Master of the Senate：The Years of Lyndon Johnson, (Vintage)

Themostrivetingpoliticalbiographyofourtime,RobertA.Caro’slifeofLyndonB.Johnson,continues.MasteroftheSenatetakesJohnson’sstorythroughoneofitsmostremarkableperiods:histwelveyears,from1949through1960,intheUnitedStatesSenate.Oncethemostaugustandreveredbodyinpolitics,bythetimeJohnsonarrivedtheSenatehadbecomeaparodyofitselfandanobstaclethatfordecadeshadblockeddesperatelyneededliberallegislation.CaroshowshowJohnson’sbrilliance,charm,andruthlessnessenabledhimtobecometheyoungestandmostpowerfulMajorityLeaderinhistoryandhowheusedhisincomparablelegislativegenius--seducingbothNorthernliberalsandSouthernconservatives--topassthefirstCivilRightslegislationsinceReconstruction.Brilliantlyweavingrichdetailintoagrippingnarrative,CarogivesusbothagalvanizingportraitofJohnsonhimselfandadefinitiveandrevelatorystudyoftheworkingsoflegislativepower.