he said, don't compare me to lbj. lbj was a bullet. and harry reid was the opposite in many ways in leading the senate. he was masterful at finding out what made his colleagues tick and what they needed to get their support. whether it was for a piece of legislation or to keep him as leader for so many years. you may recall that he became leader after tom dashel's shocking loss in 2004, and there was a thought that maybe chris dodd or someone else would become the leader of the senate. but by the time the sun rose the next morning, reid had already secured the votes and dodd had privately surrendered that reid was going to become the next leader. he was -- he was, despite his public brusqueness and some of the controversial, even nasty comments he made about other officials, very, very skilled at getting to know people and having that ability to know what they wanted when he most needed it. it's a fascinating story, and one i hope i can do justice to in the book, chris. >> well, i'm looking forward to it, jon ralston. you can put it up

lbj was worried about the civic union. barack obama was worried about south korea and other emerging countries that were really getting more educated workers and so we said let's expand the number of people who are going to college and grad school. he recognized the were some problems with student loans. my checker in the book on barack obama it's interesting chapter but i try to maintain -- you recognize a lot of problems with lending and had a lot of ideas to fix some of the problems but he did really buy into this notion that college is this is t investment that everyone should take part in. inherently that would require an increase in student loans. so getting back to the great recession which lasted through 2009 but even after 2009 the unemployment rate even when we're technically recovering as in, the unemployment rate was very high and young people, people in their 20s, certain groups were really hit hard by this. so you had this boom in higher education enrollment which it wasn't mostly -- was because of what he sa

and i think that another thing that caro talks about is looking at lbj as kind of -- and look at moses as kind of a genius. it's a genius of people who can bend them to your will. they are oversized characters and i think that's true of charles koch, someone who came from the far fringe whose father had an fbi file because they were considered such kooks and through 40 years of effort has captured the republican party and the politics of the country. how do you do that is such a big question to me. and how do you bring that alive in a way that might both outrage people but continue to interest them. i have struggled with that and writing tough pieces about people. it's important, also, to confront them to the extent you can with anything negative you have. i guess it was seven interviews with moses unearthed the piece of information that shows that moses didn't just follow the engineers' plans for where the highway should go in the northern parkway. with a little side deal steered it away from the great estates of the richest people there and straight through somebody's farm that ruine

and the other thing that caro talks about is looking at lbj as an elegant moses and as a genius. for the people who can then history to their well. if you t like it or not they are such oversized characters and that is true. someone who came from the french of the john birch society whose father have the file and through 30 years of effort in many ways capture the republican party. how do you do that? at such a good question and how do you bring that along that with both outrage on —- outrage people but also interest them? so i have to say writing tough pieces about people it is important to confront them to the extent with anything negative that you have. i did seven interviews with moses and that piece of information that shows moses did not just follow the pledge for where the highway should go in the northern parkway in long island and then away from the greatest dates ofee the richest people and from their livelihood. and just following what the engineers say. that isn't true. so the minute that moses realizes the terrorist got the goods it is over. but you knew it was true.

lbj would say, as he did in selma, that the right to vote is not a northern right, not a southern rightoral right, it is absolutely wrong to deny your fellow americans the right to vote. you have got to create that public sentiment that will then argue in the state legislatures. some state legislatures have already expand the the vote. that's important to recognize, even as we recognize who suppressed it. it is the fight of our lifetime in my judgment. maybe lyndon johnson would bring the democrats into the white house until they figured out what they do with the filibuster so the right to vote and the for the people act get before the people. if it gets before the people in the congress, it will pass. >> let me take your point on educating the republic and ask you how we get younger voters to venerate democracy as us older folks do to care at the thought, the mere mention that it might go south. >> yeah, there was just a recent poll by the iop at harvard where younger voters are recognizing that democracy is in trouble. but there is a percentage of them who don't worry that that's a ma

the white house really, seriously thinks biden is fdr or lbj.hat is why the constant topspin and bullying in overdrive. when cnn poll says he is worse than jimmy carter. joining us tonight congressman jason smith, nicole malliotakis, fox news contributor deneen borelli, economic expert mitch roschelle, former deputy independent council so wisenberg, former nypd detective oscar odom, former white house national security advisor general keith kellogg and i.c.e. official tom homan. democrats blame the white house for the off the wall topspin that has them in a alternative bubble reality, blaming we saved christmas. the supply chain crisis didn't happen, shelveses are not empty. when looks like the soviet union circa 1972. covid lines are longer than the gas lines in the0's. new court finding by special counsel john durham in his probe of the botched trump russia investigation. l.a. county slams sheriff far left, soft on crime district tones living in a woke palace. the l.a. d.a. accused of dropping more than 12,000 criminal cases. the biden white h

