I am currently reading ' The Power Broker ', Robert Caro's nearly 1200 p Biography of Moses. What comes through crystal clear in this book is that Moses was an absolutely Ruthless, Remorseless, Amoral, Power-Hungry, Egomaniacal, Arrogant, SOB! What also comes through crystal clear is that Moses got results...
I experienced a family member, who frequently used vocabulary, like ‘results’, but also including ‘logic’... it’s remarkable to be on the receiving end of bullying.
@@firgasz2920 both seemed to crave power for its own sake, and were willing to be very.. ahem.. "practical" in how they went about amassing it. But at least the results of what Johnson did with it are a net positive (CRA, VRA, etc.) while the same can't really be said of Bob Moses, who basically doomed New York to dependence on automobiles, needlessly.
At least he got things done that have made people's lives better. What have you ever done behind your anonymous computer that has bettered people's lives? Nothing!
Currently going through The Power Broker and when they asked him that question I was mouthing "Al Smith" before 11:25 even came up. It was pretty exciting, tbh.
This interview was done in 1953 - right after Moses got through with destroying the Bronx by building the Cross-Bronx Expressway. A disaster of a highway if there ever was one. Only the Long Island Expressway is worse.
paktype You’re right! I know all about NYC highway. We used to drive around the Gowanus Expressway a few weeks ago and the Belt Parkway and it was one of the best highways that Robert Moses built. A lot of Robert Moses highways are cool from the Staten Island Expressway to the LIE. All highways has three lanes lacking the 4th lane. Both Florida and California has 4 or 5 lanes to reduce traffic. Three lanes in NYC are traffic nightmares.
Taxes, tolls, fees, permits, fines, EZ-pass, surcharges, registration fees, inspection fees, disposal fees, gasoline taxes, bridge tolls, license plate fees, parking tickets, parking meters...Robert Moses = a libertarian's nightmare. Never has the price of dystopian racist vision of the future cost us more than the one Robert Moses was allowed to realize.
The point behind The Power Broker was that while in the beginning, Moses built things solely for the benefit of the public, he later built things solely because being in charge of those projects gave him political power.
Did he though? I just started reading it and it’s clear that even from childhood Moses was descended from a line of elitist assholes who only cared about charity to improve their own image, or the image of their community. He never gave a damn about the benefit of the public.
he was firmly against rapid transit for a few reasons: -they did not supply his public authorities with any revenue (tolls on his bridges and highways did) -rapid transit was an affront to his idea of a road: dirty and cramped as opposed to clean and open and beautiful -he was a racist/classist who knew that rapid transit helps those at the bottom the most For a clear view of Robert Moses, read the Power Broker (as it seems many of these other commenters have). An excellent and comprehensive work.
Moses was an influencer agent for the auto-industry who expertly exploited New York City's socio-economic-politics to build his program and not that of trained planners and architects.
Interesting how crude the technical conditions are. Moses is constantly clearing his throat. Today he would have had people prepping him for the interview. And how frank he was with the money figures! How bold we were! This was before the whole country got sold on the idea of the government being the enemy, spending money always being the bugbear.
If you read his biography (as others here suggest elsewhere in the comments section), contrary to your assertion (supposition) re: money figures, you will see Robert Moses was actually quite deceptive and manipulative in his manner of planning, budgeting, communicating, and executing all of his various projects...
This Moses fellow accomplished quite a lot, as denoted in the "The Power Broker". Road building and public works were most pronounced and his greatest contributions. But his demeanor is a real negative attribute. Moses appears arrogant, condescending and disinterested during this program. I wonder why he agreed to participate at all.
I am currently reading ' The Power Broker ', Robert Caro's nearly 1200 p Biography of Moses.
What comes through crystal clear in this book is that Moses was an absolutely Ruthless, Remorseless, Amoral, Power-Hungry, Egomaniacal, Arrogant, SOB!
What also comes through crystal clear is that Moses got results...
Have you read Master of the Senate?
I experienced a family member, who frequently used vocabulary, like ‘results’, but also including ‘logic’... it’s remarkable to be on the receiving end of bullying.
@@y8r113 I had the same thought... Lyndon Johnson was far more worse than Robert Moses.
@@firgasz2920 both seemed to crave power for its own sake, and were willing to be very.. ahem.. "practical" in how they went about amassing it. But at least the results of what Johnson did with it are a net positive (CRA, VRA, etc.) while the same can't really be said of Bob Moses, who basically doomed New York to dependence on automobiles, needlessly.
At least he got things done that have made people's lives better. What have you ever done behind your anonymous computer that has bettered people's lives? Nothing!
