American Experience (1988) s04e01 Episode Script

1
McCullough:
HE HAD BEEN SCORNED
AS AN UNSCRUPULOUS POLITICIAN,
A VULGAR WHEELER-DEALER
DRIVEN BY AMBITION
AND A LUST FOR POWER
BUT ON JANUARY 20, 1965,
THE NIGHT OF HIS INAUGURAL GALA,
LYNDON JOHNSON WAS A HAPPY MAN.
OVERWHELMINGLY ELECTED,
HE PROMISED
TO WIPE OUT POVERTY
AND SEGREGATION,
PROTECT THE OLD,
AND EDUCATE THE YOUNG.
THAT WAS HIS DREAM.
FEW PRESIDENTS
WOULD EVER KNOW MORE TRIUMPH;
FEW SUFFER SUCH A SWIF
AND TRAGIC FALL.
Crowd:
HEY, HEY, L.B.J
HOW MANY KIDS DID YOU
KILL TODAY?
HEY, HEY, L.B.J HOW MANY
KIDS DID YOU KILL TODAY?
Man:
HE WAS GENEROUS
AND HE WAS SELFISH.
HE WAS KIND.
AT OTHER TIMES, HE WAS CRUEL.
AT TIMES HE WAS A EARTHY,
CRUDE-ACTING FELLOW.
AT OTHER TIMES
HE WAS INCREDIBLY CHARMING.
HE COULD BE
WHATEVER HE WANTED TO BE.
HE WAS A STRANGE, COMPLEX MAN,
WHO HAD BASICALLY ALMOST A
A JEKYLL-AND-HYDE EXISTENCE.
HE WAS TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
Man:
WHAT WAS IT THAT WOULD SEND HIM
INTO THOSE FANTASTIC RAGES
WHERE HE COULD BE
ONE OF THE NASTIEST,
MOST INSUFFERABLE, SADISTIC
S.O.B.s THAT EVER LIVED,
THEN A FEW MINUTES LATER
REALLY BE A BIG, MAGNIFICEN
INSPIRING LEADER?
Man:
WHAT YOU HAVE IS A MAN WHO WAS
A THOROUGHLY AMERICAN PRESIDENT,
WHO WAS AMERICAN
FROM DAY ONE OF HIS BIRTH
IN SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS.
THIS IS A MAN WHO REFLECTED
AMERICAN MOODS AND ATTITUDES
AND CONTRADICTIONS AND TRENDS,
AND WHEN HE FAILED,
IT WAS AMERICA'S FAILURE.
Man:
"HUBRIS," AS THE GREEKS
WOULD PUT IT
YOU KNOW "WHOM THE GODS WOULD
DESTROY, THEY FIRST MAKE MAD."
THIS WAS A MAN WHO WAS SO BIG,
THAT REACHED SO FAR, AND MADE I
AND THEN LE
THE WHOLE THING CRUMBLE.
I THINK IT'S ONE
OF THE GREAT STORIES OF HISTORY.
MY FELLOW AMERICANS,
I ACCEPT YOUR NOMINATION.
( cheering)
McCullough:
THE 1964 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN
WAS ALL LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON.
AFTER YEARS OF COMPROMISE
AND OPPORTUNISM,
HE FIRED AMERICA WITH HIS VISION
OF A GREAT SOCIETY.
Johnson:
OUR FIRST OBJECTIVE IS
TO FREE 30 MILLION AMERICANS
FROM THE PRISON OF POVERTY.
CAN YOU HELP US FREE
THESE AMERICANS?
AND IF YOU CAN,
LET ME HEAR YOUR VOICES.
( whistling and cheering)
McCullough:
HE REACHED OUT TO THE POOR,
THE DISPOSSESSED
TO AMERICANS
WHO WERE LEFT BEHIND.
Johnson:
DO SOMETHING WE CAN BE PROUD OF.
HELP THE WEAK AND THE MEEK AND
LIFT THEM UP AND HELP THEM TRAIN
AND GIVE THEM AN EDUCATION WHERE
THEY CAN MAKE THEIR OWN WAY.
McCullough:
CAMPAIGNING WITH
THE ENERGY OF TEN MEN
"AS IF HE HAD AN EXTRA PAIR
OF GLANDS," ONE AIDE SAID
HE SOUNDED THE BATTLE CRIES
OF HIS POLITICAL YOUTH,
ECHOING HIS VERY FIRST CAMPAIGN
A QUARTER OF A CENTURY BEFORE.
IN THE SPRING OF 1937,
JOHNSON WAS 28 YEARS OLD,
CAMPAIGNING AS AN ARDEN
ROOSEVELT NEW DEALER,
REACHING OUT TO THE WORKING MEN
AND POOR DIRT FARMERS
OF THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY.
HE RAN FOR OFFICE
AS IF HIS LIFE DEPENDED ON IT.
HE SPOKE IN EVERY TOWN
IN HIS DISTRICT,
LOST 40 POUNDS IN 42 DAYS,
MADE 200 SPEECHES
AND COLLAPSED WITH APPENDICITIS
JUST TWO DAYS
BEFORE THE ELECTION.
FROM HIS HOSPITAL BED,
WITH HIS WIFE LADY BIRD,
HE LEARNED
THAT HE'D BEEN ELECTED
ONE OF THE YOUNGEST MEMBERS
OF CONGRESS.
HIS POLITICAL IDEALS WOULD
WAVER,
BUT FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE
HE WOULD DISPLAY
THE SAME NERVOUS INTENSITY,
THE SAME OBSESSIVE DRIVE
TO SUCCEED
AND A TALEN
FOR ATTACHING HIMSELF TO POWER.
ONE MONTH
AFTER JOHNSON'S ELECTION
THE PRESIDENT PAID A HOLIDAY
VISIT TO GALVESTON, TEXAS.
FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT WAS
LYNDON JOHNSON'S POLITICAL HERO.
NOW THE AMBITIOUS NEW
CONGRESSMAN SEIZED
THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET HIM.
Lady Bird Johnson:
THE GOVERNOR WAS GOING DOWN
TO PAY HIS RESPECTS,
SO HE CALLED LYNDON AND SAID,
"I'D LIKE TO TAKE YOU ALONG
"BECAUSE YOU RAN SO COMPLETELY
ON ROOSEVELT'S PLATFORMS
THAT I THINK
HE OUGHT TO MEET YOU."
AND LYNDON WAS THERE
WITH HIS EYES OUT ON STEMS
TAKING IN EVERY WORD
AND EVERY GESTURE.
McCullough:
THEY TALKED ABOU
FISHING, ABOUT THE NAVY.
THEN JOHNSON ASKED
FOR AN ASSIGNMEN
TO NOTHING LESS THAN THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.
THE PRESIDENT SAID
THAT WOULD HAVE TO WAIT.
Man:
HERE ARE THE TWO GREA
POLITICIANS IN AMERICAN HISTORY
IN THIS CENTURY, I BELIEVE, AND
THEY'RE SIZING EACH OTHER UP,
AND ROOSEVELT GIVES HIM
THE NAME OF TOMMY CORCORAN,
TOMMY THE CORK, THE WHITE HOUSE
AIDE, THE WASHINGTON "FIXER",
AND HE TELLS JOHNSON, "IF YOU
NEED ANYTHING
WHEN YOU GET TO WASHINGTON,
YOU CALL UP MR. CORCORAN."
WELL, ROOSEVELT HIMSELF
GETS BACK TO WASHINGTON
AND HE CALLS UP CORCORAN, THE
STORY GOES, AND HE SAYS TO HIM,
"TOMMY, I JUST MET THE MOS
EXTRAORDINARY YOUNG MAN
DOWN IN TEXAS."
"WITH ANY LUCK,
IF THE CHIPS GO RIGHT,
AND HE HANGS ON
TO THE FRIENDS HE MAKES,
THIS BOY LYNDON JOHNSON ONE DAY
CAN WIND UP BEING PRESIDEN
OF THE UNITED STATES.
HE'S GOT IT."
THAT WAS QUITE A CALL,
WASN'T IT?
McCullough:
IN THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY
THEY SAID THAT LYNDON
WAS BORN TO POLITICS.
HIS GRANDFATHER
HAD RUN FOR STATE OFFICE
AND HIS FATHER, SAM EALY
JOHNSON,
SERVED SIX TERMS
IN THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE.
SAM WAS AN OLD-TIME
REFORM POLITICIAN
WHO VOTED TO TAX BIG BUSINESS,
AND LIKE HIS FATHER BEFORE HIM,
SUPPORTED THE EIGHT-HOUR DAY.
"I LOVED GOING WITH MY FATHER TO
THE LEGISLATURE", LYNDON SAID.
"THE ONLY THING I LOVED MORE
WAS GOING WITH HIM
"ON THE TRAIL
DURING HIS CAMPAIGNS.
SOMETIMES I WISHED
IT WOULD GO ON FOREVER."
Dallek:
THERE ARE STATE LEGISLATORS
WHO REMEMBER LYNDON.
THEY SAID IT WAS UNCANNY HOW
MUCH HE LOOKED LIKE HIS FATHER,
HOW MUCH HIS MANNERISMS
WERE LIKE HIS FATHER'S
AND HOW THEY'D GRAB YOU
BY THE LAPELS
AND PULL YOU TOWARD THEM,
AND WERE VERY PHYSICAL
AND THERE WAS
A KIND OF WARMTH TO IT,
A KIND OF VERY HUMAN QUALITY.
AND HE GOT THE SMELL IN HIS NOSE
OF POLITICS
AND IT JUST ENTHRALLED HIM.
McCullough:
JOHNSON'S MOTHER, REBEKAH,
WAS A COLLEGE GRADUATE,
CULTURED AND AMBITIOUS.
IT WAS SAID THAT LYNDON GO
HIS DRIVE AND AMBITION FROM HER.
NOTHING HAD PREPARED REBEKAH
FOR THE HARDSHIPS
OF LIFE IN THE RURAL
BACKWATERS OF TEXAS,
WITH NO ELECTRICITY
OR INDOOR PLUMBING.
"LIFE IS REAL AND EARNEST,"
SHE WROTE,
"AND NOT THE CHARMING FAIRY TALE
OF WHICH I HAD SO LONG DREAMED."
"THE FIRST YEAR OF HER MARRIAGE
WAS THE WORST YEAR OF HER LIFE,"
JOHNSON LATER SAID.
"THEN I CAME ALONG, AND SUDDENLY
EVERYTHING WAS ALL RIGHT AGAIN;
I COULD DO ALL THE THINGS
SHE NEVER DID."
Woman:
THERE WAS A CERTAIN DEPRESSION
THAT WAS IN HER
WHICH COULD ONLY BE RELIEVED
BY PUTTING ALL OF HER HOPES
AND AMBITIONS ON THIS CHILD.
HE WOULD TELL ME
THAT WHEN HIS FATHER WAS AWAY
AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE, EVEN
WHEN HE WAS 11 OR 12,
THAT HE WAS INVITED TO SLEEP IN
HER BED AT NIGH
TO KEEP HER COMPANY.
BUT THEN WHEN HE HAD
A BAD REPORT CARD,
SHE WOULD LITERALLY WITHDRAW HER
LOVE TO THE POINT WHERE,
HE TOLD ME,
THAT SHE WOULDN'T EVEN SPEAK TO
HIM FOR DAYS ON END;
THAT SHE WOULD TALK TO HER
HUSBAND OR THE OTHER CHILDREN
AND PRETEND HE DIDN'T EXIST.
THAT LACK OF CONSISTENT LOVE,
I THINK, WAS WHAT MADE HIM FEEL
ALWAYS THAT ONLY WOULD HE BE
LOVED IF HE PERFORMED.
McCullough:
FEAR OF FAILURE WOULD HAUNT HIM
ALL OF HIS LIFE.
WHEN LYNDON WAS IN HIS TEENS,
HE WATCHED HIS FATHER GO BROKE.
COTTON PRICES PLUMMETED.
SAM WAS FORCED
TO SELL THE FAMILY FARM.
NEITHER LYNDON NOR HIS MOTHER
EVER WANTED HIM TO BE
LIKE HIS FAILED FATHER,
AND IT FIRED HIS DRIVE
TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
THE DAY LYNDON JOHNSON LEF
FOR WASHINGTON
TO TAKE HIS PLACE IN CONGRESS
HE BID HIS PARENTS
AN EMOTIONAL GOOD-BYE.
HIS MOTHER HAD TOLD HIM
HIS ELECTION WAS COMPENSATION
FOR HER OWN DISAPPOINTMENTS.
"YOU HAVE ALWAYS JUSTIFIED
MY EXPECTATIONS,
"MY HOPES, MY DREAMS.
HOW DEAR TO ME YOU ARE YOU
CANNOT KNOW, MY DARLING BOY."
JOHNSON NEVER FORGO
HIS FATHER'S PARTING WORDS:
"NOW, YOU GET UP THERE,
SUPPORT F.D.R. ALL THE WAY,
NEVER SHIMMY,
AND GIVE 'EM HELL."
LESS THAN SIX MONTHS LATER,
HIS FATHER WAS DEAD.
NEW DEAL RHYTHM ♪
NEW DEAL RHYTHM? ♪
NEW DEAL RHYTHM ♪
WE'LL FIGHT, HIT BACK ♪
FIGHT BACK,
WAITING FOR THE NEW DEAL ♪
READY FOR THE NEW DEAL ♪
READY FOR THE NEW DEAL. ♪
McCullough:
AS JOHNSON ARRIVED
IN WASHINGTON,
THE EXCITEMENT AND PROMISE
OF ROOSEVELT'S NEW DEAL
STILL ANIMATED THE CAPITAL.
THE NEW DEAL WAS
THE PERFECT CLIMATE
FOR THE YOUNG CONGRESSMAN
AND HIS WIFE, LADY BIRD.
HE HAD PROPOSED TO HER
THE DAY THEY ME
AND SHE BECAME
THE PERFECT POLITICAL WIFE:
RISING AT MIDNIGHT TO SCRAMBLE
EGGS FOR HIS FRIENDS;
RUNNING HIS
CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE;
WORKING AS HIS BUSINESS MANAGER.
LADY BIRD NEVER STOPPED SERVING
HER HUSBAND'S AMBITIONS.
ASSIGNED A ROOM
IN THE OLD HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING
FAR FROM THE CORRIDORS OF POWER,
THE FRESHMAN CONGRESSMAN
DIDN'T HESITATE
TO TURN TO THE PRESIDEN
FOR HELP.
WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE WHITE
HOUSE, JOHNSON SECURED LOANS
AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
IN FEDERAL GRANTS
FOR FARMERS, SCHOOLS,
HOUSING FOR THE POOR,
ROADS, PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
BUT HELPING COMPLETE THE GREA
DAM ON THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER
WAS HIS GREATEST ACHIEVEMEN
AND THE NEXT STEP IN
THE EDUCATION OF LYNDON JOHNSON.
IN 1938, RURAL TEXANS WERE STILL
LIVING WITHOUT ELECTRICITY.
Man:
IT WAS A RATHER PRIMITIVE LIFE
NO RUNNING WATER,
AND THEY HAD NO REFRIGERATION.
EVERY MEAL HAD TO BE STARTED
FROM SCRATCH.
THEY USED TO SAY
THE MAN WAS A GENTLEMAN
WHO WOULD PROVIDE HIS WIFE
WITH A SHARP AXE
TO CUT THE WOOD WITH.
McCullough:
"OF ALL THE THINGS
I'VE EVER DONE,"
LYNDON JOHNSON LATER WROTE,
"NOTHING HAS EVER GIVEN ME
AS MUCH SATISFACTION
AS BRINGING POWER
TO THE HILL COUNTRY OF TEXAS."
MY DAUGHTER, WHEN SHE WAS
ABOUT NINE YEARS OLD,
SHE JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE
HOW THE HOUSE HAD LIT UP.
SHE SAID, "MAMA,
THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE."
McCullough:
THE DAM WAS EVERYTHING
A YOUNG CONGRESSMAN
COULD HAVE HOPED FOR.
THE HILL COUNTRY FARMERS THANKED
JOHNSON FOR THE ELECTRICITY
AND THE MEN WHO BUIL
THE DAM THANKED HIM
FOR THE GOVERNMEN
CONTRACTS.
GEORGE AND HERMAN BROWN
OF THE BROWN AND ROO
CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.
JOHNSON HELPED
THE BROWN BROTHERS BUILD
A BILLION DOLLAR
CONSTRUCTION EMPIRE.
IN TURN, THE BROWNS WOULD FUND
JOHNSON'S POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS.
JUDGMENTALLY, WHAT I'D SAY IS
THEY WERE A COUPLE OF GUYS
WHO WERE MAKING MONEY
OUT OF THE NEW DEAL
AND THEY DIDN'T WAN
TO PAY HIGHER WAGE RATES,
SO THEY WERE AGAINST THE UNIONS.
IT WASN'T A MATTER
OF HIGH PRINCIPLE;
THEY WANTED TO GET RICH,
AND THEY DID GET RICH.
WELL, LYNDON SIDLED UP TO THEM,
OR THEY SIDLED UP TO HIM,
AND THEY MADE BOOK.
I REMEMBER ASKING JOHNSON ONCE
IN THE WHITE HOUSE,
"DID YOU DEAL WITH CASH?"
AND HE SAID IT WAS ALL CASH.
THERE WERE NO RECORDS.
SO, UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES,
THERE WERE PLENTY OF POLITICIANS
WHO WERE SELLING OU
TO BUSINESS INTERESTS.
I USE A PEJORATIVE TERM.
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT OTHER TERM TO USE.
IN TV YOU HAVE TO USE
SOME SHORTHAND.
THEY WERE AGREEING
TO BE WITH THOSE PEOPLE
IN EXCHANGE FOR MONEY WHICH
THEY USED IN THEIR CAMPAIGNS.
THAT'S PRETTY CLOSE
TO SELLING OUT, ISN'T IT?
