The life and times of LBJ

Fifty years after the death of Lyndon Baines Johnson, correspondent Rita Braver looks at the legacy of the 36th President, who came into office through the tragic death of his predecessor, and whose own presidency would become one of the most consequential, yet unappreciated in American history. Braver talks with biographer Robert Caro, historian Mark Updegrove, and Luci Baines Johnson (LBJ's youngest daughter) about how Johnson harnessed the power of government (and his own powers of persuasion) to change the nation.
#lyndonbjohnson #lbj #robertcaro
"CBS Sunday Morning" features stories on the arts, music, nature, entertainment, sports, history, science and Americana, and highlights unique human accomplishments and achievements. Check local listings for CBS Sunday Morning broadcast times.
Subscribe to the "CBS Sunday Morning" KZbin channel: bit.ly/20gXwJT
Get more of "CBS Sunday Morning": cbsn.ws/1PlMmAz
Follow "CBS Sunday Morning" on Instagram: bit.ly/23XunIh
Like "CBS Sunday Morning" on Facebook: bit.ly/3sRgLPG
Follow "CBS Sunday Morning" on Twitter: bit.ly/1RquoQb
Subscribe to our newsletter: cbsn.ws/1RqHw7T
Download the CBS News app: cbsn.ws/1Xb1WC8
Try Paramount+ free: bit.ly/2OiW1kZ
For video licensing inquiries, contact: [e-mail]

[@alliematt1016]

In the third grade, I wrote a short report on LBJ. All I remember was writing, “He recently had a heart attack.” That assignment was the one where our school librarian taught us how to use the card catalog. I eventually became a librarian. Maybe I have my school librarian and LBJ to thank for my career? :-)

[@ryanlocklear750]

I am so ready for Ken burns’ LBJ documentary series

[@chri5tylee2325]

Me too!!!!! 🎉

[@FredPena-rd5cf]

Nah. Burns is in the pocket. He wont tell us everything.

[@exchequerguy4037]

He appeared at the 1971 NFC Championship game (played in Dallas) and my father bellowed, "There's Lyndon Baines Johnson!". I replied (I was a 3rd grader) "Lyndon Brains Johnson." My mother wrote him a letter about that and we got a signed reply.

[@myothercarisadelorean8957]

lol back when a President had the time to write back to letters.

[@naishabatchu]

Lol❤

[@SiVlog1989]

If ever there was a Presidential legacy of two sides, it's Lyndon Johnson's. A bully who would reduce Staff members to tears, a man who would flaunt his power to be unfaithful to his wife and the man who escalated the war in Vietnam... and yet, for all of these terrible things, he was the man who knew how to bend Congress to his will, the man who in the domestic relm is probably the greatest "Liberal" President, and it was his signature that was appended to the most significant anti-discrimination law in US history...the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Part of what earned the respect for him was due to him knowing that signing the 1964 Civil Rights Act into law would affect Democratic chances in future elections, saying himself: "We have lost the South for a generation,"

[@shirleyashanti3031]

Actually lost it far longer. Why, pray tell, would anyone be more comfortable with an unchanging America?

[@SiVlog1989]

@Shirley Ashanti not saying I agree with their reasoning, but I would say that it's purely self interest, much like those in Northern Ireland who identify as Unionist. They see it as a group that was previously oppressed as gaining more than they were losing

[@DarthVaderTheSithLord]

He never stated that quote.

[@SiVlog1989]

@Darth Vader maybe not publicly, but there are those in his inner (and it was portrayed in the film All The Way, which talked about Johnson's first year in the White House after Kennedy's assassination) definitely heard him say it, particularly his running mate in the 1964 Election, Hubert Humphrey

[@chrisgardiner2215]

The civil rights movement was one of the evilest and literally Satanic acts perpetrated against a group of people in the history of THE UNITED STATES of AMERICA, and LBJ sent the "peace corps" out into the poor black communities, poor white communities such as Appalachia and poor Hispanic communities. They told the people that the federal government would give them x amount of dollars if there were no father in the home, plus x amount per child also!!! Before the "civil rights" act 83% of black households in the United States had a two-parent structure (mother and father), in just five short years that number was down to 47%, and Dr, Dre said in 1991 that number had fallen to just 19%😳🥺😭 WHAT THE LITERAL F**K