now return finally to market is currently the director of the lbj library and museum in austin, texaste professor at the university of texas. he teaches on american international history and is the author among several books assuming the burden, europe and the american commitment to war in vietnam. also he is the author of a marvelous short history of the vietnam war which i use in my classes and i highly recommend to others. now is coming out with another book and finishing proofs and that look for it on shelves pretty soon entitled the end of ambition. the united states and the third world in the era of vietnam. and today he's going to tell us about presence of the arab vietnam one who has no reputational problems whatsoever, richard nixon. >> thank you will be very short talk. i would like to never hear me? i would like to start with a story that takes us into the arena of the nixon presidency that may not be terribly familiar. may not be one that springs to mind. the subject is the relationship between the united states and brazil the story begins on december 13 covid 1968. that w

and, i think another thing that carole talks about it animal, and lbj, and looking at moses, really, as a genius. a genius of people, who can bend history to there will. whether you like, it or you don't, they are such onerous characters ahead say the here, someone who came from the far fringe of the john berke society, whose father had an fbi file, because they were considered such coop, and who, through 40 years of effort, have an anyways, capture the, republican party in oh? how do you do that? how do you bring that alive in a way that might, also, both outrage people, but continue to interest them. so, i have struggled with it, it ready to feces a full. it's all important to confront them, to the extent to, can with anything negative you have. i admire he, actually, after seven interviews with moses, finally, unearth the path of a show that they were searching for. didn't just yeah. and then, with a little side deal, he steered it away from the greatest of the richest people, and straight to some of his phone. to me that we are just following what the engineer say. it wasn't true

were many sides of these people, and he think that another thing that caro talks about, looking at lbj and moses as kind of a genius. it's a genius of people who can bend people to their will. whether you like it or not. they're oversized characters. i have to say that interest charles as well. whose father had a fbi file they were considered such kooks and through 40 years of effort in many ways captured the republican party and the politics of the country. how do you do that is such a big question for me and how do you bring that alive in a way that's not going to, now, that might both outrage people can you continue to interest them and you know, so, i have struggled with that, i have to say, and in writing tough pieces about people. it's really important, also, to confront them to the extent that you can, from my negative that you have. and actually, after seven interviews with moses, and finally unearthed the piece of information that shows that moses didn't just follow the engineers plans where the highway should go in the northern parkway in long island, he would leave a little

. >> that's what's interesting about it because there would be generous intentions as you mentioned lbj at his own problems with student loans as and he was a teacher as well. he really cared about education getting to the rest t but at the same time the government didn't want tohave this debt on its books . they didn't want to for the true costs so what ended up happening, how do they get become a huge profit center for the private industry. >> so is it okay if i get out a little bit? >> okay, great. that's actually very true. your the what's interesting. the federal spending was rising quickly in the 60s. part of that was the vietnam war was happening another part of that was lyndon johnson as part of the great society program really expanded the role of congress in washington and all these facets of life.>> medicare, talking about the lawn. >> there's also the secondary primary secondary school bill that expanded the two schools. so there's a lot of stuff going on and wins injohnson, it's interesting erwhen you study the characters . it was this inpatient guy ever since it was in col

and finally, to mark lawrence, currently director of the lbj library and museum in austin, texas. he is an associate professor of history at the university of texas. he teaches on american and international history and is author among several books of "assuming the burden,," europe and american commitment to war in vietnam. and he's also the author of a marvelous short history of the vietnam war, which i use in my classes and i highly recommend to others. and now he's coming out with another book, just finishing the proofs on that. so look for it on your shelves soon. entitled "the end of ambition. the united states and the third world in the era of vietnam." and to today he's going to tell us about a president from era of vietnam, one who has no reputational problems whatsoever, richard nixon. >> thanks jeff. this will be a very short talk. you're right. i'd like to, umm, everybody can hear me -- yes. i'd like to start with a story that takes us into the arena of -- an arena of the nixon presidency that may not be terribly familiar. probably not one that immediately springs to mi