AND EVERYTHING IS ORGANIZED
NOT LIKE HIS FATHER
AROUND IDEAS AND IDEALS
BUT LIKE THE SON, AROUND
HIMSELF, AND HIS OWN CAREER.
NOT TO SAY THAT HE IS NO
THEREFORE DOING A LOT OF GOOD.
HE BRINGS REAL ELECTRICITY
TO PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE I
IN HIS OWN DISTRICT
YEAH, SURE, HE'S REALLY SMART.
McCullough:
ON MAY 2, 1939,
GEORGE BROWN
WROTE JOHNSON A LETTER.
"I HOPE YOU KNOW, LYNDON,
HOW I FEEL
"IN REFERENCE
TO WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR ME
"AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO SHOW MY
APPRECIATION THROUGH THE YEARS
WITH ACTIONS RATHER THAN WORDS."
TWO YEARS LATER,
THE BROWN BROTHERS MADE GOOD
ON THEIR PROMISE.
( country music, men hooting)
IN 1941, WHEN JOHNSON MADE
A RUN FOR THE SENATE
HE NEEDED ALL THE MONEY THE
BROWN BROTHERS COULD GIVE HIM.
HE WAS JUST A YOUNG CONGRESSMAN
REACHING BEYOND
HIS OWN SMALL DISTRIC
IN A RACE THAT WAS
PURE TEXAS POLITICS
PART CAMPAIGN AND PART CIRCUS.
29 CANDIDATES TOOK THE FIELD,
BUT IN THE END,
THERE WAS ONLY ONE MAN TO BEAT:
THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS,
PAPPY LEE O'DANIEL.
Man:
WELL, PAPPY O'DANIEL WAS
A MAN WHO'D COME OUT OF NOWHERE
TO BE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS
IN THE LATE '30s.
HE WAS A RADIO PERSONALITY,
THAT'S WHAT MADE HIM SO POPULAR.
HE HAD A BAND THAT PLAYED
FOR HIM
CALLED THE LIGHT CRUST DOUGHBOYS
AND THEIR THEME SONG WAS
"PASS THE BISCUITS, PAPPY."
AND HE BECAME KNOWN AS
W. LEE "PASS THE BISCUITS,
PAPPY" O'DANIEL.
AND I SAID, "SKEDOODLE,
OL' HARD TIME BLUES" ♪
Gould:
HE WAS CONSERVATIVE
BUT HE DIDN'T REALLY BELIEVE
IN ANYTHING
EXCEPT GETTING ELECTED
AND BEING POPULAR.
AND I GO
THAT MILLION-DOLLAR SMILE. ♪
HE HAD BEEN ON RADIO
FOR QUITE A LONG TIME
WITH A VERY POPULAR PROGRAM
OF COUNTRY MUSIC.
EVERY DAY AT NOON
HE HAD HIS TEXAS NETWORK
AND HE PLAYED AND HE SANG
AND THE LADIES JUS
WORSHIPPED HIM, YOU KNOW.
YOU COULDN'T FIND ANYBODY
WHO VOTED FOR HIM
BUT HE ALWAYS WON THE ELECTIONS.
PLAYED BY
THE REAL HILLBILLY BAND ♪
"NOW, LISTEN EVERYBODY,
FROM NEAR AND FAR
WE'RE THE LIGHT CRUS
DOUGH BOYS."
AND THEN HE WOULD SING
"BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL TEXAS"
WHERE THE BEAUTIFUL
BLUEBONNETS GROW. ♪
WE'RE PROUD
OF OUR FOREFATHERS ♪
WHO FOUGHT AT THE ALAMO. ♪
YOU CAN LIVE ON THE PLAINS
OR THE MOUNTAIN ♪
OR DOWN WHERE
THE SEA BREEZES BLOW ♪
AND YOU'RE STILL
IN BEAUTIFUL TEXAS ♪
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STATE
THAT WE KNOW. ♪
OH, BEAUTIFUL,
BEAUTIFUL TEXAS ♪
WHERE THE BEAUTIFUL
BLUEBONNETS GROW. ♪
Man:
AND HERE WAS JOHNSON, AN UNKNOWN
YOUNG CONGRESSMAN, SO TO SPEAK,
BUT HE ALSO HAD THE AURA
THAT HE WAS GOING SOMEWHERE.
HE WAS GOING TO DO SOMETHING
AND YOU COULD FEEL IT.
AND HE WOULD HAVE FUN
BUT HE WAS ALL BUSINESS
OF DREAMING, AND DARING,
IMAGINING,
ATTEMPTING NEW THINGS.
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STATE
THAT WE KNOW. ♪
Dallek:
THERE WAS NOBODY WHO CAMPAIGNED
HARDER THAN A LYNDON JOHNSON.
HE WORKED NIGHT AND DAY,
SPEAKING, WALKING, DRIVING
JUST DOING EVERYTHING
HE CONCEIVABLY COULD
TO GET HIS NAME BEFORE THE
PUBLIC AND CONVINCE THEM
OF THE FACT THAT HE WOULD
MAKE A FIRST-CLASS SENATOR.
Johnson:
I BELIEVE THAT YOU PEOPLE
ARE FED UP
ON HIRED HANDS DOING NOTHING
BUT ENTERTAINING YOU.
YOU ARE GOING
TO SEND LYNDON JOHNSON
TO THE SENATE NEXT SATURDAY
BY THE GREATEST VOTE THA
YOU EVER SENT A SENATOR THERE.
( cheering)
Lady Bird:
HE WENT TO EVERY SMALL HAMLET,
WALKED UP AND DOWN THE STREET,
SHOOK HANDS
WITH ALL THE MERCHANTS.
HE WOULD LINE UP ALL THE FRIENDS
THAT ALL YOUR FRIENDS
COULD SUMMONS,
AND YOUR MOTHER
AND YOUR KINFOLKS.
IN BEAUTIFUL TEXAS, THE MOS
BEAUTIFUL STATE THAT WE KNOW. ♪
McCullough:
AS THE CAMPAIGN DREW TO A CLOSE,
JOHNSON REMAINED THE UNDERDOG,
BUT ONCE AGAIN, BY LIFTING HIGH
THE ROOSEVELT BANNER,
JOHNSON CLOSED THE GAP.
ON ELECTION NIGHT,
HE WAS CONFIDENT.
WITH 96% OF THE VOTE COUNTED,
HE LED O'DANIEL BY 5,000 VOTES.
CONGRATULATIONS WERE ALREADY
POURING IN FROM WASHINGTON.
Lady Bird:
WE HAD BEEN DECLARED ELECTED
BY THE TEXAS ELECTION BUREAU
ON SATURDAY NIGHT,
WHEN THE VOTES WERE COUNTED.
BANNER HEADLINES
ON SUNDAY MORNING:
"JOHNSON ELECTED TO SENATE."
Pickle:
THE DALLAS NEWS,
THE GREAT DALLAS NEWS,
RAN A STORY ON SUNDAY MORNING
"L.B.J., JOHNSON,
UNITED STATES SENATOR."
THEY DECLARED HIM ELECTED, ABOU
LIKE THEY HAD DONE IT FOR DEWEY.
BUT THE MARGIN BY WHICH WE WERE
ELECTED BEGAN TO DWINDLE.
IT WAS ABOUT 5,000
TO BEGIN WITH.
AND IT BEGAN TO DWINDLE.
McCullough:
THE 33-YEAR-OLD CONTENDER
WAS ABOUT TO GET A LESSON
IN THE DARK SIDE OF POLITICS
THAT HE WOULD NEVER FORGET.
IN THE ROUGH-AND-TUMBLE WORLD
OF TEXAS ELECTIONS,
STUFFING THE BALLOT BOX
WAS NOT UNUSUAL,
ESPECIALLY IN SOUTH
AND EAST TEXAS.
AND NO ONE UNDERSTOOD THIS
MORE THAN JOHN CONNALLY,
LYNDON JOHNSON'S FRIEND
AND CAMPAIGN MANAGER.
Connally:
A LOT OF THOSE COUNTIES
HAD POLITICAL LEADERS
SOMETIMES A SHERIFF,
SOMETIMES A COUNTY JUDGE.
THEY HAD BASICALLY CARRIED THE
COUNTY THE WAY THEY WANTED I
TO GO AND THIS HAD BEEN
HISTORICALLY THE CASE
AND WE HAD THE SUPPORT OF MOS
OF THOSE POLITICAL LEADERS.
SATURDAY NIGHT ABOUT MIDNIGH
THEY CALLED ME AND SAID,
"WE'VE GOT THE RETURNS.
WHAT DO WE DO WITH THEM?
I SAID, "WELL, TELL ME
WHAT THEY ARE, FIRST,
AND THEN REPORT THEM."
THE OPPOSITION THEN, GOVERNOR
O'DANIEL AND HIS PEOPLE,
KNEW EXACTLY HOW MANY VOTES THEY
HAD TO HAVE TO TAKE THE LEAD.
THEY KEPT CHANGING THE RESULTS,
AND CHANGING THE RETURNS
AND OUR LEAD GO
SMALLER AND SMALLER AND SMALLER.
FINALLY, WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
WE WOUND UP
ON THE SHORT SIDE OF THE STICK
AND LOST THE ELECTION
BY 1,311 VOTES.
AND I'M BASICALLY RESPONSIBLE
FOR LOSING THAT '41 CAMPAIGN.
WE LET THEM KNOW HOW MANY VOTES
THEY HAD TO HAVE.
AND I DID IT
NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
OH, BEAUTIFUL,
BEAUTIFUL TEXAS ♪
Pickle:
IT WAS A HARD PILL
FOR MR. JOHNSON TO SWALLOW
BECAUSE WE'D GONE OU
LATE SATURDAY TO CELEBRATE.
I HAVEN'T DONE THA
IN OTHER CAMPAIGNS.
I ALWAYS WAITED
TILL THE NEXT DAY.
LYNDON WAS ASKED, DOES HE WAN
TO CHALLENGE PAPPY'S VICTORY,
BECAUSE IT IS A STOLEN ELECTION,
BUT LYNDON KNOWS HIS OWN FOLKS
AND SUPPORTERS
HAVE DONE SOME PRETTY UNTOWARD
THINGS AS WELL,
INCLUDING THE FACT THAT THEY
VIOLATE CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS
AND SPEND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
OF DOLLARS,
AND JOHNSON SAYS
"NO, WE CAN'T CHALLENGE THEM.
"I'LL WAIT MY TURN,
AND WHEN MY TURN COMES
I'LL FIX THE BALANCE NEXT TIME."
WE THOUGHT IT WAS
THE BETTER PART OF WISDOM
NOT TO CONTEST IT,
NOT INDICATE THAT WE WERE
GUILTY OF JUST SOUR GRAPES
AND GO AHEAD AND SAY,
"WE'LL MEET AGAIN."
McCullough:
JOHNSON WAS NOT PREPARED
FOR DEFEA
AND HE WAS NEVER MORE MISERABLE.
"I FELT TERRIBLY REJECTED
"AND I BEGAN TO THINK
ABOUT LEAVING POLITICS
AND GOING HOME TO MAKE MONEY,"
HE SAID.
BUT HE COULDN'
BRING HIMSELF TO QUIT.
HE BOUGHT A HOUSE,
AND ESTABLISHED THE BASIS
FOR HIS OWN PERSONAL FORTUNE.
LADY BIRD BOUGH
A SMALL AUSTIN RADIO STATION.
AFTER NEARLY 10 YEARS
OF MARRIAGE,
THEIR FIRST DAUGHTER WAS BORN.
THREE YEARS LATER,
THEY WOULD HAVE ANOTHER GIRL.
BUT POLITICALLY,
JOHNSON LANGUISHED.
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WAS TOO SMALL A STAGE.
ALONG WITH SOUTHERN CONGRESSMEN,
HE VOTED AGAINST CIVIL RIGHTS
AND TOLD HIS LIBERAL FRIENDS
YOU CAN'T BE A STATESMAN
IF YOU DON'T GET ELECTED.
FINALLY,
AFTER SEVEN RESTLESS YEARS,
JOHNSON SEIZED A CHANCE
TO RUN FOR THE SENATE.
IT WOULD BE A CAMPAIGN
THAT WOULD HAUNT HIM
FOR THE RES
OF HIS POLITICAL LIFE.
Lady Bird:
AND THIS TIME
HIS OPPONENT WAS COKE STEVENSON,
ALSO A GOVERNOR,
AND A VERY FORMIDABLE MAN.
McCullough:
COKE STEVENSON WAS
A SELF-MADE MAN,
TIGHTFISTED WITH THE BUDGET,
AND IMMENSELY POPULAR.
HIS MOST ARDENT ADMIRERS
CALLED HIM "MR. TEXAS."
Connally:
THE POLLS CLEARLY SHOWED
THAT COKE STEVENSON STARTING OU
HAD A TWO-TO-ONE LEAD OVER
JOHNSON.
IT WAS AN ALMOS
INSURMOUNTABLE LEAD
AND MOST PEOPLE THOUGH
THAT JOHNSON COULDN'T WIN IT.
HE TOLD US,
AND JOHN CONNALLY TOLD US,
AND ANYBODY THAT HAD BEEN TO
A COUNTY FAIR AND A GOAT-ROPING
AND KNEW ANYTHING
ABOUT TEXAS POLITICS
KNEW THIS WAS MAKE OR BREAK
FOR LYNDON JOHNSON.
( country music)
Dallek:
BY 1948, JOHNSON HAD BECOME
A MASTER OF TEXAS POLITICS.
LET SAN ANTONIO ROLL! ♪
Dallek:
THEY'D RUN THESE SHOWS,
THESE EXTRAVAGANZAS,
IN THESE SMALL TOWNS
AND THE BAND AND THE MUSIC,
AND MAYBE GIVING A SAVINGS BOND
OR A BARBECUE, BEER,
OR SOME KIND OF WATERMELONS
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THIS WAS ALL PAR
OF A TRADITIONAL TEXAS HOOPLA
AND JOHNSON DIDN'T MISS
A BEAT THERE.
HE UNDERSTOOD THAT WAS
AN ESSENTIAL PART OF IT.
McCullough:
MEANWHILE, COKE STEVENSON WAS
SO POPULAR AND SO WELL KNOWN
THAT HE CAMPAIGNED
FROM SMALL TOWN TO SMALL TOWN
THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY.
BUT NOT LYNDON JOHNSON.
IN A HEADLONG FIVE-WEEK
HELICOPTER CAMPAIGN,
JOHNSON CRISSCROSSED THE STATE,
MADE 370 LANDINGS
AND LOST 27 POUNDS.
IN ONE DAY ALONE,
HE SPOKE TO 15,000 PEOPLE.
Pickle:
AND I TELL YOU, IF YOU'D GO
INTO A LITTLE TOWN AND SAY
"LYNDON JOHNSON'S COMING TO
TOWN, AND HE'LL BE HERE AT 2:00
AND HE'LL LAND
ON HIS HELICOPTER."
EVERYBODY IN TOWN WANTED
TO SEE THAT.
THEY'D KIND OF LAUGH ABOUT IT,
BUT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO MISS IT.
McCullough:
THEY CALLED HIM
"THE JOHNSON CITY WINDMILL."
TEXANS NEVER SAW
ANYTHING LIKE IT.
Pickle:
IT WAS DRAMATIC.
CAN YOU IMAGINE
A LITTLE SMALL TOWN
THAT NEVER HAD A HELICOPTER
COME, OR NEVER SEEN ONE MUCH?
NO TELEVISION THOSE DAYS,
YOU SEE.
THEY'D FLY IN OVER A LITTLE
TOWN AND CIRCLE A COUPLE TIMES,
AND HE'D GET ON THE P.A. SYSTEM
AND SAY, "THIS IS LYNDON JOHNSON
"AND I'M GOING TO LAND
IN JUST A MINUTE
AND I WANT TO SHAKE
EVERY HAND DOWN THERE."
PEOPLE LOOK UP THERE, THEY KIND
OF LAUGH AND GIGGLE,
BUT THEIR MOUTH WOULD BE OPEN
AND THEY'D SAY,
"IS THIS REALLY HAPPENING?"
Woman:
HE WOULD SAY, "THIS IS LYNDON
JOHNSON, YOUR CONGRESSMAN.
HOW DO YOU THINK
THINGS ARE RUNNING?"
"ALL RIGHT, ED, WHAT ABOUT THA
CROP OUT THERE?
DO YOU HAVE A GOOD CROP
THIS YEAR?
HE'D COME OVER HERE
AND CALL ONE'S NAME.
"WELL, ALL RIGHT, SID HYDE.
"HOW'S THE CATTLE BUSINESS
DOING TODAY?"
"OLIN, HOW'S THE CAR BUSINESS
COMING ON?"
OLD OLIN JUMPED
AND LOOKED AROUND.
HE WASN'T EXPECTING THA
TO BE CALLED OUT.
Pickle:
WHEN HE'D LAND,
HE'D BANK THE HELICOPTER OVER
AND HE'D CIRCLE AROUND
OVER THE FIELD
AND THROW HIS STETSON HA
OUT OVER THE CROWD.
NOW, THAT WAS DRAMATIC.
AND HE HAD ABOU
A FOUR-BEAVER HAT, A GOOD ONE.
AND WHEN HE DID IT,
THOSE OF US ON THE GROUND
WHO WERE PART OF THE CREW
OUR JOB WAS TO GET THAT HAT.
WE HAD TO RECLAIM THAT HAT.
AND IF WE DIDN'T GET IT,
WE'D CATCH "HAIL COLUMBIA"
FROM THE BOSS THEN.
AND HE'D SAY, "DO YOU KNOW
HOW MUCH THAT HAT COST ME?"
HAVE YOU BEEN IN TO BUY
A STETSON HAT LATELY?"
AND WE'D SAY NO, OF COURSE,
WE WOULDN'T DARE WEAR
A HAT LIKE THAT.
HE SAID "THAT'S COMING
OUT OF MY POCKET.
YOU GET THAT HA
WHEN WE THROW IT OUT."
AND WE'D HAVE TO GO GE
THAT HAT.
