The Passage of Power: The Years of Lyndon Johnson

Transition. The latest installment of Robert Caro’s massive biography of Lyndon Johnson is titled The Passage of Power. The time period covered in this book is from 1958 to 1964, with the key action centered on the transition of the presidency to Johnson upon John F. Kennedy’s assassination. In many respects, this book presents Johnson at his best and Caro at his best. Caro explores Johnson’s hesitation to run for President in 1960, and the desolation he felt when he became a powerless Vice President. The enmity between Johnson and Robert Kennedy provides a backdrop that also sets the stage for the next book on Johnson’s presidency. Caro describes with cogent insight the effective transition of presidential power, and the masterful ways in which Johnson behaved in the first days, weeks and months following 11/22/63. Any reader interested in American politics will enjoy this finely written biography. Rating: Four-star (Highly Recommended) Click here to purchase The Passage of Power from amazon.com.