Charlie Rose Season 5 Episode 28 Charlie Rose - Robert Caro (May 28, 2012)

Charlie Rose - Robert Caro (May 28, 2012) episode is an intriguing conversation between the acclaimed American author and biographer, Robert Caro, and veteran journalist and talk show host, Charlie Rose. Caro is famous for his monumental biographies of powerful American figures such as Robert Moses and Lyndon B. Johnson, which have won numerous awards and accolades. In this episode, Caro talks about his writing process, his sources of inspiration, and the challenges of writing biographies of complex figures.

The show starts with Rose introducing Caro and highlighting some of his achievements. They then move on to a discussion about Caro's latest book, "The Passage of Power," which is the fourth volume of his biography of Lyndon B. Johnson. Caro explains why he chose to focus on Johnson and how he came to be interested in political power. He talks about the research he conducted for the book, including interviews with people who worked with Johnson and his extensive reading of government documents and personal papers.

Throughout the show, Caro touches on several themes that are central to his work, such as the nature of political power and how it is wielded, the importance of historical context and empathy in understanding people's motivations, and the role of politics in shaping society. He also shares anecdotes from his research, such as how he tracked down a former employee of Robert Moses who was living in obscurity to get his perspective on Moses' legacy.

Rose asks Caro about his writing process and how he manages to maintain such a high level of detail and clarity in his writing. Caro explains that he writes by hand, a method he developed early in his career, and that he often spends months or even years crafting a single chapter. He emphasizes the importance of editing and re-writing, saying that he sometimes goes through as many as fifty drafts before he is satisfied with a passage.

The conversation turns to Caro's earlier biography of Robert Moses, "The Power Broker," which is widely regarded as a masterpiece of American political biography. Caro reflects on the challenges of writing a biography of such a controversial and enigmatic figure, and how he endeavored to capture both the good and the bad aspects of Moses' legacy. He also talks about the lasting impact of the book, which has been credited with inspiring a new generation of urban planners and activists.

Toward the end of the show, Rose asks Caro about his future projects and whether he plans to write any more biographies. Caro reveals that he is currently working on the fifth and final volume of his Lyndon B. Johnson biography, which will cover Johnson's presidency and his retirement years. He also talks briefly about a proposed book on political power and how it has changed over the past century.

Overall, Charlie Rose - Robert Caro (May 28, 2012) is a fascinating and engaging conversation that offers a glimpse into the mind of one of America's most respected biographers. Caro's insights into the nature of political power and the importance of historical context are as relevant today as they were when he first started writing. For anyone interested in American history or political biography, this episode is well worth watching.