USUALLY WE COULD GET IT,
BUT IF YOU GOT IT RECOVERED
BY A TEN-YEAR-OLD BOY,
IT'D BE PRETTY HARD TO SAY
"SON, GIVE ME THAT HAT,"
AND TAKE IT AWAY FROM HIM.
SO IT WASN'T ALWAYS PLEASANT.
McCullough:
JOHNSON HAD BEGUN
HIS POLITICAL LIFE
AS A FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT LIBERAL,
BUT IN 1948, HE RAN
AGAINST THE UNIONS,
SUPPORTED BIG BUSINESS
AND SPOKE OUT STRONGLY
AGAINST CIVIL RIGHTS.
THE OIL BOOM HAD MADE TEXAS
WEALTHY AND CONSERVATIVE
AND AS TEXAS CHANGED,
SO HAD LYNDON JOHNSON.
Dugger:
WELL, YOU HAVE AN AUTHENTIC
CONSERVATIVE, STEVENSON,
RUNNING AGAINS
A NEW DEAL LIBERAL, JOHNSON,
WHO HAS CONCEALED HIS COLORS.
LYNDON PRESENTED HIMSELF AS MORE
ANTI-UNION THAN COKE STEVENSON.
WHAT SENSE DOES THAT MAKE IN
TERMS OF WHO LYNDON REALLY WAS?
NONE.
THERE'S NO SENSE TO IT EXCEPT,
OR COURSE, THE ABSOLUTELY
UNQUALIFIED OPPORTUNISM
OF A SUCCESSFUL POLITICIAN
OF THIS PARTICULAR MOLD.
HE OUT-RIGHTED
THE MOST CONSERVATIVE FIGURE
IN TEXAS POLITICS AT THAT TIME.
Dallek:
SOME PEOPLE HAVE TENDED
TO IDEALIZE COKE STEVENSON
AND SEE HIM AS A KIND
OF OLD-FASHIONED TEXAS COWBOY
AND MAN OF GREAT INTEGRITY.
IN FACT, COKE STEVENSON
WAS A TERRIBLY REACTIONARY MAN.
FIRST OF ALL, ON CIVIL RIGHTS
IN 1942, A BLACK TEXAN
WAS LYNCHED IN TEXARKANA
AND STEVENSON GAVE VERY LITTLE
PUBLIC RESPONSE AGAINST THIS.
AND WHEN HE WAS ASKED
PRIVATELY ABOUT I
HIS COMMENT WAS,
"YOU KNOW," HE SAID,
"THESE NEGROES
SOMETIMES DO THINGS
WHICH PROVOKE WHITES
TO SUCH VIOLENCE."
AND WHEN THE 1944 SUPREME COUR
DECISION WAS HANDED DOWN
ASSERTING THAT BLACKS
HAD THE RIGH
TO VOTE IN DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES,
STEVENSON CALLED IT "A THREA
TO OUR SECURITY AND SAFETY."
HE WAS FIERCELY
ANTI-CIVIL RIGHTS
AND A RACIS
AND A SEGREGATIONIS
OF THE FIRST ORDER.
McCullough:
THE RACE WAS SO CLOSE,
THERE WAS NO WAY TO CALL IT.
THE LEAD SEESAWED
BACK AND FORTH.
Connally:
I SAID, "I THINK YOU'LL WIN IT."
HE SAID, "NO, I THINK
WE'VE LOST IT."
AND I SAID, "NO, IT'S GOING
TO BE THE REVERSAL OF 1941."
McCullough:
THREE DAYS AFTER
THE POLLS CLOSED,
THE VOTES WERE STILL COMING IN,
AND STEVENSON LED BY A HANDFUL.
IT LOOKED AS IF STEVENSON WOULD
BE THE NEW SENATOR FROM TEXAS.
BUT JOHNSON REMEMBERED 1941.
HE WAS NOT ABOUT TO LOSE AGAIN.
THE ELECTION NOW HINGED
ON THE "DUKE OF DUVAL COUNTY,"
GEORGE PAAR, THE MAN WHO
CONTROLLED THE VOTES
IN SOUTH TEXAS.
Connally:
GEORGE PAAR CONTROLLED
THAT COUNTY
AND THOSE PEOPLE VOTED
THE WAY HE WANTED THEM TO VOTE.
NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT,
NONE WHATEVER.
NOW, THE CANDIDATES HAD
NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
IN THE NATURE OF THINGS,
YOU DON'T WRITE DOWN,
"BOUGHT THESE VOTES YESTERDAY
AFTERNOON AT 4:00."
BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS
SOME UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN THE JOHNSON PEOPLE
AND THE POLITICAL BOSSES
IN SOUTH TEXAS.
Dallek:
EARLIER, WHEN COKE STEVENSON
RAN FOR GOVERNOR,
HE ALSO HAD ALSO BEEN
THE RECIPIENT OF THE FAVOR
OF THE BOSSES BECAUSE HE HAD
PAID THEM.
IN ONE OF HIS RACES,
GEORGE PAAR,
THE "DUKE OF DUVAL COUNTY,"
HAD GIVEN STEVENSON A VOTE
OF 3,310 TO 17.
IS IT CONCEIVABLE THAT SUCH
A LOPSIDED MARGIN
WOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN
TO ANY CANDIDATE FOR ANY OFFICE?
McCullough:
IN THE TINY SOUTH TEXAS TOWN
OF ALICE,
SIX DAYS AFTER THE POLLS
HAD CLOSED,
202 ADDITIONAL VOTES WERE
REPORTED FROM PRECINCT BOX 13.
WHEN THEY WERE COUNTED, ALL
BUT TWO WERE FOR LYNDON JOHNSON.
WHEN THE SIGNATURES OF THE
202 NEW VOTERS WERE EXAMINED,
SOME SAY THE NAMES WERE
ALL WRITTEN IN THE SAME INK
AND LISTED
IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER.
I DID NOT NOTICE THAT THEY
WERE IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER,
ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE PEOPLE
TESTIFIED LATER
THAT THAT HAD HAPPENED.
McCullough:
HOMER DEAN WAS
A 29-YEAR-OLD ATTORNEY
WORKING IN THE JOHNSON CAMPAIGN
WHEN COKE STEVENSON ARRIVED
IN ALICE AND DEMANDED
TO SEE THE VOTING LIS
LOCKED IN THE VAUL
OF THE TEXAS STATE BANK.
DEAN IS ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE
WHO ACTUALLY SAW
THE DISPUTED NAMES.
Dean:
IT LOOKED LIKE THERE HAD BEEN
A CHANGE IN INK
AND IT LOOKED LIKE 200 OR 202
OR THREE NAMES HAD BEEN ADDED
TO THE POLL LIS
IN A DIFFERENT INK
BY A DIFFERENT HAND.
MR. STEVENSON WAS
AN OUTRAGED MAN
THAT FELT LIKE THE ELECTION
HAD BEEN STOLEN FROM HIM,
AND HE FELT LIKE WHAT HE HAD
JUST SEEN WAS EVIDENCE OF THAT.
McCullough:
STEVENSON CHALLENGED
THE ELECTION
AT THE TEXAS STATE DEMOCRATIC
CONVENTION; IT WAS NO USE.
THE JOHNSON FORCES
WERE TOO POWERFUL.
WHEN IT WAS ALL OVER,
PRECINCT BOX NUMBER 13
MADE THE DIFFERENCE.
JOHNSON WON BY 87 VOTES.
BUT THE QUESTION
OF A STOLEN ELECTION REMAINED.
Dugger:
YOU CANNOT MAKE
THE STATEMENT ON THE FACTS
THAT JOHNSON STOLE THE ELECTION.
I THINK YOU CAN SAY I
WAS STOLEN FOR HIM.
THAT'S TRUE,
BUT DID HE ORDER IT DONE?
I NEVER COULD FIND JOHN CONNALLY
DOWN THERE DOING IT.
I WASN'T WITHIN
200 MILES OF HIM.
I WAS IN AUSTIN, TEXAS,
ON A BATTERY OF TELEPHONES
CALLING ALL OVER
THE STATE OF TEXAS.
I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
IF HOMER DEAN KNEW IT WAS STOLEN
YOU DON'T FIND HOMER DEAN
SAYING HE STOLE IT.
I DIDN'T THEN, AND DON'T NOW,
THINK THAT JOHNSON
DIRECTLY PARTICIPATED IN IT.
HE RECEIVED THE BENEFIT OF IT,
BUT I DON'T THINK
HE DIRECTED IT OR EVEN KNEW
ABOUT IT WHEN IT WAS HAPPENING.
YOU SEE, IT JUS
GETS AWAY FROM YOU.
McCullough:
19 YEARS LATER, RONNIE DUGGER
MET IN THE WHITE HOUSE
WITH PRESIDENT LYNDON JOHNSON
AND ASKED HIM
ABOUT THE ELECTION OF 1948.
Dugger:
ONE NIGHT, UP IN HIS BEDROOM,
HE STARTED LAUGHING AND
SEEMED TO
I WONDERED IF HE COULD FIND
SOMETHING
AND HE SAID HE WAS GOING BACK
INTO BIRD'S BEDROOM NEXT DOOR.
AND HE RUMMAGED AROUND
IN A CLOSET
I THINK I COULD HEAR HIM
RUMMAGING AROUND IN A CLOSET
AND HE CAME IN WITH THIS
PHOTOGRAPH OF THESE FIVE GUYS
IN FRONT OF THIS OLD CAR
WITH BOX 13 BALANCED
ON THE HOOD OF IT.
I LOOKED AT HIM AND GRINNED.
HE GRINNED BACK.
BUT HE WOULDN'
EXPLAIN IT TO ME.
I ASKED HIM, WELL,
WHO WERE THESE GUYS?
WHY DID THEY HAVE BOX 13
ON THE HOOD OF THIS CAR?
WHAT DID IT MEAN?
AND JUST NOTHING.
HE WOULDN'T SAY.
AS WE'D SAY IN TEXAS,
"HE WOULDN'T SAY NOTHING."
SO THERE IT IS HISTORY
TURNING ON A A MYSTERY.
McCullough:
IT WAS 1949, AND TEXAS HAD
A NEW FRESHMAN SENATOR.
THEY CALLED HIM
"LANDSLIDE LYNDON."
Gould:
IT CAST A SHADOW OF ILLEGITIMACY
OVER THE RES
OF HIS POLITICAL CAREER
THAT HE NEVER ESCAPED.
THE IDEA OF "LANDSLIDE
LYNDON," 87 VOTES,
THAT THERE WERE SKELETONS
IN HIS CLOSET,
THAT HE WAS A WHEELER-DEALER,
THAT THERE WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING
KIND OF FLAWED ABOUT HIS TITLE,
BOTH TO BEING SENATOR
AND TO BEING PRESIDENT.
McCullough:
WHEN AN EXUBERANT JOHNSON
ENTERED THE SENATE,
HE WAS A POWERLESS FRESHMAN
JOINING A SELECT CLUB
RUN BY INSIDERS VERY MUCH
HIS SENIOR.
HE TURNED FOR HELP TO A MAN WHO
KNEW JUST HOW THE CLUB WAS RUN:
BOBBY BAKER.
BAKER HAD COME TO THE SENATE
AS A TEEN-AGE PAGE IN THE 1940s
AND KNEW, EVERYONE SAID,
"WHERE THE BODIES WERE BURIED."
Baker:
AND SO HE SAID, "MR. BAKER,
I WANTED TO MEET YOU.
"MY SPIES TELL ME
YOU'RE THE SMARTES
SON OF A BITCH OVER THERE."
I SAID, "THAT'S NOT TRUE.
"THE ONLY REPUTATION I HAVE IS
THAT MY WORD IS MY BOND
AND I'LL PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY."
HE SAID, "WELL, YOU'RE THE KIND
OF MAN I WANT TO KNOW."
SO HE SAID, "I WANT YOU TO KNOW
"THAT THE NATIONAL
DEMOCRATIC PARTY
IS MUCH MORE LIBERAL
THAN TEXAS."
HE ADVISED ME IN NO UNCERTAIN
TERMS THAT HE WAS COMMITTED
TO THE OIL INTEREST IN TEXAS.
McCullough:
JOHNSON ALWAYS KNEW WHERE
THE POWER WAS.
IN TEXAS, HE COZIED UP
TO THE OIL BARONS.
IN THE SENATE,
HE ATTACHED HIMSELF
TO THE SOUTHERN CONSERVATIVES
AND THEIR INFLUENTIAL LEADER,
RICHARD BREVARD RUSSELL
OF GEORGIA.
Baker:
SENATOR RUSSELL WAS
A LONELY BACHELOR.
HE READ PROBABLY
TEN BOOKS A WEEK.
HE WAS A LONER.
BUT LYNDON JOHNSON AT THIS TIME
KNEW WHERE THE POWER WAS.
HAD SENATOR RUSSELL BEEN A WOMAN
HE WOULD HAVE MARRIED HIM,
BECAUSE, UH OR MARRIED HER.
McCullough:
UNDER RUSSELL'S PATRONAGE,
JOHNSON WAS GIVEN THE JOB
OF PARTY WHIP.
HE TRANSFORMED WHAT HAD BEEN A
MINOR POST INTO A SEAT OF POWER.
TWO YEARS LATER, HE WAS
ELECTED DEMOCRATIC LEADER.
"LANDSLIDE LYNDON" WAS NOW ONE
OF THE MOST POWERFUL MEN
IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE.
IN HIS THIRD YEAR IN THE SENATE,
JOHNSON HAD BOUGHT HIMSELF
A PIECE OF LAND ALONG
THE PEDERNALES RIVER.
THE CONSUMMATE
WASHINGTON POLITICIAN
SOON TOOK ON THE TRAPPINGS
OF THE MYTHICAL TEXAS RANCHER.
BUT HE NEVER STOPPED WORKING.
THE L.B.J. RANCH WAS MORE
THAN A PLACE OF RELAXATION;
IT BECAME PART OF
THE STUFF OF POWER.
Connally:
HE HAD NO INTERESTS, REALLY,
EXCEPT POLITICS.
THAT WAS HIS WHOLE LIFE.
HE WAS TOTALLY COMMITTED TO IT.
HE NEVER READ ANYTHING
EXCEPT POLITICS.
HE DIDN'T CARE ABOUT ANY SPORTS,
HE DIDN'T READ ANY BOOKS.
I DON'T KNOW OF ONE BOOK HE READ
IN ALL THE YEARS
I'VE KNOWN HIM.
Kearns:
I THINK FOR
LYNDON JOHNSON'S TEMPERAMENT,
THE SENATE COULD NO
HAVE BEEN MORE PERFECTLY SUITED.
FOR ONE THING, IT WAS
A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
YOU'VE ONLY GO
A LIMITED NUMBER,
ALL OF WHOM CAN BE SUBJEC
TO HIS PERSONALITY.
HE COULD GET UP EVERY DAY
AND LEARN WHAT THEIR FEARS,
THEIR DESIRES, THEIR WISHES,
THEIR WANTS WERE,
AND HE COULD THEN MANIPULATE,
DOMINATE, PERSUADE, CAJOLE THEM.
AND WHAT REALLY MADE
THINGS WORK IN THE SENATE
WAS PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS,
AND JOHNSON WAS JUST STRICTLY
THE BEST AT THAT.
Dugger:
HE WAS DETERMINED
TO RECRUIT YOU OR KILL YOU.
THEY USED TO CALL I
"THE JOHNSON TREATMENT."
Reedy:
IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE BLEND
OF BADGERING, CAJOLERY,
REMINDERS OF PAST FAVORS,
PROMISES OF FUTURE FAVORS,
PREDICTIONS OF GLOOM
IF SOMETHING DOESN'T HAPPEN.
WHEN THAT MAN STARTED
TO WORK ON YOU,
ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU JUST FEL
THAT YOU WERE STANDING
UNDER A WATERFALL
AND THIS STUFF WAS
POURING ON YOU.
I'VE SEEN HIM
HE USED TO GET HIS
HE WOULD SIT IN FRONT OF
A SENATOR FACE-TO-FACE
AND THEN HE WOULD TAKE HIS HEAD
AND GET IT UNDERNEATH
AND GO UP LIKE THIS
AND TALK TO HIM.
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, MAN.
I DON'T KNOW.
YOU'RE NOT FROM THIS PAR
OF THE COUNTRY,
BUT IF YOU CAN'
EYEBALL A FELLOW
AND YOU CAN'T LOOK HIM
IN THE FACE AND TALK TO HIM,
YOU CAN'T TELL
WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO.
Newscaster:
THE 1954 MID-TERM ELECTION
WILL GO DOWN
AS ONE OF THE MOS
PECULIAR ON RECORD.
McCullough:
IN 1954,
WITH THE REPUBLICANS
IN CONTROL OF THE WHITE HOUSE,
THE DEMOCRATS GAINED CONTROL
OF THE SENATE,
MAKING LYNDON JOHNSON THE
YOUNGEST MAJORITY LEADER EVER.
HE WAS 46 YEARS OLD.
Dallek:
THERE WAS NO MORE POWERFUL
MAJORITY LEADER
IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
HE UNDERSTOOD THE WAY
THE SENATE WORKED.
HE UNDERSTOOD
WHAT SENATORS NEEDED AND WANTED.
HE HAD BIOGRAPHIES
ON EACH OF THEM
SO HE KNEW WHAT THEIR TASTES
AND INTENTIONS
AND AIMS AND DESIRES
AND WISHES AND HOPES WERE.
HE KNEW THE WOMANIZERS,
HE KNEW THE DRUNKS,
HE KNEW PEOPLE WHO WANTED
WHAT COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS.
HE KNEW WHAT ROOMS THEY WANTED.
HE KNEW IF THEY WANTED A TRIP
TO EUROPE AND TAKE THEIR WIFE.
IF WE HAD A VOTE COMING UP
AND THE SENATOR
COULDN'T VOTE WITH US
BUT WE COULD SEND HIM ON
A NATO TRIP, WE WOULD DO THAT,
SO WHEREBY HE WOULD NO
HAVE TO VOTE AGAINST US.
