Rober Masses Essay Research Paper Review of

Rober Masses Essay, Research Paper

Review of The Power Broker By Robert Caro

Robert Moses was one of the most powerful and influential men in 20th century New

York. He held sway in both the City and State. From Mayors to Presidents were beholden

to him at one time or another. He could be magnanimous at one point and ruthless at

another. He started his career in government trying to end corruption and ended his

career with his own island, complete with a full-time captain and yacht all at tax-payer

expense. Moses eventually used his power without regard for the law or for what was

best for the public, and in the end it was this abuse of power that was his downfall.

Moses was born of well to do parents at the end of the ninetieth century. His

mother and grandmother were very assertive women, a trait that would be passed to

young Robert. He spent his early childhood in New Haven CT. where his father owned a

chain of very successful clothing stores. Despite this success his mother grew tired of

New Haven and made her husband sell the stores and move to Manhattan where her

family lived. This imposition of will on others without regard for them would be come a

prominent feature of Moses personality.

Young Robert was a very intelligent and athletic child. He was well liked by both

his teachers and fellow students. He had no difficulties in school and received high

grades. He was accepted to Yale University to be a member of the graduating class of

1909. After Yale he went on to Oxford and then to earn his Ph.D. It was at Yale that he

began to hone his skills for the power play.

After graduating he took a job as a reformer in New York where he was an

idealistic member of the Good Government movement. He was given posts of

responsibility by men who saw him as committed to the work of improving government.

These very men that gave him his first taste of power would latter come to regret the

nurturing that they had given him, because he would turn against them and the principles

they held.

His early career was marked by crusades to reform the graft, patronage and

general corruption of Tammany hall. He railed against what he saw was naked abuse by

those in power. He would latter amass such power that it would take the President of the

United States to stop only one of his abuses.

It is impossible to go into detail about the posts that Moses held, and how he

gained them and why they had as much power as they did. For the sake of this review let

us say that he was in a position to draft bills going to the legislature and he made sure

that they were favorable to any post that he might hold.

Because of his prowess at drafting bills he was able to put himself in a position to

build roads on Long Island. At the time the area was the domain of the landed gentry who

held vast estates. Through these estates the roads would have to be built and the land

condemned to the state. Here is an early example of how he abused his power to favor

those whom he like or cooperated with him, and destroy those who would not do as he

wished.

The planed route for one parkway went through the land of some powerful and

influential people. So in order to do what was politically expedient Moses changed the

route to move it away from the rich, and right through the land of the less influential. One

farmer in particular had the highway go directly through the middle of his farm. This

effectively destroyed his means of making a living at the same time saving a few hundred

feet of land for his more affluent neighbors.

One of the great things about this story is how the author weaves the history of

New York into the life of Moses. He was involved in most of the major events that

shaped the city and state. From the creation of Jones beach and the parkways that link

and transverse Long Island to the elections of New York s mayors and governors; to his

presidency of the 1964 world s fair.

The main theme of the book though is that of power and the lust for which can

corrupt a man. Starting out as an unpaid servant supported by his mother to having two

grand palaces one at Belmont Lake and another on Randall s Island. This book is also a

great study in personalities and how they react to one another. Moses has clashes with

every elected official that is in power during his reign (Even those not in power. He once

tried to physically strangle a man who had disagreed with him). The only man he has any

respect for is Al Smith. In Smith Moses finds a kindred sprit. They are both reformers

who want to help the city and state. Smith eventually loses power after his unsuccessful

bid for the presidency, but Moses remains loyal to him for the remainder of Smith s life;

the only loyalty he ever seems to have.

Moses family life is also an interesting study. His relationship with his mother

was very strong. He is quite devoted to her and in

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