Robert Caro discusses the fourth volume of his biography of former President Johnson, "The Years of Lyndon Johnson: The Passage of Power." The book covers 1958 until early 1964. Mr. Caro says that President Johnson sought the presidency, yet the nomination went to John F. Kennedy. He details Vice President Johnson’s poor treatment at the hands of Kennedy staff, and his acrimonious relationship with Robert F. Kennedy. He describes President Johnson’s leadership following President Kennedy’s assassination, and his skill at moving several major pieces of legislation through the House and Senate after he became president, which Mr. Caro suggests planted the seeds for President Johnson’s "War on Poverty" program.
Robert Caro was born and raised in New York City and graduated from Princeton University with a Bachelor of Science degree in English. He won Pulitzer Prizes for biography in 1975 and 2003, and has been researching Lyndon Johnson since 1977.