BUT HE WOULD BE OFF
AND HIS WIFE WOULD BE HAPPY
AND HE'D BE
ATTENDING A CONFERENCE.
AND THOSE CONFERENCES
ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
HIS SUBORDINATE, BOBBY BAKER,
WHO WAS THE FLOOR MAN FOR HIM,
AND PEOPLE CALLED
"LITTLE LYNDON,"
SAID ONE TIME,
"I HAVE TEN SENATORS
IN THE PALM OF MY HAND."
IT'S A "GOOD OL' BOY" NETWORK.
WELL, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'VE
BEEN SERVED IN THE CONGRESS,
EITHER THE HOUSE OR THE SENATE
TOGETHER FOR MANY YEARS,
YOU'VE DONE FAVORS
FOR EACH OTHER
AND YOU SAY WHAT YOU CAN DO,
CAN'T DO, AND WHAT'S POSSIBLE.
AND THEY CONTROLLED ALL THE
WHAT I CALL BOODLE
THE THINGS THAT WERE
GIVEN TO PEOPLE.
EVERY SENATOR WANTS A PRIVATE
OFFICE IN THE CAPITOL
BECAUSE IT WAS
A LITTLE HIDEAWAY;
THEY COULD GET AWAY
FROM THE PRESS.
THEY CAN GET AWAY
FROM THEIR WIFE.
THEY CAN HAVE PRIVATE LUNCHES;
THEY CAN GO GET DRUNK.
THEY CAN BE A HUMAN BEING.
Shuman:
WHEN HE RAN THE SENATE
INCREDIBLE WHAT HE WOULD DO.
I SAW HIM AT ONE TIME HOLD UP
A ROLL CALL VOTE,
WHICH USUALLY TAKES
15 TO 20 MINUTES.
HE HELD IT UP
FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR
SO THEY COULD EXTRAC
HUBERT HUMPHREY
FROM OUT OF THE AIR
OVER THE NATIONAL AIRPOR
AND THEY FINALLY BROUGH
HIM IN AND VOTED.
AND DURING THIS TIME,
JOHNSON WOULD BE GOING
LIKE THIS TO THE CLERK,
TELLING HIM TO SLOW DOWN
AS HE CALLED THE ROLL.
AND THEN THERE WERE OTHER TIMES
WHEN HE HAD THE VOTES
AND HE WAS WINNING BY MAYBE
ONE OR TWO VOTES
AND HE'D TELL HIM
TO SPEED IT UP.
Man:
IN THE SENATE,
HE WOULD PACE THE FLOOR,
PULL OUT HIS INHALER, DRAW
A DEEP BREATH INTO HIS NOSE,
LOOKING AROUND THE CHAMBER,
THINKING ALL THE TIME, NERVOUS.
HE NEVER SAT IN A CHAIR.
HE'D STAND UP AND JITTER.
HE'D BOUNCE UP AND DOWN,
RATTLING SILVER DOLLARS
IN HIS POCKET.
Connally:
HE ATE IN A HURRY.
HE WOLFED HIS FOOD.
MOST OF THE TIME
HE HAD NO MANNERS.
HE'D EAT OFF OF THE PLATE
OF EITHER PERSON
ON EITHER SIDE OF HIM.
IF HE ATE SOMETHING
THAT HE LIKED
AND THEY HADN'T FINISHED THEIRS,
HE'D REACH OVER WITH HIS FORK
AND EAT OFF OF THEIR PLATE.
HE WOULD EAT HIS DESSERT,
LADY BIRD'S, LYNDA'S
HIS DAUGHTER'S AND MINE, TOO.
I'M TELLING YOU,
HE WAS A BIG MAN,
BUT HE COULD HANDLE TWO FIFTHS
OF CUTTY SARK EVERY NIGH
AND THAT'S NOT GOOD.
THEN HE USED TO SMOKE CIGARETTES
LIKE A CRAZY MAN
TILL HE HAD HIS HEART ATTACK.
Johnson:
I'M GOING HOME
TO GET A LONG RES
AND IF THE DOCTORS
GIVE ME THE OKAY,
I'LL BE BACK ON THE JOB
IN THE SENATE
WHEN THE SENATE RECONVENES
IN JANUARY.
Reporter:
IN THE MEANTIME,
NO POLITICS
AND ONTO THE ROCKING CHAIR?
Johnson:
WELL, I WOULDN'T SAY
THAT YOU COULD TAKE POLITICS
COMPLETELY AWAY FROM ME,
BUT WE'LL HAVE I
AT A MINIMUM.
Reporter:
GOOD LUCK.
McCullough:
JOHNSON HAD VERY NEARLY DIED.
FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE,
THE IMAGE OF A SUDDEN DEATH
HUNG OVER HIM.
Reedy:
ONE OF LYNDON JOHNSON'S
REAL TROUBLES
WAS HE WAS INCAPABLE
OF RELAXATION.
EVEN WHEN HE TRIED TO RELAX,
IT BECAME TERRIBLY FRENETIC.
Connally:
HE USED TO CALL ME
ON SATURDAY MORNINGS
AND SAY, "LET'S GO TO THE GAME.
I'VE GOT SOME TICKETS."
WE'D SIT THERE DURING THE WHOLE
BALL GAME AND TALK POLITICS.
HE DIDN'T WATCH
THE FOOTBALL GAME
LITERALLY DIDN'T WATCH IT.
HE WAS WATCHING THE CROWD,
HE WAS LOOKING AROUND,
WAVING TO THIS ONE,
WAVING TO THAT ONE.
Shuman:
BUT JOHNSON HAD AN IMMENSE EGO.
HE HAD ON HIS SHIRTS AND ON
HIS SLEEVES HIS INITIALS: L.B.J.
HIS WIFE'S NAME WAS LADY BIRD,
AT LEAST INFORMALLY,
SO HER NAME WOULD BE L.B.J.
HIS TWO CHILDREN,
HIS GIRLS, WERE BOTH L.B.J.
HIS RANCH WAS THE L.B.J. RANCH.
HIS DOG WAS
LITTLE BEAGLE JOHNSON.
McCullough:
AS JOHNSON PREPARED
TO RETURN TO WASHINGTON,
THE LIBERALS WITHIN HIS OWN
PARTY BEGAN TO ATTACK HIM.
WHEN HE COURTED THE POPULAR
REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT,
DWIGHT EISENHOWER,
THEY ACCUSED HIM OF SELLING OUT.
THEY WANTED STRONGER ACTION
ON HOUSING, JOBS
AND CIVIL RIGHTS.
MY OPINION WAS THAT HE WAS
DESTROYING THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
AND NOT DOING HIS JOB.
HIS JOB WAS THE OPPOSITION
TO THE EISENHOWER ADMINISTRATION
AND HE DIDN'T DO IT.
THEY WERE PLAYING JUS
HANKY-PANKY WITH EACH OTHER
AND THERE WAS REALLY NO
DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION.
Shuman:
ONE DOESN'T KNOW
WHETHER HE WAS A LIBERAL
OR A REACTIONARY.
PROBABLY HE WAS NEITHER.
HE PROBABLY WAS JUS
AN EXTRAORDINARILY
SKILLFUL PARLIAMENTARIAN
WHO WAS AN OPPORTUNIS
AND WHO SENSED THE WIND
AND THEN WENT IN THAT DIRECTION.
McCullough:
NO ONE KNEW WHAT JOHNSON
REALLY STOOD FOR.
IN 1957, WHEN A CIVIL RIGHTS
BILL CAME BEFORE CONGRESS,
IT LOOKED AS IF HE WOULD
BE FINALLY FORCED
TO TAKE A STAND.
Politician:
YOU ARE NOT GOING
TO PERMIT THE N.A.A.C.P.
TO TAKE OVER YOUR SCHOOLS!
WE ARE NOT GOING TO PERMI
OUR LITTLE CHILDREN
TO BE USED AS PAWNS
IN A GAME OF POWER POLITICS
TO GET THE RACIAL VOTE
IN NORTHERN CITIES!
YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER
WHAT THE COUNTRY WAS LIKE
FOR BLACK PEOPLE
IN 1957 AND 1959
WHEN JOHNSON WAS
MAJORITY LEADER.
Klan member:
THEY WANT TO THROW
WHITE CHILDREN
AND COLORED CHILDREN INTO
THE MELTING POT OF INTEGRATION
OUT OF WHICH WILL COME
A CONGLOMERATED, MULATTO,
MONGREL CLASS OF PEOPLE!
(people yelling)
Wilkins:
IT WAS STILL
A SEGREGATED COUNTRY.
BLACKS STILL COULD EXPEC
RANDOM VIOLENCE.
McCullough:
NOBODY KNEW
WHAT THE MAJORITY
LEADER OF THE SENATE WOULD DO.
NEVER IN HIS LIFE HAD JOHNSON
VOTED FOR A CIVIL RIGHTS BILL.
BUT NOW, DETERMINED TO SHAKE
HIS SOUTHERN IMAGE
AND BECOME A TRULY
NATIONAL POLITICIAN,
JOHNSON CONFRONTED HIS OLD
FRIEND AND MENTOR,
RICHARD RUSSELL OF GEORGIA.
Man:
THE VERY FIRST THING HE DID
WAS TO MEE
WITH HIS OLD
AND CLOSEST ADVISORS
AND SAY, "THIS TIME,
WE ARE GOING TO GET A BILL
AND YOU MIGHT AS WELL
FACE UP TO IT."
RICHARD RUSSELL SUFFERED
A GREAT DEAL,
BECAUSE THEY REALLY DID FEEL
THAT THIS WAS THE BEGINNING
OF THE END OF THE SOUTH
AS THEY KNEW IT.
McCullough:
BEHIND THE SCENES
IN THE SENATE CLOAKROOM,
JOHNSON MOVED FROM ONE
SIDE TO THE OTHER,
FIRST, TRYING TO ASSURE
THE SOUTHERN DEMOCRATS.
HE WOULD JUST SAY, "IF YOU DON'
PASS THIS MODERATE BILL,
"YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A BILL
CRAMMED DOWN YOUR THROA
"BECAUSE RICHARD NIXON IS
VERY SMART POLITICALLY
"AND HE IS COURTING
BLACK PEOPLE RIGHT NOW
AND YOU'LL GET SOMETHING
YOU CAN'T LIVE WITH."
McCullough:
AND JOHNSON KNEW JUST WHAT TO
TELL THE NORTHERN LIBERALS.
Baker:
I HEARD HIM MANY TIMES CHEW
HUBERT HUMPHREY'S ASS OUT.
"HUBERT, IT DON'
TAKE ANY GENIUS
"TO BE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
FROM MINNESOTA.
HOW MANY BLACK PEOPLE
YOU GOT IN MINNESOTA?"
HUBERT SAID, "WE GOT 12,000."
HE SAID, "YOU MAKE ME SICK."
McCullough:
BY THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER,
THE JOHNSON TREATMEN
WAS HAVING ITS EFFECT.
Reporter:
SENATOR, THERE IS SOME TALK
OF A COMPROMISE.
DO YOU SEE ANY AREA
FOR A COMPROMISE?
Senator:
WELL, I HAVEN'T HAD ANY
COMPROMISE PRESENTED TO ME YET,
BUT I AM A REALIS
AND A REASONABLE MAN.
McCullough:
BY SKILLFUL MANEUVERING,
JOHNSON ENGINEERED A BILL
ACCEPTABLE TO ALL SIDES.
Johnson:
A COMPROMISE HAS
BEEN NEGOTIATED.
I'M PLEASED
THAT THE BILL WILL PASS.
IT IS A GREAT STEP FORWARD
IN A VERY IMPORTAN
AND DELICATE FIELD.
McCullough:
ON AUGUST 7, THE SENATE PASSED
THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957.
BUT JOHNSON HAD TRADED AWAY
THE MUSCLE IN THE LAW.
IN THEORY, THE LAW PROTECTED
THE VOTING RIGHTS OF BLACKS.
IN FACT, IT GAVE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT NO REAL POWER
OF ENFORCEMENT.
THAT BILL HAD NOTHING IN IT.
IN FACT, WHEN IT WAS FINALLY
PASSED, MR. DOUGLAS SAID
THAT IT REMINDED HIM
OF LINCOLN'S OLD SAYING
THAT IT WAS LIKE A SOUP
MADE FROM THE SHADOW OF A CROW
WHICH HAD STARVED TO DEATH.
"CAN YOU BELIEVE
THOSE BASTARDS?" HE SAID.
"I'M THE FIRST MAN IN THE
HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY
"TO PASS A CIVIL RIGHTS BILL,
THEN THEY GOT TO GIVE ME
THE SHIV."
McCullough:
THE BILL WAS PURE JOHNSON
COMPROMISE
A MASTERPIECE
OF SENATE POLITICKING.
BUT IT WAS THE FIRS
CIVIL RIGHTS BILL
SINCE RECONSTRUCTION.
JOHNSON HAD FREED HIMSELF
FROM THE SHACKLES
OF HIS SOUTHERN IMAGE.
AND HE WAS READY TO MOVE ON.
BY 1960, LYNDON JOHNSON
MADE PUBLIC
WHAT EVERYONE ALREADY KNEW:
HE WANTED TO BE PRESIDEN
OF THE UNITED STATES.
Johnson:
THE PERSON YOU SELECT AS YOUR
PRESIDENT
THE WEIGHT HE'S CARRIED,
THE BURDENS HE KNOWS,
THE DECISION HE MAKES
MAY WELL DETERMINE
WHETHER YOU LIVE AS FREE MEN.
McCullough:
BUT JOHN KENNEDY,
THE YOUNG, WEALTHY,
GLAMOROUS SENATOR
WHO JOHNSON HAD CASUALLY
DISMISSED AS INEXPERIENCED
HAD THE NOMINATION
ALL BUT WRAPPED UP.
JOHNSON RESENTFULLY
CALLED KENNEDY "SONNY BOY."
I HAVE FOUND IT EXTREMELY
BENEFICIAL SERVING IN THE SENATE
WITH SENATOR JOHNSON
AS LEADER.
I THINK IF I EMERGE SUCCESSFULLY
IN THIS CONVENTION,
IT WILL BE THE RESULT OF
WATCHING SENATOR JOHNSON
PROCEED AROUND THE SENATE
FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.
I HAVE LEARNED
THE LESSON WELL, LYNDON,
AND I HOPE IT MAY BENEFI
ME IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
McCullough:
ON THE EVE
OF THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION,
JOHNSON CHALLENGED KENNEDY
TO A DEBATE.
KENNEDY COOLLY BRUSHED
JOHNSON ASIDE.
Kennedy:
FULL OF ADMIRATION
FOR SENATOR JOHNSON,
FULL OF AFFECTION FOR HIM,
STRONGLY IN SUPPORT OF HIM
FOR MAJORITY LEADER
AND I'M CONFIDEN
THAT IN THAT POSITION,
WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE ABLE
TO WORK TOGETHER.
THANK YOU.
Delegate:
MR. CHAIRMAN,
WYOMING'S VOTE
WILL MAKE A MAJORITY
FOR SENATOR KENNEDY.
(loud cheering and applause)
McCullough:
KENNEDY WAS NOMINATED
OVERWHELMINGLY
ON THE FIRST BALLOT.
NOW ALL THAT WAS LEF
WAS THE VICE-PRESIDENCY,
AND NO ONE WAS SURE
WHAT JOHNSON WOULD DO
IF KENNEDY OFFERED IT TO HIM.
Connally:
HE SAID, "WELL,
JACK KENNEDY JUST CALLED.
"HE'S COMING DOWN TO SEE ME.
WHAT DO YOU THINK HE WANTS?"
I SAID, "HE'S GOING TO OFFER YOU
THE VICE-PRESIDENCY."
HE SAID, "OH NO, HE'S NOT,
HE WOULDN'T DO THAT.
HE'LL PROBABLY ASK ME
TO MANAGE THE CAMPAIGN."
I SAID, "NO, HE'S GOING TO ASK
YOU TO BE VICE-PRESIDENT."
HE SAID, "WELL,
WHAT SHOULD I SAY TO HIM?"
I SAID, "WELL, YOU DON'
HAVE ANY CHOICE.
YOU HAVE TO SAY YES."
I SAID, "MR. LEADER, LET ME TELL
YOU, JOHN KENNEDY KNOWS
"THAT NO CATHOLIC HAS EVER
BEEN ELECTED PRESIDEN
"IN THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY.
"HE KNOWS THE ONLY CHANCE
IN HELL THAT HE HAS
"TO BE PRESIDEN
OF THE UNITED STATES IS
IF YOU RUN AS VICE-PRESIDENT."
I SAID, "THE VICE-PRESIDENCY
IS THE WORST JOB IN THE COUNTRY.
"IT'S NOT WORTH A WARM
BUCKET OF SPIT,
"AS JOHN NANCE GARNER SAID.
BUT YOU'RE ONE HEARTBEAT AWAY
FROM THE PRESIDENCY."
McCullough:
WHEN KENNEDY OFFERED JOHNSON
THE VICE-PRESIDENCY,
NO ONE WAS HAPPY.
THE CONSERVATIVES
DIDN'T WANT JOHNSON TO RUN
WITH THE LIBERAL KENNEDY,
AND THE LIBERALS WANTED
ONE OF THEIR OWN.
FINALLY THE CANDIDATE'S BROTHER,
ROBERT KENNEDY,
PAID JOHNSON A VISIT.
I WAS IN THE ROOM,
IN JOHNSON'S BEDROOM,
WITH JOHNSON AND JOHN CONNALLY
THE THREE OF US ALONE
ON THE MORNING OF THE NOMINATION
FOR THE VICE-PRESIDENCY
AT ABOUT 10:30
WHEN BOBBY KENNEDY STORMED IN
AND STARTED SCREAMING AT JOHNSON
THAT IF HE KNEW
WHAT WAS GOOD FOR HIM,
HE'D GET OFF THAT TICKET.
