Bryan Cranston describes his impressions of LBJ

Actor Bryan Cranston spent time at the LBJ Library doing research for his role as President Johnson in Robert Schenkkan's play, "All the Way." He discusses his impressions of LBJ during an evening event in the LBJ Auditorium in November 2013.

[@ashleychase9759]

Bryan Cranston did a great job playing LBJ

[@NxDoyle]

A lot of people think that LBJ's support for civil rights was purely political. There is no denying that both Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts were, like much else in President Johnson's working life, underpinned by politics and political expediency. But LBJ was pro-civil rights for more than mere political gain. His greatest political mentors were segregationists and he had the will and the strength of character to oppose them.

[@austinpittman1599]

>his greatest political mentors were segregationists I feel like that should be more of a red flag to you than it currently is. The whole Luke vs Anakin Skywalker, "he opposed the dark side" dynamic is a good bit off-base.

[@2000Betelgeuse]

When I was a young Mexican kid growing up in Mexico/Texas I always though Mr Johnson was the epitome of racism, never believed the school's history books, one teacher I remember told me if you don't believe it, prove me wrong, I took her challenge, when I got out of college I started doing my own research, went to Stonewall, Johnson City, spent hours in the LBJ library, as time went by I found that this man really did fight for the underprivileged, the best he thought how, he made a lot of mistakes for sure but I think his heart was in the right place

[@TheJMascis666]

2000Betelgeuse Fantastic post.

[@alexloomis2398]

People will always believe that rural Southern whites are racists. That's what everyone's taught. Because it is useful to the wealthy white folks to create smokescreens and scapegoats. It's a prejudice that really needs to die.

[@johnfarr2738]

He played LBJ perfectly

[@katierhoden2755]

RevanGabriel He's playing LBJ in a play on Broadway, so it's not that random.

[@rabarker85]

Cranston looks a lot like George H. W. Bush in this. I believe he would be great playing that President.

[@JaredGoerke]

When in costume, he looks exactly like LBJ. He did a great job. This is a great idea though. I didn't realize it until you said it. I'd be interested in that movie as well!

[@kevkevdj]

Read my lips no blue stuff!

[@willoneil1456]

Great Job He Nailed It. America is divided by race and politics

[@patriciamarques8842]

Very good actor

[@TheJMascis666]

I can’t express into words how much I love LBJ.

[@RevanGabriel]

Pretty random to see Bryan Cranston of all people talking about LBJ.

[@stewiegriffin12341]

He was playing him on Broadway at the time of this interview.

[@wayneedward7391]

I thought he was a teacher I wasn't 100 but that's answers alot I always wondered if he the civil Rights bill to make history and get elected or because or believed in that because he ran with the other southern senetors remember strong thurman and so on but I think it's cool that a southern president was the one to get the job done.Lets not forget he turned his back own his own party the Democrats and he work with Republicans to get the bill passed the only thing he took out of the bill was voting rights but he promised it one year later and he was a man if his word and delivered !!

[@RuturajZadbuke]

Actually the movie takes some liberties to make it sound dramatic. Voting rights were already weak in 1962 bill from what I read online.

[@zyxquark]

Bill Moyers, of PBS fame, said LBJ was the most intelligent person he ever met. Think about that. Bill Moyers has met basically everyone.

[@teacherhenry4024]

LBJ was a very sinister individual

[@brianarbenz7206]

In 1948, a Senate candidate said Truman's Civil Rights bill was as bad as slavery because it would tell businesses they had to hire somebody, which he said was just as evil as telling someone you have to work for somebody. That warped logic was stated by Lyndon Johnson, the most powerful segregationist in the nation until 1964. Johnson did not "get Civil Rights passed," he finally got out of the way of it so Martin Luther King, Fannie Lou Hamer, Medgar Evers, James Chaney, Viola Liuzzo, Andrew Goodman, Michael Schwerner and so many other brave people could get it passed.

[@CapstoneTider]

LBJ ruined the country.