Moses’ feared public support had long since evaporated without political insiders noticing

Evidence

The expected storm of protest had not materialized. Robert Moses had been fired. And hardly anyone had really cared. … In political circles the illusion of Moses’ popularity with the voters had lingered long after the reality was gone, partly because in those circles, many of whose members were making money off him, that popularity was undimmed, partly because politicians were close enough to him to be overawed by his personality so completely that they could hardly conceive of his falling into public disrepute. For decades, Governors had dreaded what would happen if they had to be the one to fire Bob Moses. Now one Governor had fired Bob Moses. — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker, 4397

Categorization

• DEEPTHINKING: A profound institutional insight: those closest to a powerful figure — and profiting from him — mistake their own awe and self-interest for the public’s allegiance; the ruler’s power outlived real support by years inside the myths of acolytes.
• XREF: Echoes ch44-45’s exploration of the Moses myth shielding scrutiny, and ch47’s contention that reputations crack only when media coverage turns. — connects to: A lifelong-unfailing ultimatum tactic finally backfired catastrophically — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the…, 4380; Moses attacked absent, dying park commissioners via rumor campaigns — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the…, 1102; Moses’ defeat came when mass media finally covered a local protest — Robert A. Caro, The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the…, 4066 (+3 more)