Baker:
WELL, JOHNSON DID NOT LIKE
BOBBY KENNEDY,
AND IT WAS MUTUAL.
THEY HATED EACH OTHER.
SO WHAT HAPPENED WAS THA
MR. RAYBURN AND JOHN CONNALLY
WENT IN TO MEE
WITH BOBBY KENNEDY.
Connally:
BOBBY KENNEDY SAID THAT ALL
HELL HAD BROKEN LOOSE
ON THE CONVENTION FLOOR
AND THAT JOHNSON WAS GOING
TO HAVE TO WITHDRAW,
JUST CHANGE HIS MIND AND NO
ACCEPT THE VICE-PRESIDENCY.
AND MR. RAYBURN LOOKED AT HIM
AND HE SAID, "AW!"
AND UTTERED AN EXPLETIVE
THAT I'M NOT GOING TO USE.
OLD MAN RAYBURN SAID, "SHIT,
SONNY," AND KICKED HIM OUT.
I SAID, "YOUR BROTHER
CAME DOWN HERE
"AND OFFERED HIM
THE VICE-PRESIDENCY
"AND MR. JOHNSON ACCEPTED IT.
"NOW, IF HE DOESN'T WANT HIM
TO HAVE IT,
HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO CALL
AND ASK HIM TO WITHDRAW."
AND I AM GRATEFUL, FINALLY,
THAT I CAN RELY IN THE
COMING MONTHS ON MANY OTHERS
ON A DISTINGUISHED RUNNING MATE
WHO BRINGS UNITY AND STRENGTH
TO OUR PLATFORM AND OUR TICKET,
LYNDON JOHNSON.
Cater:
AND THAT WAS A REAL
TRANSFORMATION
IN WHICH THIS YOUNG PUP,
JACK KENNEDY, SUDDENLY IS IT,
AND HE, LYNDON JOHNSON,
BIG OLD CLUMSY LYNDON JOHNSON,
IS PLAYING SECOND FIDDLE.
AND YOU GOT TO BELIEVE IT
THAT THOSE VICE-PRESIDENTIAL
YEARS WERE AGONY FOR HIM.
Kearns:
IT WAS A TERRIBLE SENSE
OF HAVING LOS
THAT CENTER OF DOMINANCE,
AND SUDDENLY I THINK HE FEL
LIKE A LITTLE KID
LOOKING IN A GLASS DOOR
AT THE CANDY DISPLAY INSIDE
AND HE COULDN'T QUITE REACH IT.
IT WAS DEVASTATING.
Baker:
BOBBY NEVER GOT OVER
THE FAC
THAT HIS BROTHER OVERRULED HIM
AND PUT JOHNSON ON THE TICKE
AND THERE WAS A MUTUAL DISLIKE
SECOND TO NONE
IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.
Cater:
IT WASN'T THE WAY
THE PRESIDENT TREATED HIM
I THINK JACK KENNEDY TREATED HIM
WITH DUE RESPECT.
BUT EVERYBODY AROUND KENNEDY
KIND OF POKED FUN AT HIM
AND MADE MOCKERY OF "WHATEVER
HAPPENED TO LYNDON JOHNSON?"
Baker:
KENNEDY NAMED HIM
THE HEAD OF THE SPACE CENTER,
PLUS HE SENT HIM
ON EVERY FOREIGN TRIP
IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD
TO TRY TO GIVE HIM
SOMETHING TO DO.
(fiddle music, man singing)
DEEP IN THE HEAR
OF TEXAS, YEAH ♪
McCullough:
VICE-PRESIDENT JOHNSON MADE
CEREMONIAL VISITS
TO 26 COUNTRIES.
BUT HE WASN'T THE KIND OF MAN
WHO COULD GET THE FEEL
FOR ANOTHER CULTURE.
WHEREVER HE WENT, HE TOOK
HIS OWN OVERSIZED BED,
A SPECIAL NOZZLE FOR HIS SHOWER,
DOZENS OF CASES OF CUTTY SARK,
AND THOUSANDS OF PERSONALLY
INSCRIBED BALLPOINT PENS
AND CIGARETTE LIGHTERS
AS GIFTS.
BUT AT LEAST ABROAD
HE WAS CENTER STAGE.
AT HOME, THERE WERE STILL
THE KENNEDYS
URBANE, CHARISMATIC,
IMMENSELY POPULAR.
Janeway:
HE WAS CONSUMED WITH THIS
PASSION OF INFERIORITY
TOWARDS THE KENNEDYS.
AND THEY GAVE HIM
A VERY HARD TIME
WHEN HE WAS VICE-PRESIDENT.
THEY WERE GOING TO DUMP HIM
FROM THEIR TICKET.
THEY MADE A BUFFOON OF HIM
A LAUGHINGSTOCK.
WHEN, AS VICE-PRESIDEN
OF THE UNITED STATES,
HE VISITED SCANDINAVIA,
BOBBY KENNEDY SENT AN UNCODED
TELEGRAM TO THE EMBASSIES
UNCODED SO THAT EVERYONE
COULD SEE IT
SAYING THAT THE VICE-PRESIDEN
IN NO WAY SPEAKS
FOR THE GOVERNMEN
OF THE UNITED STATES
AND IS NOT TO BE RECEIVED
AS IF HE WERE AN EMISSARY
OF THE PRESIDENT.
McCullough:
IN 1963, A CHAGRINED AND
FRUSTRATED VICE-PRESIDEN
TOLD AN AIDE,
"MY FUTURE IS BEHIND ME."
AND THEN, DALLAS.
Lady Bird:
IT ALL BEGAN SO HOPEFULLY.
BUT THE FEELING IN TEXAS
WAS NOT GOOD FOR KENNEDY
AND SO OF COURSE
WE WERE UPTIGHT.
AND WE WERE GOING ALONG AND
I WAS HEAVING A SIGH OF RELIEF.
"THANK THE LORD, EVERYTHING IS
GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT."
AND THEN CAME, UH, THAT SHOT.
(gunshots)
THE SECRET SERVICE MAN SUDDENLY
VAULTED OVER LYNDON
AND PUSHED HIM TO THE FLOOR.
AND HERE WE WERE RACING DOWN
AT BREAKNECK SPEED
NOT KNOWING WHAT HAD
TAKEN OVER OUR LIVES.
THIS MAN CAME IN AND TOLD LYNDON
THAT PRESIDENT KENNEDY WAS DEAD.
I GUESS WE WERE ALL SILEN
FOR A WHILE
AND THEN LYNDON SAID,
"WE MUST GET TO AIR FORCE ONE."
I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG WE SAT,
BUT QUITE A WHILE.
HE SAID,
"DOES ANYBODY IN THIS PLANE
KNOW THE OATH OF OFFICE?"
NOBODY DID, WORD FOR WORD,
PRECISELY.
HE SAID, "YOU'LL HAVE TO CALL
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
AND ASK HIM."
WHAT AN EXCRUCIATING CALL.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WAS
BOBBY KENNEDY.
Judge:
I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR
Johnson:
I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR
Judge:
THAT I WILL
FAITHFULLY EXECUTE
Johnson:
THAT I WILL
FAITHFULLY EXECUTE
Judge:
THE OFFICE OF PRESIDEN
OF THE UNITED STATES
Johnson:
THE OFFICE OF PRESIDEN
OF THE UNITED STATES
McCullough:
A BELOVED PRESIDENT WAS GONE
AND IN HIS PLACE STOOD
THIS BIG TEXAN
WITH AN UNSAVORY PAST.
THE KENNEDYS DISTRUSTED HIM.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WERE
SUSPICIOUS, STUNNED AND BAFFLED.
ON NOVEMBER 22, 1963,
LYNDON JOHNSON BECAME
THE 36th PRESIDEN
OF THE UNITED STATES.
McCullough:
"I TOOK THE OATH," JOHNSON SAID,
"BUT FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS
I WAS STILL ILLEGITIMATE
"A NAKED MAN WITH NO
PRESIDENTIAL COVERING,
"A PRETENDER TO THE THRONE,
AN ILLEGAL USURPER.
"AND THEN THERE WERE
THE BIGOTS AND THE DIVIDERS
"AND THE EASTERN INTELLECTUALS,
"WHO WERE WAITING
TO KNOCK ME DOWN
"BEFORE I COULD EVEN
BEGIN TO STAND UP.
THE WHOLE THING WAS
ALMOST UNBEARABLE."
(drums playing funeral cadence)
RUMORS OF DARK SCHEMES AND
CONSPIRACIES WERE EVERYWHERE.
ANXIOUS AMERICANS KNEW LITTLE
ABOUT THE NEW PRESIDENT.
WHAT THEY DID KNOW
WAS THAT THEIR BELOVED
JOHN F. KENNEDY WAS GONE.
"I ALWAYS FELT SORRY
FOR HARRY TRUMAN
AND THE WAY HE GO
THE PRESIDENCY,"
JOHNSON TOLD AN AIDE,
"BUT AT LEAS
HIS MAN WASN'T MURDERED."
Man:
MR. SPEAKER
THE PRESIDEN
OF THE UNITED STATES.
McCullough:
PRESIDENT FOR ONLY FIVE DAYS,
JOHNSON ADDRESSED
A JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS.
AFTER DECADES IN WASHINGTON,
HE KNEW THEM ALL,
AND HE KNEW
WHAT THEY WERE THINKING.
WOULD HE MEASURE UP?
MR. SPEAKER, MR. PRESIDENT,
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE,
MEMBERS OF THE SENATE,
MY FELLOW AMERICANS,
ALL I HAVE
I WOULD HAVE GIVEN GLADLY
NOT TO BE STANDING HERE TODAY.
THE GREATEST LEADER OF OUR TIME
HAS BEEN STRUCK DOWN
BY THE FOULEST DEED OF OUR TIME.
TODAY, JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY
LIVES ON IN THE IMMORTAL WORDS
AND WORKS THAT HE LEFT BEHIND.
McCullough:
HE WAS NEVER VERY GOOD
AT FORMAL SPEECHES,
BUT IN THE MOST IMPORTAN
SPEECH OF HIS LIFE
HE REASSURED A SHOCKED
AND GRIEVING NATION.
JOHN F. KENNEDY
TOLD HIS COUNTRYMEN
THAT OUR NATIONAL WORK
WOULD NOT BE FINISHED
IN THE FIRST THOUSAND DAYS
NOR IN THE LIFE
OF THIS ADMINISTRATION
"BUT," HE SAID,
"LET US BEGIN."
TODAY, IN THIS MOMEN
OF NEW RESOLVE,
I WOULD SAY TO ALL
MY FELLOW AMERICANS
"LET US CONTINUE."
(applause)
McCullough:
WITH A FEW SIMPLE WORDS
HE INVOKED THE LEGACY
OF THE DEAD PRESIDENT.
THE NEW PRESIDEN
WOULD CARRY ON.
"I KNEW IT WAS IMPERATIVE
THAT I GRASP THE REINS OF POWER
AND DO SO WITHOUT DELAY,"
JOHNSON LATER WROTE.
HE CONVINCED A RELUCTAN
AND GRIEVING KENNEDY CABINE
TO STAY ON,
INCLUDING ATTORNEY GENERAL
ROBERT KENNEDY.
I SAID, "THESE ARE
ALL KENNEDY PEOPLE.
"A LOT OF THEM ARE GOOD PEOPLE,
BUT THEY ARE KENNEDY PEOPLE.
THEY WERE COMMITTED
TO HIM, NOT TO YOU."
I SAID, "I DON'T KNOW THA
THESE PEOPLE WILL BE DISLOYAL
"BUT THEY OBVIOUSLY CAN'T HAVE
THE SAME FEELING FOR YOU
"THAT THEY HAD FOR JACK KENNEDY.
YOU'RE ENTITLED AS PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES
TO HAVE YOUR OWN CABINET, PEOPLE
THAT YOU KNOW, WHOM YOU TRUST."
"WELL," HE SAID,
"I JUST CAN'T CHANGE THEM NOW.
I'LL CHANGE THEM
AFTER THE ELECTION IN '64."
McCullough:
"I HAD TO TAKE
THE DEAD MAN'S PROGRAM
AND TURN IT INTO
A MARTYR'S CAUSE," HE SAID.
"THAT WAY, KENNEDY WOULD
LIVE ON FOREVER
AND SO WOULD I."
AN ACCIDENT OF HISTORY
HAD GIVEN HIM THE POWER
THAT HE HAD REACHED FOR
HIS ENTIRE LIFE.
NOW HE WAS
DETERMINED, AS HE SAID,
"TO BE THE GREATES
PRESIDENT OF THEM ALL
THE WHOLE BUNCH OF THEM."
(woman chanting:)
FREEDOM, FREEDOM.
GOT TO HAVE FREEDOM, FREEDOM
McCullough:
HIS FIRST TEST WOULD BE
CIVIL RIGHTS.
RACIAL TENSIONS COULD NO LONGER
BE TEMPERED BY COMPROMISE.
THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMEN
WAS DEMANDING FREEDOM
NOW.
JOHNSON'S ABRUPT ASSUMPTION
OF THE PRESIDENCY HAD CONVERGED
WITH THE FIERCE STRUGGLE
FOR BLACK EQUALITY.
IN 1964, RACIAL SEGREGATION
STILL RULED THE SOUTH
BY BOTH LAW AND CUSTOM.
AND LYNDON JOHNSON
WAS A SOUTHERNER
BURDENED BY A HISTORY
OF VACILLATION, COMPROMISE
AND A LONG STRING OF VOTES THA
HAD KEPT SEGREGATION STRONG.
CIVIL RIGHTS WOULD
MEASURE THE LIMITS
OF LYNDON JOHNSON'S
MORAL IMAGINATION.
Wilkins:
A SOUTHERN ACCENT WENT A LONG
WAY TO RAISE MY DEFENSES.
SO WHEN JOHNSON BECAME PRESIDEN
I WAS FEARFUL
VERY, VERY UNHAPPY.
McCullough:
WITH CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS
CONFRONTING
SEGREGATION ALL
ACROSS THE SOUTH,
MANY AMERICANS WONDERED HOW
THE NEW PRESIDENT WOULD REACT.
Man:
JOHNSON DID NOT APPROVE OF,
HE DID NOT LIKE
I CAN EVEN USE A STRONGER TERM
HE HATED THE DEMONSTRATIONS
OF THE MOVEMENT IN THE STREET.
HE HATED THEM.
BUT HE HAD ENOUGH SENSITIVITY
THAT HE KNEW THAT ALL HELL
WAS GOING TO BREAK LOOSE
IF WE DIDN'T DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
McCullough:
CIVIL RIGHTS WORKERS LAY SIEGE
TO A SEGREGATED SOCIETY.
THERE WERE SIT-INS
AT LUNCH COUNTERS,
ON TRAINS AND BUSES,
IN HOTELS AND THEATERS,
FORCING JOHNSON TO ACT.
WHEN SOME OF JOHNSON'S
AIDES ADVISED HIM
NOT TO LAY THE PRESTIGE
OF THE PRESIDENCY ON THE LINE,
HE RESPONDED, "WHAT'S IT FOR
IF IT'S NOT TO BE
LAID ON THE LINE?"
Wilkins:
HE SAID OVER AND OVER AND OVER
AGAIN IN THOSE DAYS,
"I'M GOING TO BE THE PRESIDEN
WHO FINISHES
WHAT LINCOLN BEGAN."
HE SAID IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
WELL, IT WAS GREAT RHETORIC,
BUT YOU ALSO KNEW
THAT IT WAS A GREA
READING OF HISTORY;
THAT IF, IN FACT,
HE COULD ACCOMPLISH THAT,
HE'D HAVE BELONGED
UP THERE ON MOUNT RUSHMORE.
McCullough:
A BILL TO PROHIBI
THE SEGREGATION OF BLACKS
AND WHITES IN PUBLIC FACILITIES
HAD BEEN PUT BEFORE
CONGRESS BY JOHN KENNEDY,
BUT IT WAS STALLED.
JOHNSON DETERMINED TO ACT.
THIS BILL IS GOING TO PASS
IF IT TAKES US ALL SUMMER,
AND THIS BILL IS GOING TO BE
SIGNED AND ENACTED INTO LAW
BECAUSE JUSTICE AND
MORALITY DEMAND IT.
Wilkins:
ALL OF A SUDDEN
THERE WAS A POWER AND A FORCE
BEHIND THIS KIND OF LEGISLATION
THAT WE HADN'T SEEN
IN THE KENNEDY TIME.
AND WITH THAT MY VIEW
ABOUT HIM BEGAN TO CHANGE.
McCullough:
THE FULL FORCE OF
THE JOHNSON TREATMENT,
PERFECTED IN THE SENATE,
NOW BECAME A WEAPON IN
THE ARSENAL OF THE PRESIDENCY.
Farmer:
HE WAS ON THE PHONE
WITH REPUBLICAN SENATORS AND
WITH SOUTHERN DEMOCRATS,
AND HE WAS BARGAINING WITH THEM.
HE WAS TELLING THEM ABOUT SOME
BRIDGE THAT THEY WANTED
BACK HOME OR SOME DAM
THAT THEY WANTED,
AND HE WOULD HELP THEM WITH THA
IF THEY WOULD HELP HIM WITH THIS
AND GIVE HIM THIS THING
THAT HE WANTED,
THAT THE WHOLE NATION WANTED
AND THE NATION HAD TO HAVE.
AND HE WAS ALSO REMINDING THEM
IN NOT TOO SUBTLE TONES
THAT IF THEY DIDN'T SUPPORT HIM,
HE WOULD HAVE WAYS OF GETTING
BACK AT THEM.
Man:
SO IN THOSE DAYS
WE PLAYED HARD BALL.
MY CATALOGUE INCLUDED A NUMBER
OF SOUTHERN CONGRESSMEN.
THEY'D SAY, "WELL, JACK, THERE'S
NO WAY I CAN VOTE FOR THAT."
AND I'D SAY, "WELL, MR.