he mentioned lbj had nis own personal experience with students loans and he was a teacher as well, an educator. and he was concerned about education getting to the less served, but at the same time the government didn't want to have the debt on its books and what ended up happening, and how did it create the profit center for private industry? >> is it okay if i geek out a little bit? >> i want to geek out, so come on. >> that's actually true. so, here is what's interesting, federal spending was rising quickly in the 60's, part of that was the vietnam war was happening and another part of that was when the johnson's great society program expanded the role of congress and washington and the facets of life. >> talking about medicare, and talking about-- . well, there's that-- >> go on. >> there's also that secondary-- the primary and secondary school bill that expanded. so, yes, there was a lot of stuff going on and lyndon johnson, it's interesting when you study the characters, he was called an impatient guy and since he was in college he was always in a rush and so he really wanted to

as far as for lbj, i don't think he ever had good options.irst good option was probably to cut his losses and get out as soon as after he took office. he too, he felt he had an enormous amount to proof and didn't feel able to do that. maybe american foreign policy quite a few periods in history is that stuff has been done to serve domestic american political rather than in accordance with the best judgment of the president of the day. that's very often been the case but i don't think lbj ever had any good options in vietnam that probably the worst option is to escalate on the scale that he did. >> for the past 2 hours, we have been talking with best-selling author and military historian, former edtory in chief of the daily telegraph and the evening standard, max hastings. there's his website and his latest book operation pedestal as he noted he's working on a book on the cuban missile cries. crisis. we will look forward

lbj would contribute to that by saying as he did in selma with the joint session of congress speech ofte not a southern rights or states rights. it's absolutely wrong to deny your fellow americans the right to vote. you got to create the public sentiment. that's an important thing to recognize even as we recognize those who have suppressed it. it's the fight of our lifetime in my judgment. you have got to create public sentiment. not letting them come without sleeping until they figure out what to do with the filibuster. the right to vote and get before the people. if it gets before the people in congress it will passed. >> let me take your point on educating the republicans, ask you how we get younger voters as older folks do to care at the thought of mere mentioned that it may go south. >> there was a recent poll where younger voters are recognizing democracy are in trouble. a percentage of them don't worry that's a mark of america. somehow people who lived as we have through much more troubling times may recognize where we are right now and younger people have not experienced that.

. >> lbj had his own type of student loan and he was an educator. at the same time the government didn't want have this debt on its books. it created huge profit center for private industry. >> do you mind if i geek out a littleli bit? that's actually very true. federal spending was rising really quickly in the 60s. another part of that was lyndon johnson part of this great society program expanded the role of congress in washington and all these facets of life. >> there's the k-12 primary secondary that expanded aid. there was a lot of stuff going on in lyndon johnson he had these goals and he was always in a rush. he really wanted to solve inequality and address these pics aside a programs in the really big way again with good intentions. if you do it quickly problems start to come up.s anyway why did the banks get involved? the federal deficit was rising very quickly because of all this funding and so there was a concern as there has been over the past 20 or 30 years that the debt rises in there could be all these other things that happen will af

have fdr or lbj majorities. jimmy carter is synonym for haplessness you know with inflation. and i think afghanistan was particularly brutal because it's not a right or left thing. i think a lot of people just have the impression that the job is too big for joe biden. he is not up to it. >> mike: obviously the year ended on capitol hill not able to get the build back better act across the finish line. house speaker nancy pelosi says they are still going to try to get it done in 2022. let's play it. >> first and foremost, we will -- we will continue to fight to pass the legislation. this will happen, it must happen. we cannot walk away from this commitment. the build back better is about transforming our society. >> mike: mollie, do you sense they will get something done it will be drastically scaled back? >> there is always that risk they will pass something that they will be able to get joe manchin to sign on to something. but their best bet for their future political prospects is actually not to pass something

he said, no way, i don't like lbj. i don't like the way he treated people.ifferent kind of approach he took. he treated people well by making them promises, but also keeping his own promises. >> and you say that also extended to the people who worked for him in his office and particularly how he treated women. >> that was another area where he was so far ahead of his time. i just know because i have friends who, female friends, who worked for him for years and they stayed in his office largely because they liked their jobs, but they were able to stay even after having families because he really allowed for a family friendly office. when i talked to him in february of 2019, i asked him about that. >> i think what i did, i'm very satisfied, i feel really good about what i did with women in my office. before it was a thing to do, i started bringing women to my office and instructed my chief of staff, you tell them if they have a child, if they want to have a child, that's good for me and if that baby is stick, let them stay home. if the babysitter isn't availab

