marisa, 10/24/2013 -
" Tragic story. Illuminating life under a dictatorship. "
— Valerie, 10/5/2013 -
" This is about sisters growing up in the Dominican Republic under the regime of the dictator Trujillo. Reading about what life is like living under a military regime in another country is always exciting. =) "
— Maria, 9/20/2013 -
" I think this book was great . I read it for spanish class and I would read it again . It captured my attention , to read about what happened to this girl and her family . I thought that back then there wasnt so much violence I was mistaken . "
— Alexandra, 9/7/2013 -
" Big and ponderus, I loved this book! It gave insights to the current political problems faced by Obama and a divided congress. I hightly recommend it to people who love politics and how things get done. "
— Roger, 8/27/2013 -
" Fantastic! Very well written, continues the narrative of the first two books. The last three hundred pages tell the civil rights saga of the late 1950's in such a compelling narrative I couldn't put it down. It stands to all it's accolades. "
— Jared, 6/29/2013 -
" Well-written story of LBJ's career, especially in the Senate. There is a lot to learn from this book. LBJ was in every sense a giant. "
— Mary, 6/24/2013 -
" Ahhh, so *this* is why people read the Caro. Even better than The Power Broker, and a welcome change from the first two rather lackluster books. Onwards to book 4! Excelsior! "
— Nick, 6/7/2013 -
" Brilliantly written. Robert Caro takes a potentially dry subject and brings him to life. "
— Norris, 4/22/2013 -
" muy buena historia del amor entre hermanas, la intriga y suspenso, y el amor entre la guerra pone al lector como si estuviera viviendo el mismo la ansiedad y coraje de los personajes..... "
— Rebeca, 3/11/2013 -
" It took me almost two years to read this book. It was very heavy and I developed tendinitis in my shoulder while reading it (caused by something else). LBJ is fascinating. "
— Kay, 2/20/2013 -
" A lengthy book no doubt but a fascinating subject. Hoping to read all four volumes and feel like I should get a masters in LBJ or something. Sometimes Caro goes into a little too much detail but overall a terrific read. "
— Ari, 2/12/2013 -
" I LOVED this book. It's one of the best I've read in a while. The author's ability to combine fact and fiction is amazing. And I learned so much about the Dominican Republic! The Mariposas will stay with me forever! "
— Charlotte, 12/9/2012 -
" Truly a masterpiece, although it took me a whole summer to read. "
— Russell, 11/27/2012 -
" Pulitzer Prize winning Cato may be the best non-fiction writer in the US "
— Jawkneeeye, 10/6/2012 -
" This was a great history of Lyndon Johnson as Senate leader focused on the period leading up to the Civil Rights Bill of 1957. I had never realized how he revolutionized the position of majority leader. "
— Jonathan, 8/20/2012 -
" Fascinating book about a complex politician. I couldn't put it down "
— Linda, 6/12/2012 -
" It's unbelievable that a book this long and containing large chunks of Congressional debate could be a page-turner, but it is. I finished the whole, heavy thing and felt as sad to be done and as desperate for another, please, as I did at the end of the Potter series. "
— Sarita, 5/13/2012 -
" 3.5 stars. Intriguing and moving story about four sisters (based loosely on fact) involved in the revolution against Trujillo. "
— Leslie, 3/13/2012 -
" My husband bought me this for my birthday in September. Reading this in parallel to the news today (bank bailout, election) is fascinating. Recommend so far!! "
— Kerry, 3/11/2012 -
" This is a very education of the Trujillista period...... "
— Jessy, 2/9/2012 -
" Love this book, love this author.....what a story... "
— Gayle, 1/8/2012 -
" Lyndon Johnson, though a Dixiecrat to his heart, was the President who most seriously supported social and economic equality for African-Americans during the 1960s. Why do we have such a love affair with the Kennedys? Read on.... "
— Marjorie.harris, 11/25/2011 -
" The first hundred pages explaining the institution of the United States Senate is something every American ought to read. The portrayal of Johnson the consummate legislative leader that he was is masterful and moving. "
— Alfred, 11/1/2011 -
" Interesting window into the world of politics and a master politician. I don't admire Johnson's character. "
— Anna, 8/17/2011 -
" Lyndon Johnson, though a Dixiecrat to his heart, was the President who most seriously supported social and economic equality for African-Americans during the 1960s. Why do we have such a love affair with the Kennedys? Read on.... "
— Marjorie.harris, 8/11/2011 -
" fascinating, gripping, artfully and skillfully told. a tour de force of legislative process and a man's mastery of it, set in the historical context it should be set against. "
— Chris, 7/31/2011 -
" A stirring journey of the Mirabel sisters of the Dominican Republic. Historical fiction at its finest. A frightening view into the lives of the people who lived under the dictatorship of Trujillo. "
— Lorna, 7/21/2011 -
" This novel gets 3 and a half stars from me. It is a fictionalised account of a true story of the Mirabel sisters fight against the tyrannical reign of Trujillo in the Dominican Republic. Sad and incredibly moving, I found this a lovely piece of writing. "
— Elizabeth, 7/14/2011 -
" This book is great, written in a diary format shows you life during a revolution. "
— Jenni, 7/7/2011 -