CONGRESSMAN, NOW,
I KNOW YOU'VE GOT THIS, THIS AND
THIS THAT YOU WANT,
"AND I DON'T THINK
WE'RE PREPARED
"TO DEAL WITH YOU ON THA
"UNLESS YOU'RE GOING TO RESPOND
TO SOME OF THE ENTREATIES
FROM THE PRESIDENT."
WE LET THEM KNOW
THAT FOR EVERY NEGATIVE VOTE
THERE WOULD BE A PRICE TO PAY.
AND HE KEPT SAYING
TO HIS SOUTHERN FRIENDS,
"IF I CAN ADVOCATE I
AS PRESIDENT,
"YOU OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO VOTE
FOR IT IN YOUR CONSTITUENCY.
"THIS MAY BE THE BEST CHANCE
WE'LL EVER HAVE.
I THINK WE'VE GOT TO CHANGE
THE WAY OF DOING THINGS."
IT'S NOT LIKE A YANKEE FROM NEW
YORK
SAYING WE'VE GOT TO DO THIS;
THIS WAS A SOUTHERNER
SAYING IT OUGHT TO BE DONE.
AND THAT HELPED;
IT DIDN'T HELP A WHOLE LOT,
BECAUSE THE SOUTHERN BOYS KNEW
THAT THEY, AGAIN, WERE GOING
TO CATCH HECK FOR IT.
THAT'S WHAT HE GO
FROM THE SOUTHERNERS
THAT "YOU'RE KILLING US
BY LOVING UP THE NIGGERS.
YOU'RE RIPPING THE PARTY APART;
YOU'RE HURTING US."
AND JOHNSON'S ANSWER WAS,
"THIS IS WHAT WE'VE GOT TO DO,
"AND THIS IS WHA
I'M GOING TO DO,
AND THIS IS WHAT THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY IS SUPPOSED TO DO."
McCullough:
ONCE AGAIN,
THE LEADER OF THE SOUTHERN
DEMOCRATS,
HIS OLD FRIEND AND MENTOR
RICHARD RUSSELL,
STOOD IN HIS WAY.
BUT WE ARE NOT YE
READY TO SURRENDER
IN OUR OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL,
WHICH WE FEEL IS A PERVERSION
OF THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE
Valenti:
AND HE SAID TO DICK RUSSELL,
"I WANT THIS CIVIL
RIGHTS BILL PASSED,
AND YOU NOR NO ONE ELSE IS
GOING TO STAND IN MY WAY."
AND I REMEMBER RICHARD RUSSELL
SAID TO HIM,
SAID, "WELL, MR. PRESIDENT,
YEAH, YOU MAY DO IT,
"BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, IT'S
GOING TO COST YOU THE SOUTH,
AND IT WILL COS
YOU AN ELECTION."
McCullough:
SOUTHERN SENATORS PREPARED
TO FILIBUSTER
TO PREVENT THE BILL
FROM EVER COMING TO A VOTE
BY TALKING IT TO DEATH,
BUT JOHNSON WAS
NOT TO BE DENIED.
Rauh:
WHAT THE PRESIDENT DID
WAS TO SAY,
"THEY CAN FILIBUSTER
TILL HELL FREEZES OVER.
I'M NOT GOING TO PU
ANYTHING ELSE ON THAT FLOOR."
SO THE FILIBUSTER
COULDN'T WIN.
AND THAT WAS JOHNSON'S
GREAT CONTRIBUTION
TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL.
McCullough:
THE DEBATE PARALYZED THE SENATE
FOR 83 DAYS.
IT WAS THE LONGES
FILIBUSTER IN SENATE HISTORY.
AND THEN THE SENATE
VOTED TO STOP THE TALKING.
THE BILL PASSED.
THAT SAME EVENING,
AT 2:00 IN THE MORNING,
JOHNSON REACHED
CONGRESSMAN JAKE PICKLE,
ONE OF ONLY SIX SOUTHERNERS
TO VOTE IN ITS FAVOR.
Pickle:
AND HE SAID, "NOW, JAKE,"
HE SAYS,
"THIS IS YOUR PRESIDENT."
HE SAID, "I KNOW IT'S LATE AND
I KNOW WHERE YOU'VE BEEN."
I SAID, "WHERE HAVE I BEEN?"
HE SAID, "YOU'VE BEEN OU
HAVING A FEW DRINKS
"AND TRYING TO VOTE TRYING TO
FORGET THAT VOTE YOU CAST.
YOU VOTED FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS
AND YOU'RE TRYING TO FORGET IT."
AND I SAID, "I SURE HAVE BEEN."
HE SAID, "BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING
TO CATCH HECK, AREN'T YOU?"
AND I SAID, "YES, SIR,
I'M AFRAID I WILL."
HE SAID, "WELL, LET ME TELL YOU,
THE REASON I KEEP CALLING
IS I WANT YOU TO KNOW
THAT YOUR PRESIDENT IS
EXTREMELY PROUD OF YOU."
HE SAID, "I HAD CHANCES
TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THA
WHEN I WAS A CONGRESSMAN."
HE SAID, "I DIDN'T, AND I'VE
ALWAYS REGRETTED IT."
HE SAID, "YOU DID SOMETHING I
THOUGHT WAS BASICALLY RIGHT,
"AND I DIDN'T WAN
THIS NIGHT TO GO BY UNTIL
I CALLED ON YOU PERSONALLY TO
TELL YOU HOW PROUD I AM OF YOU."
HE SAID, "I AM."
"NOW," HE SAID, "GO TO SLEEP."
OF COURSE, I COULDN'T.
BETWEEN THE VOTE AND THAT CALL,
IT WAS HARD TO GO TO SLEEP THEN.
I REMEMBER THAT WHEN I WAS IN
THE WHITE HOUSE TALKING WITH HIM
I ASKED HIM HOW HE GO
TO BE THE WAY HE WAS.
HE SAID, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?"
I SAID, "WELL, HERE
YOU ARE, CALLING SENATORS,
"TWISTING THEIR ARMS,
THREATENING THEM, CAJOLING THEM,
"TRYING TO LINE UP VOTES
FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL
"WHEN YOUR OWN RECORD ON CIVIL
RIGHTS WAS NOT A GOOD ONE
"BEFORE YOU BECAME
VICE-PRESIDENT.
SO WHAT ACCOUNTED
FOR THE CHANGE?"
JOHNSON THOUGHT FOR A MOMEN
AND WRINKLED HIS BROW.
AND THEN HE SAID,
"WELL, I'LL ANSWER THA
"BY QUOTING A GOOD
FRIEND OF YOURS,
"AND YOU WILL RECOGNIZE
THE QUOTE INSTANTLY.
"'FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST,
THANK GOD ALMIGHTY,
I'M FREE AT LAST!'"
Announcer:
CONGRESS PASSES THE MOS
SWEEPING CIVIL RIGHTS BILL
EVER TO BE WRITTEN INTO THE LAW,
AND THUS REAFFIRMS THE
CONCEPTION
OF EQUALITY FOR ALL MEN THA
BEGAN WITH LINCOLN
AND THE CIVIL WAR 100 YEARS AGO.
THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964
McCullough:
WHEN LYNDON JOHNSON SIGNED
THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL INTO LAW,
A CENTURY OF ENFORCED
SEGREGATION WAS FINALLY OVER.
BLACKS AND WHITES COULD
RIDE THE SAME BUSES,
EAT AT THE SAME RESTAURANTS,
USE THE SAME WASHROOMS,
STAY AT THE SAME HOTELS.
A SOUTHERN PRESIDENT HAD BROKEN
THE SOUTHERN SYSTEM
OF SEGREGATION.
THERE WAS SOMETHING
ABOUT THIS MAN.
I MEAN, HE HAD
A PRETTY SHODDY CAREER,
AND HE'D DONE SOME PRETTY
RUTHLESS AND AWFUL THINGS,
BUT HE KNEW POVERTY
AND HE KNEW RACISM,
AND I REALLY THINK
THAT HE DECIDED
THAT THIS WAS THE WAY
TO ASSURE HIS PLACE IN HISTORY.
THIS WAS THE WAY
TO REALLY SAVE THE NATION.
AND HE KNEW IT WAS NO
POLITICALLY EXPEDIENT,
BUT I THINK HE REALLY
KNEW IT WAS RIGHT.
Janeway:
HIS ATTITUDE GOING IN
WAS THAT KENNEDY
COULDN'T PASS ANYTHING.
"I WILL PASS EVERYTHING
THAT KENNEDY FAILED TO DO.
"WHERE KENNEDY FAILED,
I WILL SUCCEED.
"I AM KENNEDY'S TRUSTEE;
I WILL OUT-KENNEDY KENNEDY.
"I WILL PERFORM
WHERE KENNEDY PROMISED.
PERIOD."
ESPECIALLY VIETNAM.
(man shouting commands
in Vietnamese)
McCullough:
FAR ACROSS THE WORLD,
IN A SMALL COUNTRY
IN SOUTHEAST ASIA,
THERE WERE OMINOUS
FOREBODINGS OF A WAR
THAT WOULD ONE DAY CONSUME
LYNDON JOHNSON'S PRESIDENCY.
Man:
I BELIEVE JOHNSON WISHED HE'D
NEVER HEARD OF VIETNAM.
HE DIDN'T HAVE
AN INTEREST IN VIETNAM.
HE DIDN'T CARE
ABOUT SOUTHEAST ASIA
WHEN HE FIRST CAME
TO THE WHITE HOUSE.
HE WISHED IT HAD NEVER COME TO
HIM, BUT IT HAD.
HE COULDN'T PASS
THE BUCK ANY LONGER.
THIS WAS THE GREAT TRAGEDY
REALLY OF HIS PRESIDENCY.
Reedy:
I CAN RECALL ONE NIGH
ON A VERY LONG WALK WITH HIM
AROUND THE SOUTH GROUNDS
OF THE WHITE HOUSE
WHERE HE SAID THAT VIETNAM
WAS GOING TO BE HIS DOWNFALL;
THAT VIETNAM WAS GOING
TO GIVE HIM A ROLE IN HISTORY
THAT WOULD BE
VERY, VERY NEGATIVE.
Reedy:
VIETNAM HAD NOT FIGURED
VERY PROMINENTLY
IN THE AMERICAN PRESS.
MOST AMERICANS DIDN'
HAVE THE FAINTEST IDEA
WHERE IT WAS OR
WHY IT WAS THERE.
I KNOW I MYSELF, FOR INSTANCE,
WHEN I WAS A CHILD
I HAD ONE OF THOSE CHILDREN'S
BOOKS,
"CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD."
I UNDERSTOOD MOST OF IT: LITTLE
DUTCH BOY, LITTLE DUTCH GIRL;
LITTLE CHINESE BOY,
LITTLE CHINESE GIRL.
BUT ONE PAGE HAD ME BAFFLED.
IT WAS A PLACE CALLED INDOCHINA.
McCullough:
JOHNSON DIDN'T START THE WAR
IN VIETNAM;
HE INHERITED IT.
THREE PRESIDENTS BEFORE HIM
TRUMAN, EISENHOWER,
AND KENNEDY
HAD SENT AMERICAN
ADVISORS AND WEAPONS
TO HELP FIGHT A NATIONALIS
UPRISING LED BY COMMUNISTS.
BY 1963, 16,000 AMERICAN
ADVISORS WERE ALREADY THERE.
VIETNAM WAS DIVIDED IN TWO.
SOUTH VIETNAM WEAK, CORRUP
AND DEPENDENT ON AMERICAN AID
WAS FIGHTING THE VIETCONG,
A GUERRILLA ARMY
THAT RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM
THE COMMUNISTS IN THE NORTH.
(soldiers singing)
McCullough:
IN THE NORTH, JOHNSON WOULD FIND
ADVERSARIES WITH A WILL
AS POWERFUL AS HIS OWN.
THEY WANTED
ONE VIETNAM, NOT TWO.
THEY HAD RESISTED THE JAPANESE
AND DEFEATED THE FRENCH.
THEY WERE NOT AFRAID
OF THE AMERICANS.
THEIR LEADER WAS A MAN
THEY CALLED "UNCLE HO."
HO CHI MINH WAS A SOLDIER,
A POLITICIAN
AND A DEDICATED MARXIST
RUTHLESS WHEN NECESSARY,
READY TO RISK EVERYTHING
TO UNITE HIS COUNTRY.
TO THE VIETNAMESE,
HO CHI MINH WAS A PATRIOT.
TO LYNDON JOHNSON,
HE WAS JUST ANOTHER COMMUNIST.
LESS THAN ONE MONTH BEFORE
JOHNSON BECAME PRESIDEN
SOUTH VIETNAM WAS
ON THE VERGE OF COLLAPSE.
(gunfire)
Man:
PRESIDENT JOHNSON INHERITED
A VIETNAM SITUATION
THAT WAS DETERIORATING.
THE POLITICAL SITUATION
WAS DETERIORATING;
THE MILITARY SITUATION
WAS DETERIORATING.
I REMEMBER VIVIDLY
THAT IT WAS ABOUT
OH, IT WAS THE SUNDAY
AFTER HE WAS SWORN IN
THAT HE HAD A MEETING
IN WHICH HE SAID,
"WE ARE GOING
TO CARRY ON WITH THIS."
AND THAT WAS
THE THEME: CONTINUITY.
WE ARE NOT CHANGING THINGS;
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT WORK.
Kearns:
HIS NEED TO FIGHT THAT WAR
WAS OUT OF A WHOLE WORLD VIEW
THAT HE SHARED WITH THE MAJORITY
OF THE COUNTRY:
THAT WHAT VIETNAM REALLY
REPRESENTED
WAS A HUGE STRUGGLE IN THE COLD
WAR WITH THE COMMUNISTS
AND THAT IF YOU GAVE AN INCH
SOMEWHERE,
SOMEHOW THEY WOULD BE
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
Announcer:
THE AIM OF THE COMMUNISTS
IS TO ESTABLISH CONTROL
OVER ALL OF VIETNAM
AND AFTER THAT,
OVER ALL OF SOUTHEAST ASIA.
Man:
PEOPLE GOT ENTRANCED BY MAPS
AND GREAT RED LINES SWEEPING
SOUTHWARD AND THEN WESTWARD.
THIS GREAT CARTOGRAPHIC FALLACY
IN FACT SEIZED THE MINDS
OF MEN WHO SHOULD
KNOW BETTER AT THE TOP.
McCullough:
JUST TWO DAYS IN OFFICE,
JOHNSON TOLD AN AIDE,
"THE CHINESE AND
THE FELLOWS IN THE KREMLIN,
"THEY'LL BE TAKING
THE MEASURE OF US.
"THEY'LL BE WONDERING
JUST HOW FAR THEY CAN GO.
"THEY'LL THINK WITH KENNEDY
DEAD, WE'VE LOST HEART.
THEY'LL THINK WE'RE YELLOW
AND DON'T MEAN WHAT WE SAY."
Man:
PRESIDENT JOHNSON,
IN ONE OF HIS
MORE HYPERBOLIC MOODS,
SAID HE FELT WE HAD RATHER
FACE THE THREAT OF COMMUNISM
IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
THAN FACE IT ON THE WES
COAST OF THE UNITED STATES.
McCullough:
THE PRESIDENT TURNED
TO SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
ROBERT McNAMARA
"THE MOST COMPETENT MAN
I EVER KNEW;
THE MOST OBJECTIVE MAN
I EVER MET," JOHNSON SAID.
THE PRESIDENT AFFECTIONATELY
CALLED HIM "MY LARD HAIR MAN."
THERE'S NO QUESTION IN OUR MINDS
BUT WHAT THE COMMUNISTS HAVE
STEPPED UP THEIR RATE OF ATTACK
IN RECENT WEEKS IN SOUTH
VIETNAM.
McCullough:
WHEN McNAMARA PROPOSED
AN INCREASE
IN AMERICAN ADVISORS AND COVER
COMMANDO RAIDS
AGAINST THE NORTH,
JOHNSON AGREED.
Thomson:
THERE WAS A STRONG SENSE
THAT AMERICANS WERE
"CAN DO" PEOPLE
AND THAT ANYTHING WE PUT OUR
MIND TO WE COULD ACCOMPLISH.
AND THE KIND OF RURAL, JUNGLE
WARFARE THAT THE COMMUNISTS
WERE INFLICTING ON US IN THE
THIRD WORLD, WE COULD ADAP
AND WE COULD WIN AT I
BECAUSE WE WERE SMARTER,
WE HAD MORE TECHNOLOGY,
WE HAD BILLIONS OF DOLLARS,
AND WE WOULD PREVAIL.
THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE
OF MY COUNTRY,
THE UNITED STATES,
STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER
WITH THE PEOPLE OF YOURS.
McCullough:
JOHNSON MADE IT McNAMARA'S WAR.
"I WANT THEM TO GE
OFF THEIR BUTTS
"AND GET OUT IN THOSE JUNGLES
AND WHIP HELL OUT OF
SOME COMMUNISTS," HE SAID.
"AND THEN I WANT THEM
TO LEAVE ME ALONE
BECAUSE I'VE GOT SOME BIGGER
THINGS TO DO
RIGHT HERE AT HOME."
(applause)
AND THIS ADMINISTRATION,
TODAY, HERE AND NOW,
DECLARES UNCONDITIONAL WAR
ON POVERTY IN AMERICA.
McCullough:
THE WAR AGAINST POVERTY
WAS THE WAR THAT JOHNSON
REALLY WANTED TO FIGHT.
IN HIS FIRS
"STATE OF THE UNION" ADDRESS
HE REACHED BACK TO THE POPULISM
OF HIS FATHER AND GRANDFATHER.
HE TOOK A KENNEDY ANTI-POVERTY
PROPOSAL AND MADE IT HIS OWN.
Johnson:
IT WILL NOT BE
A SHORT OR EASY STRUGGLE,
BUT WE SHALL NOT RES
UNTIL THAT WAR IS WON.
THE RICHEST NATION ON EARTH
CAN AFFORD TO WIN IT.
WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE IT.