[@GermanShepherd1983]

Story goes that when LBJ was president a young male intern was sent up from the White House basement to pick up some papers from LBJ's office. When the intern got there the papers weren't ready yet and as he waited he stood by the door leading to the Oval Office. As the intern was admiring the presidential seal on the door, the door suddenly opened and there stood LBJ. The intern was so surprised he blurted out "Oh my God" and LBJ promptly remarked "And don't you ever forget it either".

[@thehair1474]

He was known to have a wild sense of humor.

[@deepsleep7822]

@@thehair1474 : yeah, but that’s just it - was he kidding or was he serious?

[@thehair1474]

@@deepsleep7822 Probably kidding, lol. He did the same thing with Bob Hope when they were speeding around the Texas countryside and a cop stopped them for speeding. The cop got one look at LBJ and said, "OMG," and LBJ said "you'd better believe it son." Needless to say LBJ was not sited for speeding, lol.

[@davept2580]

One of the most consequential indeed and one of the most important Presidents. So underrated.

[@Saxxin1]

Had JFK killed and put us back on the federal reserve banking system.

[@HairHoFla]

He had his faults....and Vietnam was his undoing

[@yvonneplant9434]

I still wonder what would have happened if RFK had not been killed. He would have beat Nixon. I'm convinced of that.

[@thehair1474]

Not any longer. He is now rated in the Top Ten. Much higher than Kennedy.

[@prosandconsfilms6933]

Consequential for sure, in every poor way possible

[@Ingsoc75]

Back when Congress actually worked together.

[@vernpascal1531]

When you had honorable men who worked together like Barry Goldwater, and Tip O'Neill. Didn't make it personal. Now there's a whole mass media machine slanderizing one side or another before getting to know each other so they end up hating bitter enemies.

[@Atrail_Mckinley4786]

Those were the days

[@oakus8503]

But the Civil Rights Act of 1964 had the worst in our history?

[@JK-gu3tl]

Yeah, good guys like Ben Tillman.

[@ianmartinezcassmeyer]

And back when a president had the know-how to make it do what he wanted

[@joniheisenberg]

Anxiously awaiting Mr. Caro’s final volume on LBJ.

[@SM-qe4wd]

He better finish before he dies, and I wish I was kidding

[@r3tr0actiongamer24]

Maybe it will have his confession of killing JFK

[@vernpascal1531]

@@r3tr0actiongamer24 i doubt that, but there is a load of circumstantial evidence against LBJ and several around him that is substantial. But many Historians don't want to know and give us The Oswald Alone Crap.

[@juliegoff1731]

I doubt it ,all Caro does is Molly coddle Johnson ,I could never figure why .Maybe he’s friends w lady bird and the daughters and didn’t want her mad at him .The thing Kennedy admired the most was political courage ,thus the Profiles in courage awArds .Caro has zero courage ,selling us some Brooklyn bridge

[@JB-uv4hm]

@@juliegoff1731 - not too bright are you. The LBJ circle is not fond of Caro. Never have been.

[@joevolpe512]

As a kid, 50 years ago, our back yard neighbor was his pilot. I remember the day he died. In college, I actually had a part time job for a couple of years and was paid by the LBJ Company.

[@mesillahills]

My retired friend in Florida, Tom Howell, was his main helicopter pilot when he was POTUS. Tom was from Texas and was an Army helicopter pilot before that gig. Later in life he was a State Farm Insurance Agent in Texas and made a lot of money using unwanted telephone call sales. In Florida Tom bought expensive new houses and totally re-decorated them with ultra-expensive stuff while living in them. Then he turned them over to relatively wealthy people at a high profit. His wife had an "open checkbook" in this endeavor. When they got done, the homes were a work of art. He was turning about a $200,000 profit per house selling to people with money. Tom and his wife were real hustlers. I played golf with him almost every day.