war was also ever-present in the johnson white house, especially as lbj wound down his time in officehope, thankfulness. it was president johnson's last christmas in this house. although mr. johnson like much of the nation suffered a bout with the flu, he was home from the hospital in time for the presents to be opened. all his family except his two sons-in-law were gathered about him. this year more so than in the press past was ending on a note of hope. by christmas, the astronauts were heading safely home. north korea has finally freed the crew members, and contingents had gathered in paris and the nation prospered as never before. president johnson shared the satisfaction of all americans in these blessings. but as always, his thoughts were on those who were far from home. standing vigilant on the freedoms we cherish. as he put it in his christmas message to servicemen around the world -- >> this christmas, the world is brightened when the hope of peace comes, when hope turns to substance, and the guns are quiet once again. it will come because you have pursued it with your courag

lbj's daughter, lucy johnson. >> it was a time where the nation was consumed with grief of losing a vital, very attractive and delightful president and his beautiful wife and precious children. so, not only did our family mourn, but the nation's family mourned, and then all of a sudden, on december 22nd, after a month of mourning, the veil came down. and christmas came up. the juxtaposition of the two, there really wasn't any interlude for everyday living. it was from pain and suffering that seemed to last forever to hope and promise and peace that was on the horizon. >> the news of the nation always breaks into the holidays. that was true for president jimmy carter, who remembered the hostages in iran at christmas. >> to see almost 4,000 lights explode on that 30-foot-high blue spruce is indeed a wonderment. this was the scene two christmases ago when president carter, his wife and daughter, did the lighting. so, when the crowd gathered on the ellipse last christmas, it was anticipating another spectacle. this was what happened in '79. >> i want to tell you what just happened. we will tu

but, only if it doesn't pull away from finishing that final volume of the lbj series. in all seriousness, i want to thank you for all you have done. to help expand our understanding of the past, the president, and leading to our ability to envision the possibility of the future. i wish you and your wife a wonderful celebration, and many more years of continued, good work. >> thank you, bill. thank you, louise. this is such a thrilling day for me. to have people, who i, so much, admire this morning, and talk about what is, potentially, perhaps, called my archive. bob woodward, douglas, bill, lisa, jane, brenda, if i said what i wanted to about each of you, i could use up the entire time they allotted me. so, i will just say, from the bottom of my heart, you have given me a day that i will never forget, and i think you for it. to have people i have so much admired, here, to talk about me, making this stay -- the only work that i can think of that is accurate, thrilling. today is thrilling, also, because it is in a way, an announcement that my papers are here. and, there

depth of engagement with ideas and when we are confused it's like reading the powerbroker and all the lbj books, there's real clarity in that much rigorous attention to detail and that much rigorous attention to the larger picture. and i think whether it's fiction or poetry or investigative journalism or something prescriptive, we need that kind of depth. >> that's wonderful. and i was thinking earlier, the earlier and it's poetry makes nothing happen but it survives. and i was thinking in that panel history makes nothing happen but it survives. but now given what i've heard here today and what the historical society is doing, i i have to say robert survives and makes something happens. so thank you all. >> up next from the robert caro symposium held in conjunction with the new york historical society's exhibition of his papers "turn every page inside the robert caro archive" it's the keynote address by the author himself. >> welcome again to the beautiful robert h. smith auditorium. whether you're joining us in person or via live stream, i've delighted to welcome another new york histori

instead he decided he was fbr or lbj reborn when he didn't have the mandates to do that.hat were they thinking. >> when we talk about the bills that were passed, the rescue bill put millions of dollars into families' pockets, $300 a month per child lifted over half this country in child poverty out of poverty and was a much needed lifeline for every single family in this pandemic. and i think that the polls at this juncture, almost 11 months away from an election, don't yet matter. i mean, you made it a point earlier. we have massive cause for optimism. the highest level of gdp growth we've seen in 40, 50 years, lowest level of unemployment we've seen since 1969. i think the future is very bright. and it's not just bright because of what the government's done. simultaneously it's bright because the private sector has been leading the way withs massive amounts of research and development and investment in this country. >> if i may, you talk about the fastest growth and lowest unemployment. unemployment isn't back to where it was before the pandemic. and secondly, we've see