" The greatest part of the greatest biography of all time. Not just an in-depth look at Johnson, but at the institutions in which he worked and the characters who shaped him. After all, people do not exist in a vacuum and Caro understands this. "
— Evan, 3/21/2011 -
" The greatest part of the greatest biography of all time. Not just an in-depth look at Johnson, but at the institutions in which he worked and the characters who shaped him. After all, people do not exist in a vacuum and Caro understands this. "
— Evan, 3/21/2011 -
" The greatest part of the greatest biography of all time. Not just an in-depth look at Johnson, but at the institutions in which he worked and the characters who shaped him. After all, people do not exist in a vacuum and Caro understands this. "
— Evan, 3/21/2011 -
" So, you think LBJ was a bad president?? Maybe he was. But no doubt, he was the most influential Senator in history. No one before or since has run the Senate like the clock LBJ did. You want to understand Cloture and the history of Civil Rights legislation, read this book. "
— Joe, 2/21/2011 -
" So, you think LBJ was a bad president?? Maybe he was. But no doubt, he was the most influential Senator in history. No one before or since has run the Senate like the clock LBJ did. You want to understand Cloture and the history of Civil Rights legislation, read this book. "
— Joe, 2/21/2011 -
" So, you think LBJ was a bad president?? Maybe he was. But no doubt, he was the most influential Senator in history. No one before or since has run the Senate like the clock LBJ did. You want to understand Cloture and the history of Civil Rights legislation, read this book. "
— Joe, 2/21/2011 -
" This series completely changed my perception of LBJ. "
— Scot, 2/17/2011 -
" This series completely changed my perception of LBJ. "
— Scot, 2/17/2011 -
" This series completely changed my perception of LBJ. "
— Scot, 2/17/2011 -
" Exhausting and fantastic. What an accomplishment. "
— Michael, 1/29/2011 -
" Exhausting and fantastic. What an accomplishment. "
— Michael, 1/29/2011 -
" Exhausting and fantastic. What an accomplishment. "
— Michael, 1/29/2011 -
" Caro and McMurtry have recreate the image of the letters in Texas. Master of the Senate is long and dense and deeply satisfying. I especially liked the passages regarding Truman's firing of MacArthur, Russell Long, and the passing of the civil rights act. "
— Hock, 1/28/2011 -
" Caro and McMurtry have recreate the image of the letters in Texas. Master of the Senate is long and dense and deeply satisfying. I especially liked the passages regarding Truman's firing of MacArthur, Russell Long, and the passing of the civil rights act. "
— Hock, 1/28/2011 -
" Caro and McMurtry have recreate the image of the letters in Texas. Master of the Senate is long and dense and deeply satisfying. I especially liked the passages regarding Truman's firing of MacArthur, Russell Long, and the passing of the civil rights act. "
— Hock, 1/28/2011 -
" This is the only book in Robert Caro's four volume <u>Years of Lyndon Johnson</u> that I have read. It was engrossing and the best biography I have ever read. It helped me appreciate and fear the means some people go to to attain power. "
— Charlie, 12/11/2010 -
" This is the only book in Robert Caro's four volume <u>Years of Lyndon Johnson</u> that I have read. It was engrossing and the best biography I have ever read. It helped me appreciate and fear the means some people go to to attain power. "
— Charlie, 12/11/2010 -
" This is the only book in Robert Caro's four volume <u>Years of Lyndon Johnson</u> that I have read. It was engrossing and the best biography I have ever read. It helped me appreciate and fear the means some people go to to attain power. "
— Charlie, 12/11/2010 -
" The fourth volume of this series will be released in 2012, we are told. Can't wait. "
— Mary, 11/22/2010 -
" The fourth volume of this series will be released in 2012, we are told. Can't wait. "
— Mary, 11/22/2010 -
" The fourth volume of this series will be released in 2012, we are told. Can't wait. "
— Mary, 11/22/2010 -
" This volume is great biography, great history, presenting the villain as he inveigles national power. "
— Paul, 10/14/2010 -
" This volume is great biography, great history, presenting the villain as he inveigles national power. "
— Paul, 10/14/2010 -
" This volume is great biography, great history, presenting the villain as he inveigles national power. "
— Paul, 10/14/2010
About Robert A. Caro
Robert Allan Caro is an American journalist and author known for his celebrated biographies of United States political figures Robert Moses and Lyndon B. Johnson. His The Power Broker, a biography of New York urban planner Robert Moses, was chosen by the Modern Library as one of the hundred greatest nonfiction books of the twentieth century. For his biographies, he has won two Pulitzer Prizes in Biography, the National Book Award, the Francis Parkman Prize, two National Book Critics Circle Awards, the H. L. Mencken Award, the Carr P. Collins Award from the Texas Institute of Letters, the D. B. Hardeman Prize, and a Gold Medal in Biography from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
About Grover Gardner
Grover Gardner (a.k.a. Tom Parker) is an award-winning narrator with over a thousand titles to his credit. Named one of the “Best Voices of the Century” and a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine, he has won three prestigious Audie Awards, was chosen Narrator of the Year for 2005 by Publishers Weekly, and has earned more than thirty Earphones Awards.