McCullough:
WHEN LYNDON JOHNSON
BECAME PRESIDENT,
35 MILLION AMERICANS WERE LIVING
BELOW THE POVERTY LINE
IN THE MOST AFFLUENT COUNTRY
IN THE WORLD.
Cater:
AND I SAID,
"BUT THEY DON'T VOTE.
"THEY DON'T HAVE ANY
ORGANIZED LOBBIES.
"HOW IN THE WORLD
ARE YOU GOING TO GE
"ANY SUBSTANTIAL
LEGISLATION ON POVERTY?
JACK KENNEDY COULDN'T;
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO IT?"
HE LEANED BACK AND HE SAID
AND THESE WORDS ARE
ENGRAVED ON MY MEMORY
HE SAID, "I DON'T KNOW WHETHER
I'LL PASS A SINGLE LAW
"OR GET A SINGLE
DOLLAR APPROPRIATED
"BUT BEFORE I'M THROUGH,
NO COMMUNITY IN AMERICA
IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO IGNORE
THE POVERTY IN ITS MIDST."
McCullough:
JOHNSON NOW TURNED
TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE PEACE
CORPS, SARGENT SHRIVER.
Shriver:
ONE SATURDAY MORNING,
HE CALLED ME UP AND SAID THA
HIS RADIO SHOW,
WHICH HE HAD EVERY SATURDAY,
WAS GOING TO GO ON
IN A COUPLE OF HOURS
AND HE WANTED TO ANNOUNCE ON
THAT SHOW THAT I WAS GOING TO BE
THE NEW HEAD OF THE WAR AGAINS
POVERTY,
OR THE HEAD OF THE NEW WAR
AGAINST POVERTY.
AND I SAID, "WELL, MR.
PRESIDENT, REALLY, YOU KNOW,
"I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK
TO MY WIFE.
"I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO TALK
"TO ANY OF THE PEOPLE IN MY
OFFICE.
"I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'LL THINK
ABOUT IT IN THE PEACE CORPS.
"COULDN'T YOU JUST POSTPONE
THAT?
FRANKLY, I WOULD RATHER
TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT NEXT WEEK."
HE SAID, "WELL NOW, SARGENT, NO,
THE TRUTH IS
"WE'VE GOT TO GET ON WITH
THAT WAR AGAINST POVERTY,
"SO PLEASE TALK TO EUNICE NOW,
JUST TALK TO HER NOW,
AND I'LL CALL YOU BACK."
SO I PUT THE PHONE DOWN;
I COULDN'T BELIEVE MY EARS.
THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW,
THE PHONE RANG AGAIN.
THERE WAS THE PRESIDENT ON IT.
HE SAID, "WELL, WHA
HAVE YOU DECIDED?"
I SAID, "WELL, MR. PRESIDENT,
IT WOULD REALLY BE MUCH BETTER
"FOR ME AND MY FAMILY
"IF WE COULD JUST TALK ABOU
THIS NEXT MONDAY OR TUESDAY,
"AND SEE WHAT HAVE A BETTER
IDEA OF WHAT YOU WANT ME TO DO,
"AND I'M AFRAID IF YOU ANNOUNCE
"THAT I'M THE HEAD OF THE WAR
ON POVERTY
"PEOPLE WILL ASK ME WHAT I'M
GOING TO DO ABOUT IT,
"AND I DON'T KNOW, AND THAT WILL
BE A SOURCE OF EMBARRASSMEN
TO ME AND MAYBE
NOT SO GOOD FOR YOU."
HE SAID, "WELL, SARGE, YOU KNOW,
I HAVE THIS RADIO PROGRAM.
IT'S GOING ON IN ABOUT AN HOUR."
HE SAID, "LET ME CALL YOU BACK."
SO HE CALLED ME BACK
ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER
AND IN A VERY LOW VOICE,
CONFIDENTIAL-SOUNDING VOICE,
HE SAID, "NOW, LISTEN,
I'M GOING TO ANNOUNCE YOU.
"AND I CAN'T SPEAK ABOUT IT LOUD
"BECAUSE I HAVE
THE WHOLE CABINET HERE.
"BUT YOU JUST HAVE TO
UNDERSTAND, SARGENT,
"THIS IS YOUR PRESIDEN
SPEAKING,
"AND I'M GOING TO ANNOUNCE YOU
AS THE HEAD OF THE WAR
AGAINST POVERTY."
BUNG.
SO HELP ME GOD.
I TURNED TO MY WIFE,
AND I SAID, "IT LOOKS
AS IF I'M GOING TO BE
THE NEW HEAD OF
THE WAR AGAINST POVERTY."
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
PRESIDENT JOHNSON'S
PROGRAM ON POVERTY
IS DISTINGUISHED
IN AT LEAST FOUR WAYS
McCullough:
IN SIX SHORT WEEKS,
JOHNSON HAD COME UP
WITH HIS PACKAGE.
BUT HE WOULD LET SHRIVER
WORRY ABOUT THE DETAILS.
Shriver:
HE DIDN'T HAVE TO TELL ME WHA
HE DESIRED.
I KNEW WHAT HE DESIRED.
HE WANTED TO GET GOING BIG
AND HE WANTED TO GET GOING WITH
SUCCESS.
HE DIDN'T HAVE TO TELL ME THAT.
McCullough:
JOHNSON CRISSCROSSED
THE COUNTRY,
APPEALING FOR SUPPORT FOR
HIS ANTI-POVERTY LEGISLATION.
POVERTY IN AMERICA
HAD BEEN INVISIBLE.
JOHNSON PUT I
ON THE FRONT PAGES.
Johnson:
OUR FIRST OBJECTIVE IS TO FREE
30 MILLION AMERICANS
FROM THE PRISON OF POVERTY.
CAN YOU HELP US
FREE THESE AMERICANS?
AND IF YOU CAN,
LET ME HEAR YOUR VOICES!
McCullough:
FOR JOHNSON,
IT WAS A RETURN
TO HIS POLITICAL PAST,
THE OLD BATTLE CRIES OF
THE NEW DEAL COMING ALIVE AGAIN.
Man:
HE WAS THE LAST SOLDIER
IN THE NEW DEAL WAR,
THE FINAL EXPRESSION OF
EVERYTHING WHICH HAD GONE ON
IN THE '30s AND '40s: GOVERNMEN
AS MOTHER, FATHER, SMOTHERING,
LYNDON JOHNSON,
BIG ARMS AROUND YOU
"I LOVE YOU,
I WANT YOU TO DO BETTER."
DO SOMETHING WE CAN BE PROUD OF.
HELP THE WEAK AND THE MEEK
AND LIFT THEM UP
AND HELP THEM TRAIN
AND GIVE THEM AN EDUCATION
WHERE THEY CAN MAKE
THEIR OWN WAY
INSTEAD OF HAVING TO LIVE OFF
THE BOUNTY OF OUR GENEROSITY.
Dugger:
MOST PEOPLE DON'T ACTIVELY CARE
ABOUT PEOPLE THEY DON'T KNOW,
PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING.
IT'S HARD FOR US
TO REMEMBER THOSE PEOPLE.
LYNDON NEVER REALLY FORGOT THEM,
I THINK.
I REALLY THINK HE NEVER DID.
Dallek:
HIS VISION WAS OF HELPING
THE DISADVANTAGED
TO HELP THEMSELVES.
HIS HOPE WAS THA
YOU GIVE THEM EDUCATION,
YOU GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITY,
YOU GIVE THEM THE CHANCE TO COME
INTO THE MAINSTREAM
OF AMERICAN MIDDLE-CLASS
ECONOMIC LIFE.
AND THAT'S AS THOROUGHLY
AMERICAN AS APPLE PIE.
Johnson:
WE HAVE A RIGHT TO EXPEC
THE JOBS THAT PROVIDE FOOD
FOR OUR FAMILIES,
A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS,
CLOTHES FOR THEIR BODIES.
AND WITH YOUR HELP,
AND WITH GOD'S HELP,
WE WILL HAVE IT IN AMERICA.
THANK YOU.
(cheering)
McCullough:
JOHNSON WOULD MAKE WAR
ON POVERTY
AND THERE WOULD BE
NO CASUALTIES.
EVERYONE WOULD BE A WINNER,
EVEN BIG BUSINESS.
HE WOULD TELL BUSINESS PEOPLE,
"LISTEN, WE'VE GO
A VERY ABUNDANT COUNTRY.
"WE'VE GOT THE RESOURCES TO HELP
THESE PEOPLE
WHO ARE RIGHT AT THE BOTTOM.
"FOR GOD'S SAKE,
DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND
THAT YOUR INTEREST" IN EFFEC
HE WAS ARGUING
"YOUR INTEREST AS A BUSINESS
LEADER IS THE WELFARE STATE
BECAUSE YOU KEEP
EVERYTHING STABLE."
IT MUST HAVE BEEN
A VERY APPEALING ARGUMEN
TO A CORPORATE EXECUTIVE,
WHO WAS NOW TO THE RIGHT OF
ATTILA THE HUN,
THAT IN A CIVILIZED COUNTRY
WITH SUCH ABUNDANCE AS WE HAVE
ASTOUNDING ABUNDANCE COMPARED
TO THE REST OF THE WORLD
YOU CAN AFFORD TO BE LIBERAL
WITH THE POOR.
Shriver:
WE WERE A GENERATION OF PEOPLE
WHO HAD BEEN IN WORLD WAR II.
SO WHEN A WAR AGAINST POVERTY
WAS LAUNCHED,
IT WAS TYPICAL OF ALL OF US
AT THAT TIME
TO THINK OF THIS WAR,
THE WAR AGAINST POVERTY,
IN TERMS JUST LIKE
THE WAR AGAINST HITLER.
WE WERE ACCUSTOMED TO THINKING
IN TERMS
OF THE UNITED STATES BEING ABLE
TO DO BIG THINGS.
AMERICA BESTRODE THE WORLD
LIKE A COLOSSUS.
THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE WORLD
EQUAL
TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
McCullough:
THE WAR ON POVERTY WAS JUST PAR
OF JOHNSON'S PROGRAM
FOR THE COUNTRY.
FEW ANTICIPATED THAT THIS
COARSE AND ABRASIVE TEXAN
WOULD PROPOSE A SERIES OF LAWS
TO ENRICH DAILY LIFE
FOR ALL AMERICANS.
HE CALLED HIS VISION
"THE GREAT SOCIETY."
THE GREAT SOCIETY IS A PLACE
WHERE EVERY CHILD CAN FIND
KNOWLEDGE TO ENRICH HIS MIND
AND TO ENLARGE HIS TALENTS.
IT IS A PLACE WHERE LEISURE
IS THE WELCOME CHANCE
TO BUILD AND REFLECT,
NOT A FEARED CAUSE
OF BOREDOM AND RESTLESSNESS.
IT IS A PLACE WHERE
THE CITY OF MAN SERVES
NOT ONLY THE NEEDS OF THE BODY
AND THE DEMANDS OF COMMERCE,
BUT THE DESIRE FOR BEAUTY
AND THE HUNGER FOR COMMUNITY.
McCullough:
IT WAS AN INFLATED RHETORIC,
THE KIND AMERICAN LEADERS
SELDOM USE ANYMORE.
IT IS A PLACE WHICH HONORS
CREATION FOR ITS OWN SAKE.
McCullough:
AS ONE AIDE DESCRIBED IT,
"WHAT HE MEANT WAS
A FULL STOMACH, YES,
BUT A FULLER LIFE, TOO."
IT IS A PLACE WHERE MEN
ARE MORE CONCERNED
WITH THE QUALITY
OF THEIR GOALS
THAN THE QUANTITY
OF THEIR GOODS.
(applause)
McCullough:
HIS ASPIRATIONS WERE ENORMOUS.
HE WANTED TO DO
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.
HE WANTED TO BE THE BES
FATHER AMERICANS EVER HAD.
BUT IN 1964, JOHNSON
STILL THOUGHT OF HIMSELF
AS STANDING IN
JOHN KENNEDY'S SHADOW.
HE HATED THAT HE WAS MERELY
AN ACCIDENTAL PRESIDENT.
HE WANTED TO BE ELECTED
PRESIDENT IN HIS OWN RIGHT.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
WAS GOING TO MAKE IT EASY.
I WOULD REMIND YOU
THAT EXTREMISM IN THE DEFENSE
OF LIBERTY IS NO VICE.
(cheering)
McCullough:
IN THE MIDDLE OF JULY,
AT THE COW PALACE IN SAN
FRANCISCO,
THE RIGHT WING OF
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TRIUMPHED.
A MAJOR-GENERAL
IN THE AIR FORCE RESERVE,
ARIZONA SENATOR BARRY GOLDWATER,
WAS NOMINATED FOR PRESIDENT.
GOLDWATER'S CAMPAIGN SLOGAN WAS
"IN YOUR HEAR
YOU KNOW HE'S RIGHT."
SOME WAG APPENDED "FAR RIGHT."
AND IT STUCK.
THANK YOU.
I'LL SAY SO THAT ALL
AMERICAN PEOPLE CAN HEAR,
THAT THE ONLY ENEMY OF PEACE
IN THE WORLD IS COMMUNISM.
AND I DON'T CARE WHETHER
IT'S RED CHINESE COMMUNISM
OR RUSSIAN COMMUNISM OR WHOSE
COMMUNISM IT IS, IT'S COMMUNISM.
McCullough:
JOHNSON WATCHED GOLDWATER
ON TELEVISION,
THEN FLICKED OFF THE SE
WITH A SMILE.
GOLDWATER HAD ACCUSED
THE DEMOCRATS
OF BEING SOFT ON COMMUNISM.
IF JOHNSON COULD PROVE HE WAS AS
STAUNCH AS HIS REPUBLICAN RIVAL
HE WOULD HAVE
MORE THAN A VICTORY.
THE 1964 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
WOULD BE A LANDSLIDE.
LESS THAN THREE WEEKS LATER,
CLOSE TO MIDNIGHT,
JOHNSON MADE A DRAMATIC
TELEVISION APPEARANCE.
AS PRESIDEN
AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF
IT IS MY DUTY TO
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO REPOR
THAT RENEWED HOSTILE ACTIONS
AGAINST UNITED STATES SHIPS
ON THE HIGH SEAS
IN THE GULF OF TONKIN
HAVE TODAY REQUIRED ME
TO ORDER THE MILITARY FORCES
OF THE UNITED STATES
TO TAKE ACTION IN REPLY.
Johnson:
OUR RESPONSE FOR THE PRESEN
WILL BE LIMITED AND FITTING.
McCullough:
AMERICAN BOMBERS STRIKING DEEP
INTO NORTH VIETNAM
DEMONSTRATED THAT JOHNSON
WAS A COMMITTED ANTI-COMMUNIST.
Man:
Roger, let's go get 'em.
McCullough:
JOHNSON WOULD USE THIS INCIDEN
TO ACQUIRE THE POWER
TO MAKE WAR IN VIETNAM
WHENEVER AND HOWEVER
HE WOULD CHOOSE.
JOHNSON ACCUSED
THE NORTH VIETNAMESE
OF AN UNPROVOKED ATTACK.
BUT, IN FACT, FOR SIX MONTHS
THE PRESIDENT HAD BEEN
RUNNING COVERT RAIDS
AGAINST NORTH VIETNAM.
Man: All hands,
man your battle stations
McCullough:
FINALLY, ON AUGUST 2,
NORTH VIETNAMESE
TORPEDO BOATS RETALIATED.
THEY FIRED ON
THE U.S. DESTROYER MADDOX
IN THE GULF OF TONKIN.
THE MADDOX RETURNED THE FIRE,
SINKING ONE VIETNAMESE SHIP
AND CRIPPLING TWO OTHERS.
Man:
AND WE TOOK THE VIEW
WHEN THAT OCCURRED THA
THAT MIGH
HAVE BEEN THE ACTION
OF TRIGGER-HAPPY
LOCAL COMMANDERS
AND DID NOT REPRESEN
A GOVERNMENTAL POLICY
ON THE PART OF NORTH VIETNAM.
AND SO WE TENDED TO DISREGARD
THAT ATTACK.
McCullough:
TWO DAYS AFTER
THE FIRST INCIDENT,
FEARING THEY WERE ONCE AGAIN
UNDER ATTACK,
ANXIOUS SAILORS ON THE MADDOX
FIRED THEIR WEAPONS
INTO A DARK, MOONLESS NIGHT.
THEIR UNEASY COMMANDER
BEGAN SENDING CABLES
BACK TO THE PENTAGON.
ON AUGUST 4, I BEGAN READING
A KIND OF CABLE
THAT ONE VERY RARELY SAW
IN THE PENTAGON
AND I DON'T I VERY RARELY
SAW AGAIN.
THESE WERE OPERATIONAL CABLES.
McCullough:
DANIEL ELLSBERG,
HIS SECOND DAY ON DUTY
IN THE PENTAGON,
FOUND HIMSELF READING
THIS REMARKABLE SERIES
OF TOP-SECRET MESSAGES
FROM THE GULF OF TONKIN.
THESE WERE OPERATIONAL CABLES
COMING IN ON A FLASH BASIS,
A VERY SPECIAL HANDLING, ABOU
AN OPERATION THAT WAS GOING ON
AT THAT MOMENT ON
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD.
THE CABLES SAID, "WE ARE
UNDER ATTACK AT THIS MOMENT.
"WE HAVE JUST SUCCESSFULLY
EVADED ONE TORPEDO.
"I AM TAKING EVASIVE ACTION.
"NOW TWO TORPEDOES."
NOW ANOTHER CABLE: "FOUR
TORPEDOES ARE IN THE WATER.
"SIX TORPEDOES ARE
IN THE WATER.
"WE HAVE 21 TORPEDOES"
NOT ALL AT THE SAME TIME
BUT "WE'VE HAD 21 TORPEDOES
COMING AT US."
APPARENTLY THE WATER WAS JUS
SOWN AND STREWN WITH TORPEDOES.