and i can say that about some pretty gross things about presidents whether it's jfk and a staffer and lbjexposing himself. we focus on these negative attributes and then we throw out this agenda that helped as he yu say traffic the middle class i don't think that was a persuasive argument. >> it isn't that he lies that he tells the truth. [laughter] the word evil in referring to the deep state are there not instances of evil in their activities, for example this directive by the attorney general to call in the fbi to investigate parents who criticize critical race theory, good question. >> i think that is at the heart of what the radical socialism is. it's a feeling that they have such exalted in any means necessary can be justified to achieve them and i was a student. i got so sick i was at uc santa cruz. they would come into the class and throw the chairs over because they were trying to show that the art was colonial. across time and space that is deeply embedded in the left-wing mindset so they don't feel they have to be symmetrical. when he can't tell us he is had evidence of a consp

and i can say that about some pretty gross things about presidents whether it's jfk and a staffer and lbjexposing himself. we focus on these negative attributes and then we throw out this agenda that helped as he yu say traffic the middle class i don't think that was a persuasive argument. >> it isn't that he lies that he tells the truth. [laughter] the word evil in referring to the deep state are there not instances of evil in their activities, for example this directive by the attorney general to call in the fbi to investigate parents who criticize critical race theory, good question. >> i think that is at the heart of what the radical socialism is. it's a feeling that they have such exalted in any means necessary can be justified to achieve them and i was a student. i got so sick i was at uc santa cruz. they would come into the class and throw the chairs over because they were trying to show that the art was colonial. across time and space that is deeply embedded in the left-wing mindset so they don't feel they have to be symmetrical. when he can't tell us he is had evidence of a consp

what we have at lbj hospital in about what we do for the county. this is a reflection of all those that are present right now. >> your perspective as a pediatric oncologist. >> i think what i find myself thinking about over the last five years, as we were developing this whole new field of medicine was, access. access and equity goes so much hand-in-hand. and now we look at these therapies that we are talking about, being genetically engineered, they are being made appropriately. we feel so safe that we won't require it in many today in an open situation. between our first patient in 2012 and almost immediately we were able to secure dollars that allow for us to pay for travel and hotel rooms were patients will come to us. that doesn't believe a lot of the problems, but it prevents it from the only people in the upper income strata. this is going to be more and more of a problem. on one hand, i was incredibly excited to be part of the development process getting the first product to fda approval. but at that moment it became one of the highest sing

piece and then how you've written bob about the power and the presidents also, what is your reflection lbj in american history and what was the johnson's presidency and the perils of his presidency. >> is easier to describe the creation of the universe. and as robert caro's trump finding out because there are many times in many many of sort them out and up to date and what is the real, what you and i were talking the other day, you can ask the question of a historian or a journalist, how good is history. and the answer is often, said it's best when it is too late, the words out of the presidency, he is deceased and in this internet age, of impatience and speed, the gift ask the question of how good his history but when his history and when will you be available to people i think the sooner the better, no one can match robert caro this going back and back and refining his understandings. >> you thank you so the perfect combination for so many journals become a historian particular political reporters covering the presidents for a while but then they switch they start doing biographies and y

one of the things that is perfect about lbj and bob moses. most of the people trying to figure out how to be good. you can see in these brilliant men with energetic driven idealistic men how they misfire and get caught up and i think there is ability and i think were always looking, what we have to do with bob moses. i have no relationship to this person as a human and a black woman. it's just that were really different. i could see moments of myself and all of us can and said about moses. there is ambition and i think that is why storytelling is so important to a piece of text and if we don't acknowledge and to best understand and internalize and we have to have a way in and i think some of these extraordinary histories of things that are buried and we need to know them it's like 5000 pages of language that has no way in. it is a shame because the stuff we all need to know. i think that's why we have to pay attention and that's why all of bob's reading is important because it gives so many people away end. in familiar with his work and make

