Tom Atwell > Recent Status Updates

Chapter 1: building evolve as they age. 3 factors: technology, money, factor

Mason & Dixon reach Philadelphia (second only to London). Between the Transit of Venus and here, they went each to their respective homes? I had some trouble making sense of the chronology. Also some kind of controversy with their work and compensation. I don't really follow the politics either.

They survive the Cape and St. Helena. Now assigned to go to America. Mason's family is giving him a hard time.

Mason and Dixon meet in England for a scientific research trip. Survive a French naval assault in the Channel. End up in South Africa.

The fall of Moses. Double-crossed by Rockefeller.

Moses takes on Rockefeller, loses state positions. Heads World's Fair. And grossly mismanages budget.

The ugly repercussions of RM's housing programs: contagious slums.

Moses: champion of the automobile and auto industry

The autocratic advantages to large infrastructure projects. (Maybe any type of coordinated project.)

Moses and the Mayors. Amazing how much he was able to bully them. Well maybe not so much a surprise with Impy.

Moses consolidates power when Tammany regains Mayor's seat after LaGuardia gets ill and decides not to run again.

Moses consolidates his power and fully embraces the dark power of his Authority. The battle over the Battery Park Tunnel/Bridge starts.

If power is the dark side, what is the light side? Cooperation? Enlightened cooperation?

1930's. Moses amasses powers and starts tearing up neighborhoods to build highway. Powered by a vicious streak that drives him to humiliate others.

Moses appointed to new Secretary of State position. This is 1927 or so?

Starts cutting deals with tycoons on Long Island and bullying small farmers.

Caro gets a bit of power as parks commissioner and immediately begins abusing it. In his defense, he goes after rich Long Islanders hoarding park lands.

Business case for performance monitors. Profiling vs benchmarking.

After a progressive mayor gets elected in 1916 (?), Moses gets a job in City Hall and tries to force his civil service reforms on the city.

Young Robert Moses. Smart, willful grandmother and mother. Young progressive snob who fits right in at Oxford.

LBJ admin hosts first state BBQ for West German leader in Texas. It's a big success and helps distinguish his leadership style for JFK's.

LBJ takes over and starts to get JFK legislative agenda in order.

Kennedy is assassinated. (Caro doesn't think LBJ had anything to do with it.)

LBJ was very close to being dumped when he took over for Kennedy. The transition was its own complicated political problem that LBJ immediately got to work unwinding.

RFK: LBJ's nemesis.

RFK Jr: Sobriety's nemesis.

LBJ's puzzling '60 campaign and the confusing scrap over the VP offer.

LBJ gets the watered down 1957 Civil Rights bill through the Senate and into law. Outmaneuvers Nixon and the Republicans who were hoping to capitalize on Democratic obstruction to civil rights.

It's 1957 and Democrats need to do something about Civil Rights to hold on to Congress. LBJ is struggling to thread needle between liberals and Southern racists.

LBJ has a heart attack, comes back with "Plan with a Heart", then shamelessly gives the store away to Oil & Gas industry.