[@user-rl6hb4oi6k]

@@mesillahills b

[@michael-4k4000]

I knew LBJ and Lady Bird well. Salt of the earth they are....

[@naishabatchu]

Lady Bird Johnson is so pretty

[@bluecollarguy67]

I’ve visited the LBJ library and would strongly suggest making it a stop when in Austin. I learned more about Johnson’s accomplishments in this piece than I ever knew before, but despite all of it, that damned and unnecessary war in Vietnam is what he’s remembered for. Vietnam is still a communist led country today and we have normalized relations with them. Goes to show what the power of fear mongering, lies, distortions, prejudices, etc… can do to a country. So many needless deaths of American fighting men, all for nothing.

[@juliegoff1731]

Well ,Vietnam is just the tip of the iceberg .Read Barr McClellans book .The names Bobby Baker, ,Billy Sol Estes ,Henry Marshall ,Mac Wallace ,John Douglas Kinser ,His sister Josepha ,,,,etc ,etc .look it up

[@SS-mj8zq]

If it weren't for Vietnam LBJ would be remembered as one of the top 5 presidents in history. He truly was remarkable what he was able to get done. No president since have been able to touch him in how much meaningful and impactful legislation he was able to get done to help lift up the poor and average American. Thank you LBJ.

[@jennifersman7990]

Exactly, his legislative achievements were compared to FDR’s.

[@yvonneplant9434]

@@jennifersman7990 The Great Society.

[@georgesouthwick7000]

That’s like saying “if it weren’t for the iceberg, the Titanic would have have had a wonderful voyage”.

[@georgesouthwick7000]

@@jennifersman7990 And taxpayers are still paying the bill as the deficit continues to grow.

[@cootriley6]

If it weren't for Watergate....

[@jeremymendoza1465]

His time in office just goes to show you how near impossible a job the Presidency is. All the domestic policies he pushed through in 1 year suddenly overshadowed by Vietnam as his legacy. Even still one of our most effective Presidents in history.

[@lordsatanicus1622]

the reason it was overshadowed is because he lied about it. VietNam ruined him for a reason. He lied about the Gulf of Tonkin...thats more than overshadowing. And then had the nerve to pull the chicken switch and not run in 68. His continuing insistance on hitting on Jackie after JFK's death would have made Clinton and Trump proud as well

[@jl3322]

He gave the GOP the south and gave us the war but he helped millions with Medicare and other poverty programs. RIP

[@natashatomlinson4548]

If you think the Dixiecrats were going to stay with the Democrats , with or without an LBJ presidency , then I’ve got some swamp land in New Mexico to sell you. Spot on about Medicare though 👍

[@steveconn]

LBJ advanced civil rights when JFK hedged on bills (despite Ava Duvernay rewriting history that Johnson was against it in Selma) and his Great Society was an admirable attempt to fight poverty. Too bad he insisted on getting us into Vietnam. A tragic, heroic legacy.

[@lewstone5430]

I couldn’t agree more. Another informative book about Johnson (and Kennedy) is “Remembering America: A Voice From the Sixties” by Richard Goodwin who started out as a speechwriter for Kennedy on the campaign trail then transitioned to a presidential aide for Kennedy then Johnson. He was one of the few “Kennedy people” kept on in the Johnson administration. With all the great legislation Johnson passed, he would’ve gone down as a great president except for the tremendous misstep of Vietnam. Goodwin writes well and along with all the policy talk, you get a better sense of these two presidents as people.

[@glnnchrstphr9717]

You forget or don't know how much pressure he was under from the war hawks in congress. Without his capitulation to them, it's arguable that none of his domestic programs would have come to fruition. Unfortunately, nothing is free in politics. Think about it.

[@arifshahabuddin8888]

@@lewstone5430 Richard Goodwin was also the husband of historian Doris Kearns Goodwin who began her career with LBJ on his ranch in his post-presidency.

