Belle Moskowitz taught Moses the political tact and compromise he lacked

Evidence

To get the maximum use out of the big names on the Citizens Committee, Mrs. Moskowitz wanted them—and their support of Smith’s proposals—kept in the public eye. But they were under pressure from furious Republican regulars who told them, correctly, that their financial contributions and prestige were being used to build the career of a Tammany man at the expense of their own party. Many, in fact, were on the verge of resigning. Tact had to be used in handling them. Tact had never been one of Moses’ long suits, but now he had been taught by Belle Moskowitz. When he arranged luncheons of the committee and asked its big names to make speeches at the luncheons, speeches that the press would report, he made the requests, and pressed for answers, persistently but gently. He displayed a willingness to compromise that was also new to him. When some members of the committee, expressing doubts that all the report’s recommendations were correct, threatened to resign, Moses wrote assuring them that “these amendments are not final, but are subject to correction after consultation.” There were few resignations—none from significant “names”—and, month after month, Moses directed an almost daily fusillade of support for Smith’s position from Hughes, Stimson, Wickersham and even, in what amounted to the most impressive coup for Smith, from former State Republican Chairman Frederick C. Tanner. — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker, 478

Categorization

• XREF: This is Moskowitz mentoring Moses on the craft of political persuasion — connects to the broader theme of how powers behind power brokers operate, and to Caro’s method of tracing influence through relationships. — connects to: Belle Moskowitz’s tutelage converted Moses from idealist into a practical politician — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the…, 595; Moses’s earliest political education came from a calm, practical woman who outranked him — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the…, 425
• DEEPTHINKING: Caro shows that Moses’ later legendary ruthlessness was a choice — he could be taught gentleness and compromise — which raises the question of when and why he abandoned these skills. Not top 5% of the chapter, but this is effectively learning material.

Broader Connections

• Belle Moskowitz’s tutelage converted Moses from idealist into a practical politician #corroborates (0.95) — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker, 595
• Moses’s earliest political education came from a calm, practical woman who outranked him #expands (0.80) — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker, 425