LBJ and Richard Russell 11/29/1963. 8:55P.

Warren Commission: Telephone Conversation between President Johnson and Richard Russell, 11/29/63
Citation no. K6311.06
PNO 15
November 29, 1963.
Time 8:55P
Speakers: President Johnson, Richard Russell, and A. W. Moursund
Topic: LBJ Tells Russell He Has Appointed Him To Commission To Investigate JFK Assassination
More info on the telephone conversations: www.lbjlib.utexas.edu/johnson/...
President Johnson assigned his copyright to the United States government; however, the copyright of the President may not extend beyond statements made by President Johnson. Statements uttered by officials of the United States government in the course of their duties are considered to be in the public domain. Users of the recordings and transcripts are cautioned, however, that not all persons recorded were government officials. A number of the people recorded were, at the time of recording, private citizens. Therefore, those intending to quote from this material beyond the accepted limits of fair use are cautioned to determine the copyright implications of any intended publication.

[@psychocowboysfan6474]

This is one of the most fascinating examples of hard closing someone into doing something. LBJ switched between nice, innuendo and not taking no for an answer.

[@jacktheripoff1888]

"You're going to do what I say." "I'm not going to threaten you, even though that's exactly what I'm doing right now." "Oh by the way, we all love you."

[@ronniebishop2496]

Hahahahaha

[@chalklounge]

This is a wonderful listen. A gift from history.

[@TheLBJLibrary]

We have actually rerecorded some of these early conversations in an attempt to get better sound, although the improvements are only slight. They will be completed in the next few months and I will share them here, so you may hear more in another version of this recording. The original dictabelts are plastic, old, and very fragile: see the end of this playlist description for a photo.

[@cedarwest37]

Don't touch anything...!!!!!!!

[@jonchaney]

Only Johnson could tell Russell what to do.

[@michaelvasquez9677]

lbj could sell ice to an Eskimo and sand to an Arab

[@JimChilders1]

This is a good one! If nothing else this fully describes and displays the Johnson method of dealing with Senators and Congressman. He doesn't let up and makes it plan and clear the Hoover Report will be accepted and that settles it. Russell was never considered friendly to President Kennedy. The pressure as expressed by Johnson in this conversation was relentless and demanding. Perhaps not what many would like to hear but perhaps it is something we need in leadership today. I might ad that anyone having difficulty hearing the complete conversation they have full transcripts of these conversations at the Miller Center. For those who can hear this conversation play it to the end as it is an awesome display of relentless leadership by a commander who had many shadows and secrets now revealed.

[@richardsutton1131]

Nice work Mr President. You bullied two key people into producing a report neither of them wanted anything to do with. And years later regretted the fact that it was horse shit. Well done Sir. #sarcastic

[@AKRING30]

That's an incredibly good sales job jesus poor senator russell. Lbj really beat you up

[@aeroAdvocate]

You can serve with anybody for the good of America.

[@timmckeown1313]

I love this. "Now you're gonna serve godammit and that's how it's gonna be." Classic.

[@ronniebishop2496]

I won’t arrest you or get the FBI on you lol sure an around threat.

[@goose7251]

Nahhh hell, I done announced it, and you on it!

[@robertaungpe8125]

Amazing dialogue. Boy that Richard, he really made waves!

[@beaselinda9340]

“I ask you is because you have that same kind of temperament and you can do anything for your country and don’t go to give me that kind of stuff about you can’t serve with anybody you can do anything” “You my man on that commission and you’re gonna do it and don’t tell me what you can do what you can’t because I can arrest you and I’m not gonna put the FBI on you but you’re damn sure gonna serve I’ll tell you that” “Mr. President please” “No it’s already done it’s been announced yes sir” “Your future your future is your country and you’re gonna you’re gonna do everything you can to serve America” “I can’t do that I don’t have the time” “Well just make the time” “I’m not gonna say anything anymore Mr. President I’m in your command” “You damn sure gonna be at my command” Hey “Russell... I don’t want to kill you we love you”

[@bradleyparker4035]

"We'll just make the time" Nice try Senator

[@lukethedrifter3149]

And he served!

[@nujac321]

Richard Russell getting worked over. lol.

[@edwardstevens1438]

Russell, should have said no and stuck to it. Particularly, after Johnson. threw him under the bus on, civil rights.

[@wfellow1]

Civil rights needed to be dealt with. You cannot have American citizens living, fighting, dying for our country in WWII, Korea, Vietnam and yet in their own country they can't do anything a white American do.

[@jimcallaghan3539]

The conspiracy begins.

[@philipstlmo]

Ok, so I've listened to a few of these ...why all the silent gaps and scrambled audio at convenient parts of the conversation? Wasn't Nixon lambasted over just a few minutes of erased white house recording? I'm confused why these tapes are full of inconsistencies, excerpts, cut-offs in mid conversation, etc...

[@whatsup816]

The reason for the gaps and that scrambled hum is because the tapes still contain classified information.

[@BigBingFan]

Also, the White House secretary had to "patch" calls, and the receiver of the call had to be ready for the patch. Things then were not "digital," and many things were this way. Do you remember TV Bulletins back in the day? The microphones had to use the telephone lines, and there was every minute or so, there was a haunting "beep" sound. So anyway, things weren't as easy then. If LBJ had called Russell's phone directly, it would be quick. But the White House secretary was in another location, and had to coordinate both where Johnson's phone was, and the outgoing call. Not that easy.

[@nasirlanier7481]

Who would’ve known he would’ve Brung up one of his Preddesessors

[@432b86ed]

paraphrased: damnit, you're gonna do this for me... and you're gonna call em as you see em damnit - or 40 million people will die from a Soviet nuke.

[@Lilraw85]

The thirst they have smh

[@jamessullivan3399]

LBJ had a gaffe saying that he knew it wasn't Kruchev behind it