[@peacenow4456]

Kennedy was already in Vietnam w 16,000 "advisors." "Corruption, religious differences, and mounting successes by the Vietcong guerrillas weakened the South Vietnamese government of Ngo Dinh Diem. Diem was Catholic, and public protests over the repression of Buddhists threatened the stability of his regime. Kennedy accelerated the flow of American aid and gradually increased U.S. military advisers to more than 16,000. At the same time, he pressed the Diem government to clean house and institute long-overdue political and economic reforms. The situation did not improve. In September of 1963, President Kennedy declared in an interview, "In the final analysis, it is their war. They are the ones who have to win it or lose it. We can help them, we can give them equipment, we can send our men out there as advisers, but they have to win it, the people of Vietnam, against the Communists... But I don't agree with those who say we should withdraw. That would be a great mistake... [The United States] made this effort to defend Europe. Now Europe is quite secure. We also have to participate-we may not like it-in the defense of Asia." www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/jfk-in-history/vietnam Took 12 yrs to get out. Yet Afghanistan happened. "In January 1975, North Vietnam began massive invasions of South Vietnam. A few months later, the North Vietnamese captured the capital city of Saigon, and the last Americans were evacuated from the US embassy. The American war in Vietnam was over. More than 3 million Vietnamese and 58,000 Americans had lost their lives." For nothing...

[@lewstone5430]

@Arif Shahabuddin yep, I’ve seen her interviewed, but I haven’t read any of her books yet.

[@jaymudd2817]

He turned Vietnam's war into America's war.

[@JB-uv4hm]

And?

[@richardcline1337]

He deliberately misled the American public by fabricating, along with another POS named McNamara, the second Bay of Tonkin "incident" that NEVER happened! He wanted to get elected for a term as President on his own and they cooked up this lie in an effort to do that. Thankfully, it backfired on him and he lost the election. If ever an individual deserved the fiery pits of Hell, it has to be Lyndon Johnson!

[@finchborat]

At the time he died, it was just the 5th time we didn't have any living ex-presidents (ended when Nixon resigned in Aug. 1974). The other times: -Dec. 1799 - March 1801 -July 1875 - March 1877 -June 1908 - March 1909 -First 2 months of 1933 And the 21 yr gap between his death and Nixon's death in 1994 is the 2nd longest gap between presidential deaths in U.S. history. The longest was between over 26 yrs long and lasted from Dec. 1799 (Washington's death) to July 4, 1826 (Adams and Jefferson's deaths).

[@mism847]

What about George Washington's entire term? There were no ex-presidents alive at that time, because he was the only president there had ever been at that point.

[@finchborat]

@@mism847 That's different. He was the first one.

[@pcbacklash_3261]

As a young child, I remember Lyndon Johnson as just a face on TV who sounded kind of funny to this midwestern boy. But as a life-long student of history, I've come to appreciate what an absolute MASTER politician he was, and the startling breadth of his legacy (including the tragedy of Vietnam). Probably our last great president.

[@lisica8458]

What you wrote applies to me, too.

[@cootriley6]

Great...??? ' I will not send American boys half way around the world to fight a war, Vietnamese boys should be fighting'

[@barrymorgenstein201]

last great president ? lolol You forgot Reagan and Trump

[@pcbacklash_3261]

@@barrymorgenstein201 One can at least make a compelling argument for Reagan being a "great" president. But Trump? Making that suggestion just makes you look like a fool and an ignoramus.

[@thehair1474]

He was probably the last great DEMOCRAT President. Come to think of it, the only competent Dem President of my lifetime. Look at the clowns who came after him: Carter (God help us) Clinton, Obama, and Biden, probably the worst of them all.

[@cubsfan1622000]

Wow. It took CBS over six minutes talking about LBJ to get to Vietnam.

[@fredross6444]

I shook hands with him once outside Huntington W Va after the election of 1968 when we was on his way to eastern kentucky to dedicate a building. His hands were huge, just like his body. A massive man.

