Welcome to the book club everyone. Let’s use this thread to introduce ourselves. My name is Guan and I am a graduate student living in New York. I first read Master of the Senate years ago, then I read Path and Means later. I visited the LBJ Presidential Library and his ranch in January 2008.

My own exposure to Caro and LBJ began several years after Master was published, and I read the most positive treatment first. As I read reviews of Caro’s books, I am nonetheless surprised at the negative reaction from the circle surrounding LBJ, Lady Bird and the staff at the LBJ Library, and the general perception that Caro was overly critical of LBJ. It’s perfectly reasonable to see Means of Ascent and parts of The Path to Power as a portrayal of a flawed character, but rereading the introduction to Path, it is hard to see Robert Caro as anything but a deep admirer of Lyndon Baines Johnson. He is, after all, the biographer who wrote:

The story of Lyndon Johnson is the story of the great dams that tamed the rivers of the West, and turned their waters into electric power—for it was because of Lyndon Johnson that great dams were built in the Hill Country. And the story of Lyndon Johnson is the story of the electric wires … for it was Lyndon Johnson who brought those wires to the Hill Country.

…

What were the demands for railroad and bank regulation, for government loans, for public-works projects, but an expression of a belief that after man have banded together and formed a government, they have a right, when they are being crushed by conditions over which they have no control, to ask that government to extend a helping hand to them—if necessary, to fight for them, to be their champion?

They had asked too early, that was all.

Franklin Roosevelt wasn’t their President yet.

Lyndon Johnson wasn’t their Congressman.

Anyway, please leave a comment introducing yourself and perhaps include a few thoughts on Caro, LBJ, America in the 20th century, or why you are participating.