he imposed some of the programs of lbj. but he supported the equal rights act. he joined with moynihan to save social security from insoin sol solvency. the way you got to stay in washington was to bide your time, get re-elected, establish seniority, get choice committee assignments and get things done. today, it's easier and potentially quicker to keep your job. you say something provocative. you get on cable television. you act like a talk show host. why spend time to pass complex legislation, when you can be a social media bomb thriller. it's hard for me to imagine senator bob dole in the same building with lauren boglar. or paul gosar, who sweeted out an may video with him and. or marjorie taylor green he never would have been comfortable in that environment. however kevin mccarthy singled out five democrats. he summarized the conduct of ilhan omar, adam shift, eric swalwell, and ka heem jeffries. dole is so much of what is missing today. his life was a can vance, of a backdrop of what is wrong in washington. and we don't have to speculate that dole thought

president getting through the most massive healthcare change, you know, really since fdr was in or lbje had one of the most, she has really been the most effective speaker. i don't know if you can argue that, whether you are politically on her side or not. that's not even arguable. that's a really strong choice for you. remember the days we used to argue about policy, it was so normal. wasn't it fun? remember? the policy. >> i love the fact that you were so wrong. >> i wasn't so wrong, it was so wrong. i loved it, though. tiffany cross, after all that little referee with michael steel, remember how wrong he was on everything? who in your mind, tiffany cross, tiffany d. cross, who won the year? >> funny. i have to say so much of what we talk about comes from reporters, particularly print reporters. so i have to say print reporters won the year. you know, those are the people who go and pour through thousands of pages of mon not us the government documents, they cultivate sources. they spend months what we talk about in minutes. and we wouldn't know a lot of things we do were it not for

. >> when you look at his achievements, what's your reflection on lbj in american history? what was the positives of johnson's presidency and the perils? >> easier to describe the creation of the universe. >> yes. >> as caro is finding out. there's many highs and many lows. you have to sort them out and you have to dig. you and i were talking the other day when you have tow ask the question as a historian or a journalist. how good is history and the answer is often it's at its best when it's too late. ords, johnson's gone. he's out of the presidency. he's deceased and in this internet age of impatience and speed, i think you have to ask the question not how good is history but when is history. when is it going to be available to people and i think the sooner, the better. at the same time no one can match caro of going back and back and refining his understanding. >> they switch and start doing biographies. you've stayed with journalism. you haven't made that move. high have you stayed as a reporter and maybe not go back and write a book on eisenhower or something? >> becaus

incentivize banks to make home loans to households and so there wasus already this existing modeling and lbj wanted to basically adopt that model in pursuit of lending. what ended up happening in the name of reducing federal lending, he and congress increased federal spending because in order to get the banks to make loans for students, not only did he have to say they would cover the loss whenever they failed to repay but congress actually had to guarantee the bank's a profit. so it was like a double edged sword not only are you agreeing to cover the losses but it goes beyond that to say we will pay you for the student loan you hold. it ends up becoming an expensive burden that when you are passing the budget each year, it looks yelike a smaller hit because all the subsidies have the potential losses those don't show up all at once so it looked cheaper in the short run but created policies. >> first of all, let me just say can i step back and talk about what ended up happening is the government said we will ensure all of these loans. congress set the interest rate at which student loans wou

. >> missy asks, do you have any stories about the johnson years in camp david, lbj? >> chuck howe, age 95, lives in coronado, california, where i am today. chuck and his family joan and four kids were there from kennedy to johnson years. in the book it talks about johnson being particularly persnickety about absolutely scalding hot water in the shower and how chuck and the crew worked endlessly to try to make it hotter than possible, and how to deal with the air-conditioning and all those little things that many of us fight in our own homes. chuck talks about that transition from kennedy reacting to the assassination, the change of the administration, and then bringing president johnson and his family into camp. >> brant asks, has president biden visited camp david, do you know? >> he's been there eight times so far. he leave moz weekends if you've read in the paper recently, he goes to delaware, rehoboth beach. he's been to camp david eight times. he was also there a number of times as vice president. >> tiffany asks has camp david ever been damaged by bad weather?