[@macktravels68]

I have been to his birthplace in Johnson City and Ranch in Stonewall, Texas. The Ranch is amazing and beautiful. It is still a working ranch to this day. A must see if you are visiting Texas.

[@HairHoFla]

Used to live 16 miles south of Johnson City in Blanco TX...fun fact..Luchenback is a straight shot about 3 miles or so south of Stonewall....used to drive over there on joy rides

[@lisica8458]

Visiting Stonewall and the LBJ Ranch is on my bucket list.

[@jackjohnsen8506]

I would burn it to the ground, so I don't go...

[@frisbee544]

Well, you can buy a lot of stuff when you hold vast shares in Bell Helicopter like Lying Lyndon and Lady Bird did during the Vietnam war.

[@jasonseidel1897]

He did so much good work and in so little time. If it wasn't for Vietnam he would be considered a truly awesome president.

[@frisbee544]

Yeah? Well, I wouldn't want to be standing anywhere near him in the coming Judgment. He did his best to fool all the people all the time, but there's one judge he can't bribe and who knows all the truth about LBJ and that's too bad for him.

[@moncorp1]

"His legacy was undervalued." B.S. to their revisionist history. LBJ was and out and out crook who rigged elections to even get into politics, then got wealthy from out and out graft. He was a scumbag of the highest order. As years go by there's more and more evidence that point to a jfk assassination conspiracy that lbj was either behind, or at the very least knew of.

[@richardcline1337]

He deliberately misled the American public by fabricating, along with another POS named McNamara, the second Bay of Tonkin "incident" that NEVER happened! He wanted to get elected for a term as President on his own and they cooked up this lie in an effort to do that. Thankfully, it backfired on him and he lost the election. If ever an individual deserved the fiery pits of Hell, it has to be Lyndon Johnson!

[@nathanielmason183]

I was 9 years old in 1963, the year Pres. Kennedy was killed. I remember it clearly. My memories of Johnson, as a Black person, included his work on the civil rights and voting rights. I applaud him for those things. Those accomplishments cannot be ignored. Yet, it was Vietnam which became the albatross around this man's neck, justifiably or not, that eventually sent him from the White House. Kennedy wanted to withdraw all 17,000+ military advisors from Southeast Asia. He never got the chance. Johnson escalated our involvement, and the rest is history. I pray that he was able to eventually rest in peace.

[@cardinalRG]

_” My memories of Johnson, as a Black person, included his work on the civil rights and voting rights.”_ Johnson’s support of civil rights was late-coming and mercenary. He had a favorite word to describe people who look like you, and it starts with the letter “n”. What does that weigh in your reckoning of the man?

[@lucasm4299]

@@cardinalRG Actions speak louder than words

[@cardinalRG]

@@lucasm4299 --I appreciate your comment, but sorry, I don't know what you're trying to express regarding Johnson.

[@lisica8458]

The LBJ phone tapes are fascinating and entertaining to listen to. Especially interesting are the conversations of LBJ and Everett Dirksen,; and LBJ and Larry O'Brien. The conversations shed light on how legislation got passed.

[@metalbrock57]

I love his phone convo with the tailor who made his slacks. He had exact specifications on how he wanted his pants made & he wanted to tell the tailor himself. Fascinating look into how the man operated.

[@lisica8458]

@@metalbrock57 Yes, that was entertaining. Liked the ones in which you can hear Lady Bird, too. Actually, I liked all of the conversations. I realized how much LBJ depended on MacNamara after listening to their convos.

[@stevetaxpayer6664]

The LBJ Tapes revealed what a racist he was.

[@briandelaney9710]

He was a bully and very dishonest at times but he had the strength to put through Medicare and Civil Rights and that makes him one of the greats. Vietnam however , haunts him

[@joedimaggio3687]

The Great Society legislation was just awful for this country. It was a huge expansion of the government funded welfare state.

[@callmethebreeze1297]

@@joedimaggio3687 that was to buy votes

[@joedimaggio3687]

@Call me the Breeze Yup, he bought the black vote. The "Great Society " was really the "Awful Society".

