Power Revealed: The Early Lives of LBJ and Robert Moses

Both Lyndon B. Johnson and Robert Moses exhibited traits of ambition and control from a young age, which shaped their paths to power. LBJ displayed a penchant for domination in childhood games, often leaving when he felt he wasn't winning, while Moses's academic work foreshadowed his future ambitions. In analyzing their early years, it becomes clear how their personalities remained consistent throughout their lives, raising the question of whether power corrupts or simply reveals inherent characteristics. Robert Caro, the author of the books about these figures, proposes that power often uncovers what was already present, implying that observers might have been able to identify these traits had they taken the time to understand their histories.