and how you have written about power in the presidents as well and what is your reflection it around lbj in american history, was the positives of johnson's presidency and the perils of his presidency. >> is easier to describe the creation of the universe. [laughter] and as robert caro is funny becauseec there are many highs d many lows and you have to sort them out and you have to dig. you and i, we were talking the other day about that you have ask the question it, is it historian or journalist and how good it is history and the answer is often it is at its best when it is too late, other words, johnson is gone and he is out of the presidency and he is deceased. in this internet age of impatience and speed, i think that you have to ask the question of how good is his three but when is it going to be available to people and i think the sooner the better. at the same time, nobody can match robert caro with his going back and back and refining his understanding. >> two things a perfect combination, certain journalist become historians and particularly political reporters cover the preside

and i look at bob, on how you write about power, and presidents also, what is your reflection about lbj in american history? what are the positives of johnson's presidency, and the payrolls of his presidency? >> it is easier to describe the creation of the universe. as caro, is finding out, because there are many high, us and many lows, and you have to sort them out. you have to dig. what is real? you and i were talking the other day, you have to ask the question, as a historian, or a journalist, how good is history? the answer, often, is it is at its best when it is too late. in other words, johnson is gone, he is out of the presidency, he is deceased, and in this internet age of impatience, and speed, i think, you have to ask the question, not how good is history, but when's history? when will it be available to people? i think the sooner, the better. at the same time, no one can match caro, with just going back, and back, and refining his understanding. >> you think it is the perfect combination for so many journalists to become historians. particularly, political reporters, covering

so when you look at it the failure that manchin doesn't want to go back to fdr-like policies or lbj policiesments. handed people money freely to stay home instead of going to work. when he looks to west virginia for his political survival as well as economic survival, he sees this is not the survival of the country if they go down this progressive path. nicole: katie, media has certainly been attacking senator manchin but you wrote a piece "town hall" about killing of the build back better plan essentially saying good-bye to biden being the next fdr. tell us about that. katie: joe biden campaigned as a moderate. when he came into office to repay people on the left to bernie sanders who is now the senate budget committee chairman and aoc congresswoman in the house and part kristina of the d to put these proposals together which bernie sanders wrote. he would transform america, make history, and delusional, it was given margins they have, 50-50 senate. house is has so thin margin they haven't seen it since the 1hundreds. they tried to push it through anyway. joe manchin is the one democratic s

and that joe biden was going to pull off fdr-likor lbj-like legislation.nd i just don't think that was going to happen. especially after the government overextended itself in covid relief. and then he gets an infrastructure bill. i don't think the climate is right to get this build back better bill, all the pressure from the progressive left. now, to your question, yes, i suppose. i think the details are going to escape a lot of americans who are just looking up and saying, well, he didn't get it done. but, you know, do they fund fewer problems for longer, do they bring down the price tag? it's very difficult to follow the ins and outs of this as we go forward. and to go from something really big to something more scaled down, i don't think that is a good look for the white house. i will point out this. this has been complicated by the nature of a 50/50 senate. again, somebody like a joe manchin, who has been empowered the way he has, it's not clear to me. we know what the politics of west virginia are. this is legislation that could have done a lot of goo

he hoopposed many of the great society programs of lbj and supported the civil rights act of 1964 and the voting rights act of 1965. he joined forces with democratic senator, daniel patrick moynihan in 1983 to save social security and it was dole who handed reagan a veto proof votes to make martin luther king day a national holiday. your time was to bide your team, get choice kmcommittee assignmes and get things done. today it's easier and potentially quicker to get your job. get on cable television, become a fundraising magnet. in short, you act like a talk show host. why spend time trying to pass complex legislation, when you can be a verbal or social media bomb thrower? it's hard for me to imagine senator bob dole in the same capitol building with house member, who likened one of her colleagues on the other side of the aisle to terrorists or paul gosar, who tweeted an anime murder fantasy video that depicts him killing a congresswoman or marjorie taylor greene who relates wearing a mask to holocaust. and gop minority leader mccarthy singled out democrats and talked about their beha

so i will start with doctor sheena chestnut greitens who is an associate professor at the lbj school -- lbj school of public international public affairs at the university of texas-austin as well as faculty fellow with the climate center for national security and a distinguished scholar with international security and law. doctor grimes was an assistant professor of political science at university of missouri and i have here that codirector of the universities institute for korean studies but think it also founded the institute for korean studies at missouri. which is arguably more important than codirecting. and it also joining us actually from manila if i'm correct and are still in the philippine, andrew yeo, professor of politics and rectification study center at the catholic university of america in washington, washington, d.c. currently he's on leave in manila in the philippines, and as some of you or many of you may know he will also take up the reins as a new sk korea foundation chair in korean studies at the brookings institution center for east asia policy studies. so it's g