McCullough:
AS SOON AS THE TONKIN CABLES
WERE RELAYED TO THE WHITE HOUSE,
JOHNSON PREPARED TO RETALIATE.
AND THEN SUDDENLY A CABLE CAME
IN THAT WAS A WARNING BELL
SAID, "REEVALUATION OF THE
INFORMATION WE'RE GETTING HERE
"SUGGESTS THAT FREAK
WEATHER EFFECTS
"AND AN OVEREAGER SONARMAN
MAY HAVE ACCOUNTED
"FOR MOST OF THE REPORTS
WE'VE BEEN GETTING.
RECOMMEND FULL EVALUATION
BEFORE ANY ACTION IS TAKEN."
JUST AS SOON AS WE STARTED
TO GET INCOHERENT MESSAGES
THAT HAD BEEN PUT TOGETHER,
I BEGAN TO FEEL A COLD CHILL
"HEY, WAIT A MINUTE,
THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG HERE."
McCullough:
THE COMMANDER OF THE MADDOX
WAS STILL DOUBTFUL.
WERE ANY NORTH VIETNAMESE BOATS
EVER OUT THERE THAT DARK NIGHT?
AT DAYBREAK, RECONNAISSANCE
PLANES SCANNED THE OCEAN
FOR A SLICK OF OIL,
A STICK OF WOOD,
ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE EVIDENCE
OF A NORTH VIETNAMESE ATTACK.
NOTHING COULD BE FOUND.
THE EVIDENCE WAS INCONCLUSIVE,
BUT JOHNSON WENT AHEAD ANYWAY
AND ORDERED THE FIRST BOMBING
RAIDS ON NORTH VIETNAM.
RETALIATION AFTER TONKIN WENT ON
FOR NEARLY FIVE HOURS.
ONE PILOT WAS KILLED,
ANOTHER CAPTURED.
NO ONE KNEW HOW MANY
NORTH VIETNAMESE WERE KILLED.
THE NEXT DAY JOHNSON PRESENTED
HIS VERSION OF THE INCIDENT.
ON AUGUST 2, THE UNITED STATES
DESTROYER MADDOX WAS ATTACKED
ON THE HIGH SEAS
IN THE GULF OF TONKIN.
McCullough:
FACING A HUGE BANNER
THAT PROCLAIMED
"SYRACUSE LOVES L.B.J."
THE PRESIDENT WAS CAREFUL
NOT TO REVEAL THE WHOLE STORY.
ON AUGUST 4,
THAT ATTACK WAS REPEATED.
Ellsberg:
HE DIDN'T EXPLAIN
THAT ON THE WHOLE WE THINK THA
THERE PROBABLY WAS AN ATTACK
TO WHICH WE WERE RETALIATING.
THEY SAID INSTEAD,
FOR OBVIOUS REASONS,
THERE WAS AN UNEQUIVOCAL ATTACK
UPON OUR SHIPS, WHICH WAS A LIE,
AND IT WAS UNPROVOKED.
THE ATTACKS WERE DELIBERATE.
THE ATTACKS WERE UNPROVOKED.
Ellsberg:
THAT, TOO, WAS A LIE.
WE WERE RUNNING RAIDS
AGAINST NORTH VIETNAM,
WHICH THE NORTH VIETNAMESE
CORRECTLY ASSOCIATED
WITH THE DESTROYER PATROLS.
McCullough:
JOHNSON CALLED
IN CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS
FOR A BRIEFING.
WELL, AS I RECALL IT, HE HAD ME
AND A NUMBER OF THE COMMITTEE
DOWN TO THE WHITE HOUSE
AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THIS
TERRIBLY UNPROVOKED ATTACK
"WE WERE VERY PEACEABLY
GOING ABOUT OUR BUSINESS
"AND WITHOUT PROVOCATION
THEY ATTACKED US,
SENT OUT THESE GUNBOATS,
YOU KNOW, AND SURROUNDED US."
AND THEY EVEN HAD
A LITTLE SHELL
THIS IS EVIDENCE
"IT HAD FALLEN ON THE DECK OF
ONE OF OUR SHIPS."
IT DIDN'T OCCUR TO ME TO THINK
HE WAS LYING ABOUT I
OR MISREPRESENTING.
I SWALLOWED IT.
IT WAS A YEAR OR TWO BEFORE I
DISCOVERED I HAD BEEN TAKEN IN.
McCullough:
FEW AMERICANS QUESTIONED
THE PRESIDENT'S VERSION
OF EVENTS.
WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT DARK NIGH
HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD
ONLY BECAME APPARENT LATER.
Man:
JOHNSON TOLD ME IN SOME DISGUS
THAT THOSE DAMN SAILORS WERE
SHOOTING AT A LOT OF FLYING FISH
AND THEY OUGHT TO KNOW
BETTER THAN THAT.
HE NEVER THOUGHT WELL, HE
BELIEVED AT FIRS
BUT THEN HE CAME TO BELIEVE
THAT THERE WAS NOTHING IN IT,
THAT THIS HAD BEEN THEY'D
JUST BEEN SEEING SHADOWS.
McCullough:
JOHNSON NEVER ASKED CONGRESS
TO DECLARE WAR.
INSTEAD, HE USED THE INCIDEN
TO CUT HIMSELF LOOSE
FROM CONGRESSIONAL CONTROL.
HE REQUESTED A RESOLUTION
THAT WOULD GIVE HIM THE POWER
TO EXPAND THE WAR WITHOU
FURTHER AUTHORIZATION.
AFTER DELIBERATING
JUST 40 MINUTES,
THE HOUSE APPROVED
THE TONKIN GULF RESOLUTION.
NOT A SINGLE REPRESENTATIVE
VOTED NO.
OVER IN THE SENATE, THERE WERE
JUST TWO DISSENTING VOTES.
ON AUGUST 7, JOHNSON
SIGNED THE RESOLUTION.
THE LANGUAGE WAS BROAD,
THE AUTHORITY SWEEPING.
JOHNSON WAS HEARD TO SAY, "IT'S
LIKE GRANDMOTHER'S NIGHTSHIRT
IT COVERS EVERYTHING."
Clifford:
IT WAS ABOUT AS CLOSE
TO A DECLARATION OF WAR
AS ONE COULD GET.
THAT STARTED US DOWN
THE LONG ROAD OF VIETNAM.
(applause)
McCullough:
JUST THREE WEEKS
AFTER JOHNSON SIGNED
THE TONKIN GULF RESOLUTION,
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HELD
ITS NOMINATING CONVENTION
IN ATLANTIC CITY.
Man:
ONE HAS TO REMEMBER
THAT THE CANDIDATE RUNNING
AGAINST LYNDON JOHNSON
WAS BARRY GOLDWATER.
AND I'VE ALWAYS THOUGH
THE TONKIN GULF RESOLUTION
WAS ESSENTIALLY
AN ELECTION RESOLUTION.
IT WAS AIMED AT GOLDWATER
AND AIMED AT THE RIGHT WING.
I THINK MOST OF THE DEMOCRATIC
SENATORS IN CONGRESS
THOUGHT THAT.
IT WAS DESIGNED TO SHOW
THAT LYNDON JOHNSON WAS PREPARED
TO BE AS TOUGH
AS ANYBODY COULD BE
AND THEREFORE TAKE
SOME OF THE WIND
OUT OF THE SAILS
OF A RIGHT-WING CANDIDATE.
MY FELLOW AMERICANS,
I ACCEPT YOUR NOMINATION.
(cheering)
McCullough:
WHEN HE WON
HIS RACE FOR THE SENATE
WITH A TAINTED 87 VOTES,
HE WAS DOGGED BY THE NICKNAME
"LANDSLIDE LYNDON."
WHEN THE MURDER
OF A BELOVED PRESIDEN
PUT HIM IN THE WHITE HOUSE,
HE WAS SCORNED
AS AN ACCIDENTAL PRESIDENT.
IN NOVEMBER OF 1964,
LYNDON JOHNSON WANTED A VICTORY
TO WASH ALL THOSE MEMORIES AWAY.
Johnson:
I ASK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
FOR A MANDATE
NOT JUST TO KEEP THINGS GOING.
I ASK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
FOR A MANDATE TO BEGIN.
(applause)
LET US BE ON OUR WAY!
(singing):
HELLO, LYNDON ♪
WELL, HELLO, LYNDON ♪
IT'S JUST GREAT TO HAVE YOU
THERE WHERE YOU BELONG ♪
YOU'RE LOOKING ♪
McCullough:
FROM THE BEGINNING,
JOHNSON WAS FAR AHEAD,
AND THE LEAD INSPIRED HIM.
HE EXCITED THE CROWDS
AND RELISHED THEIR ARDOR.
"LOOK AT THEM," HE WOULD SAY,
"JUST LOOK AT THEM."
HERE IN THE FACES
OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS
WAS THE LOVE AND AFFECTION
HE WAS ALWAYS SEEKING.
Kearns:
THE GREAT MAJORITY FEL
THAT LYNDON JOHNSON WAS SAFE,
SECURE.
EVERYBODY WAS WITH LYNDON
JOHNSON,
EXCEPT FOR, AS HE COULD SAY,
"THE KOOKS,"
WHO WERE WITH GOLDWATER.
JOHNSON, I'M NOT SURE,
COULD EVER ACCEP
THAT THERE WAS A GROUP OUT THERE
THAT WASN'T GOING TO LIKE HIM.
HE WANTED TO WIN OVER EVERYBODY
IF HE POSSIBLY COULD.
Woman:
UNDERNEATH IT ALL,
HE WAS VERY INSECURE,
EASILY HURT OR AFFRONTED.
WHENEVER HE RAN FOR OFFICE,
HE BROKE OUT IN SPOTS.
HE HAD A KIND OF PSYCHOLOGICAL
ECZEMA THAT HE GOT.
Wilkins:
I WAS IN THE WHITE HOUSE
ONE DAY,
AND JOHNSON PUT HIS ARM
AROUND ME AND SAID,
"WE NEED ALL THE HELP
WE CAN GET.
"I'VE GOT I NEED NEW YORK.
"YOU KNOW PEOPLE IN NEW YORK.
YOU WERE RAISED UP IN MICHIGAN."
HOW HE KNEW I WAS RAISED IN
MICHIGAN I'LL NEVER KNOW.
"I WANT YOUR HELP IN MICHIGAN.
WHAT OTHER STATES DO YOU KNOW?"
SO LATER I TALKED TO A GUY,
A TEXAN WHOM I KNEW
WHO WAS CLOSE TO JOHNSON,
AND I DESCRIBED THIS
AND I SAID, "CRAIG,
HE'S WAY AHEAD.
"THE POLLS SHOW HE'S
GOING TO DESTROY GOLDWATER.
"WHAT'S HE DOING THIS
WITH ME FOR?
WHAT DOES HE WANT?"
AND CRAIG LOOKED AT ME AND SAID,
"HE WANTS IT ALL."
(singing):
THAT HE'S THE ONE ♪
THE WHOLE WORLD SAYS
THAT HE'S THE ONE ♪
THE WHOLE DARN WORLD AGREES
THAT HE'S THE ONE. ♪
McCullough:
JOHNSON PAINTED
HIS REPUBLICAN RIVAL
AS INSENSITIVE TO THE NEEDS
OF MINORITIES AND THE POOR.
IT WASN'T HARD
TO MAKE THE CHARGES STICK.
MINORITY GROUPS RUN
THIS COUNTRY,
AND JUST FACE UP TO IT.
AND I MUST BE
HONEST ENOUGH TO SAY
I DON'T SEE HOW ANY NEGRO
OR WHITE PERSON OF SELF-RESPEC
CAN VOTE FOR MR. GOLDWATER.
(cheering)
I'M RONALD REAGAN.
EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD HEAR
WHAT BARRY GOLDWATER REALLY HAS
TO SAY,
NOT WHAT A BUNCH OF DISTORTERS
OF THE TRUTH
WOULD HAVE YOU BELIEVE.
THIS COUNTRY, MY FRIENDS,
MUST ALWAYS MAINTAIN
SUCH SUPERIOR STRENGTH, SUCH
DEVASTATING STRIKE-BACK POWER
McCullough:
GOLDWATER FRIGHTENED
MANY AMERICANS
WITH TALK ABOU
USING NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
CREATING SUICIDE FOR
THEMSELVES AND THEIR SOCIETY
IF THEY PUSH THE BUTTON.
ONE
TWO
McCullough:
THE JOHNSON STAFF DEVISED
A COMMERCIAL
THAT CAPTURED
EVERYBODY'S NIGHTMARE.
FIVE
SEVEN
McCullough:
IT WAS SO CONTROVERSIAL,
THEY RAN IT ONLY ONE TIME.
EIGHT
NINE
NINE
Man:
Ten
nine
eight
seven
six
five
four
three
two
one
zero.
Johnson:
THESE ARE THE STAKES:
TO MAKE A WORLD IN WHICH
ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN CAN LIVE
OR TO GO INTO THE DARK.
WE MUST EITHER LOVE EACH OTHER
OR WE MUST DIE.
VOTE FOR PRESIDENT JOHNSON
ON NOVEMBER 3.
THE STAKES ARE TOO HIGH
FOR YOU TO STAY HOME.
McCullough:
JOHNSON PRESENTED HIMSELF
AS THE PEACE CANDIDATE.
HE PROMISED HE WOULD NEVER
SEND AMERICAN BOYS
TO FIGHT IN VIETNAM.
HE NEVER WANTED VIETNAM
TO BECOME A CAMPAIGN ISSUE.
"IF YOU HAVE A MOTHER-IN-LAW
WITH ONLY ONE EYE,
AND SHE HAS IT IN THE CENTER
OF HER FOREHEAD," HE SAID,
"YOU DON'T KEEP HER
IN THE LIVING ROOM."
(singing):
HELLO, LYNDON ♪
McCullough:
ON THE DAY OF THE ELECTION
JOHNSON WAITED, HE SAID,
"FOR THE MOMEN
THAT I HAVE SPENT MY WHOLE LIFE
GETTING READY FOR."
Kearns:
HE COULDN'T TAKE ANY PLEASURE,
OBVIOUSLY,
OUT OF BECOMING PRESIDEN
BECAUSE JOHN KENNEDY HAD DIED,
BUT NOW SUDDENLY AS HE SAW IT HE
COULD PICTURE, HE WOULD TELL ME,
EVERYBODY GOING INTO THE VOTING
BOOTH, PULLING THE LEVER
OR WRITING AN "X" FOR HIM,
AND I THINK HE REALLY MEAN
"THEY LOVE ME."
IT WASN'T ENOUGH TO DEFEA
GOLDWATER BY A HUGE LANDSLIDE.
HE COULDN'T UNDERSTAND,
IF IT HAD BEEN 90% TO 10%
WHY THOSE OTHER 10%
HADN'T BEEN PERSUADED.
McCullough:
"MILLIONS AND MILLIONS
OF PEOPLE,"
HE WOULD LATER SAY,
"EACH MARKING MY NAME
ON THEIR BALLOT.
"EACH WANTED ME
AS THEIR PRESIDENT.
"FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN ALL MY LIFE
I TRULY FELT LOVED
BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE."
THROUGHOUT THE CAMPAIGN
JOHNSON HAD KEPT AMERICANS
IGNORANT ABOUT VIETNAM.
BUT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
HE AND HIS ADVISORS
HAD BEEN MAKING DECISIONS
THAT WOULD LEAD THE NATION
DEEPER AND DEEPER INTO WAR.
I WAS PRESENT AT A MEETING
IN AUGUST '64
WITH THE SECRETARIES OF STATE,
DEFENSE AND OTHERS
WITH THE PRESIDEN
AT WHICH THE PRESIDEN
ISSUED MARCHING ORDERS
FOR WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING
WHILE HE WAS OUT CAMPAIGNING.
WHAT HE WANTED
TO HAVE AVAILABLE FOR HIM
WHEN HE RETURNED
VICTORIOUS, WE HOPED
WAS AS WIDE A RANGE OF OPTIONS
AS TO HOW VIETNAM SHOULD
BE COPED WITH AS POSSIBLE.
DO WE HAVE TO ESCALATE THE WAR?
DO WE HAVE TO ATTACK
NORTH VIETNAM?
DO WE HAVE TO SEND TROOPS?
CAN THIS REGIME IN SAIGON
HOLD ITSELF TOGETHER?
NOT TOTALLY COLLAPSE,
NOT DEFECT EN MASSE?
CAN WE AVOID DEFEAT IN VIETNAM
ANOTHER WEEK, ANOTHER MONTH?
CAN WE HOLD VIETNAM TOGETHER
WITHOUT ENLARGING THE WAR
ENORMOUSLY TILL THE ELECTION?
Johnson:
I, LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON,
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR
THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY
EXECUTE THE OFFICE
OF THE PRESIDENCY
OF THE UNITED STATES
Man:
AND WILL TO THE BES
OF YOUR ABILITY
McCullough:
IT WAS AN UNPRECEDENTED VICTORY:
THE PRESIDENCY BY MORE VOTES
THAN ANY MAN EVER BEFORE,
THE CONGRESS BY
AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY,
AND WITH POLITICAL POWER, AN
OPPORTUNITY TO DO GREAT THINGS.
NO LONGER A SCORNED
AND FRUSTRATED VICE-PRESIDENT
NO LONGER
AN ACCIDENTAL PRESIDENT
LYNDON JOHNSON WAS NOW ONE
OF THE MOST POPULAR PRESIDENTS
OF THE CENTURY.
ON THE NIGH
OF HIS INAUGURAL GALA
JOHNSON TOLD HIS GUESTS,
"DON'T STAY UP LATE.
WE'RE ON OUR WAY
TO THE GREAT SOCIETY."
ON JANUARY 20, 1965,
THERE WAS NO HIN
THAT JOHNSON'S GREAT SOCIETY
WAS ABOUT TO BE OVERWHELMED BY
A FULL-SCALE LAND WAR IN ASIA,
THAT LYNDON JOHNSON
HAD ALREADY SOWN THE SEEDS
OF HIS OWN DESTRUCTION.
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