Currently going through The Power Broker and when they asked him that question I was mouthing "Al Smith" before 11:25 even came up. It was pretty exciting, tbh.
I'm listening to The Powerbroker audiobook at work, but I've also long realized i need to sit down and get immersed in the book. Fantastic experience!
This interview was done in 1953 - right after Moses got through with destroying the Bronx by building the Cross-Bronx Expressway. A disaster of a highway if there ever was one. Only the Long Island Expressway is worse.
paktype You’re right! I know all about NYC highway. We used to drive around the Gowanus Expressway a few weeks ago and the Belt Parkway and it was one of the best highways that Robert Moses built. A lot of Robert Moses highways are cool from the Staten Island Expressway to the LIE. All highways has three lanes lacking the 4th lane. Both Florida and California has 4 or 5 lanes to reduce traffic. Three lanes in NYC are traffic nightmares.
Can you name viable alternatives?
@@mildredmcconnell4495 mass transit, like the sane world has built
A brilliant man
DJT wouldn’t have been worthy of shining this man’s shoes.
I like the younger interviewer, he is direct and investigative.
Edward Norton sent me here.
And Joe Rogan. And Ike... and the Freeway Act.
Taxes, tolls, fees, permits, fines, EZ-pass, surcharges, registration fees, inspection fees, disposal fees, gasoline taxes, bridge tolls, license plate fees, parking tickets, parking meters...Robert Moses = a libertarian's nightmare.
Never has the price of dystopian racist vision of the future cost us more than the one Robert Moses was allowed to realize.
The point behind The Power Broker was that while in the beginning, Moses built things solely for the benefit of the public, he later built things solely because being in charge of those projects gave him political power.
Did he though? I just started reading it and it’s clear that even from childhood Moses was descended from a line of elitist assholes who only cared about charity to improve their own image, or the image of their community. He never gave a damn about the benefit of the public.
@cywyhot The irony about Moses is that he never learned how to drive, though he was wealthy enough to have someone chauffeur him around.
His voice sounds exactly like I thought it would...
At 9:25, why doesn't he say subway lines? Was the Subway in Manhattan built by that time?
he was firmly against rapid transit for a few reasons:
-they did not supply his public authorities with any revenue (tolls on his bridges and highways did)
-rapid transit was an affront to his idea of a road: dirty and cramped as opposed to clean and open and beautiful
-he was a racist/classist who knew that rapid transit helps those at the bottom the most
For a clear view of Robert Moses, read the Power Broker (as it seems many of these other commenters have). An excellent and comprehensive work.
A very educational film! About that man who helped build most of New York...
ROBERT MOSES!!!
YOU MEAN TEAR IT DOWN?
DJT wouldn’t even be qualified to shine this man’s shoes.
Moses was an influencer agent for the auto-industry who expertly exploited New York City's socio-economic-politics to build his program and not that of trained planners and architects.
can i use this footage in a video im creating
If it's for educational purposes only, then probably. Check TH-cam legal section and related material.
I think that Moses didn't exactly understand urban sprawl ...
He understood it very well, and made a lot of money from creating it.
Quite the opposite. He invented it.
To bad about Penn Station...
That was actually the railroad that demolished Penn Station. They were running out of money, and sold the rights to build there.
Interesting how crude the technical conditions are. Moses is constantly clearing his throat. Today he would have had people prepping him for the interview.
And how frank he was with the money figures! How bold we were! This was before the whole country got sold on the idea of the government being the enemy, spending money always being the bugbear.
Also when the government didn't have trillions in debt and could afford these projects.
He was asking Ike for money
If you read his biography (as others here suggest elsewhere in the comments section), contrary to your assertion (supposition) re: money figures, you will see Robert Moses was actually quite deceptive and manipulative in his manner of planning, budgeting, communicating, and executing all of his various projects...
A Wizard
HELLOW DARKNESS MY OLD FRIEND.
There are just as many negative comments as there are positive, I think it's just the way he would have wanted it.
@Stranded NYer Nobody likes criticism, but I am sure he welcomed it with open arms anyway, just be open and honest with him.
@Stranded NYer Just trolling smalls. Plus the law was on his side back then so he could afford to be that way.
A great man folks.Kids will grow up emulating his magnificence but will never touch his brilliance.
Robert Caro brought me here..."Power Broker" wanted to see this A.hole Moses during his peak.
This Moses fellow accomplished quite a lot, as denoted in the "The Power Broker". Road building and public works were most pronounced and his greatest contributions. But his demeanor is a real negative attribute. Moses appears arrogant, condescending and disinterested during this program. I wonder why he agreed to participate at all.
A face of evil, indeed.