[@mentalillness1574]

@@joedimaggio3687 y do u hate poor people

[@joedimaggio3687]

@mental illness I hate able-bodied people who are living off the welfare system that is financed by hard working tax payers.

[@ernestkovach3305]

It's not true that Mrs Kennedy wanted the nation to see continuity after her husband was ambushed in a murderous bloody coup . She refused to change her bloody dress because she insisted the nation see what" they" did to her husband! She was clearly in zero mood to appear for a photo up shown standing beside LBJ when the judge swore LBJ in on AirForce One. She wanted to stay with the casket in another sector of the plane, which she did all the way back home. To the contrary, She no doubt felt extremely afraid and pressured by LBJ and his team, who had to all but force her to step forward for his swearing in . Fact. That plane would not leave Dallas until he was sworn in, and she was going to be " propped " next to him, whether she wanted to or not! This presentation is full of unscholarly false drivel in this regard. Even before the hit, there was no love lost between the mentally deranged ,power hungry, bully narcissist LBJ, and the Kennedys. Immediately after , but not for public consumption... are photos depicting LBJ enjoying a big dinner on Air Force One on the flight back to Washington. Sickening , but true folks! That being said,the entire rest of the CBS presentation is accurate. Domestically, he was a truly great president.

[@thomassaehler9038]

He spoiled his legacy with Vietnam

[@hailutahistan3680]

This story neglected to mention one of his most important accomplishments, and one that is going to be under dire challenge today from right-wing Republican extremists: Medicare.

[@johnkeith2450]

Maybe 5,000,000 more illegals drawing on it will help?

[@solomonecclesia5253]

Medicare and Sociak Security aren't going anywhere unless you listen to the fear mongering, power hungry far left. They create a crisis then point fingers. So they can save the country. Only the ill-informed fall for this.

[@OmarHernandez-nq2jo]

Wow. Glad to came across this segment to know more about LBJ. Did not know much about him. He seems to have signify many Landmark bills within one year in his presidency. Very impressive.

[@metalbrock57]

Vietnam will always define his legacy but what he did domestically as a senator and president can only be matched by FDR in my opinion. Especially what he did to push through civil rights bills as majority leader in the late 50s & then as president. Robert Caro’s book “Master of the Senate” (the 3rd volume in his LBJ series) which detailed his rise to power in the senate & maneuvering as majority leader, is probably the best non-fiction book I’ve ever read

[@OmarHernandez-nq2jo]

@@metalbrock57 I'll check out the book you are referencing. I could agree with the Vietnam fiasco. At the same time that one thing should not supersede an overall accomplishment. Although, that is the black eye on his legacy.

[@TheJpep2424]

@@metalbrock57 He pushed the civil rights bill thru because and I quote "Now we'll have those N*****s voting democrat for the next 150 years". He didnt care about civil rights, he cared about political power and winning the black vote.

[@metalbrock57]

@@TheJpep2424 Believe what you want, he talked out of both sides of his mouth all the time in order to sway votes. Regardless of the motive, he’s the man that got those bills passed

[@davidwilliams4865]

LBJ - the onset of the downfall of work and self responsibility and onset of assuming the federal movement will take care of you even if you're in America illegally!

[@user-mv6he6gl8m]

I do recommend the biography by Robert Caro. A masterpiece in four acts, eagerly awaiting the final volume!

[@natashatomlinson4548]

As a young baby boomer during LBJ’s term I’ve long looked at his presidency with mixed feelings . Yes he accomplished all the “ Great Society” stuff but he also escalated the Vietnam War. I can even remember the night he told the country in 1968 he was not running again because he was so unpopular because of the war. Then, about 15-20 years ago I read a book from a historian ( sorry I can’t remember the name of the book or the historian) whose main thesis was that 1965 was the most important year in America in the last 50 years of the 20th c. He convinced me it was . One thing that became clearer to me in that book was how much LBJ had to appease the war hawks in order to get his Great Society stuff passed. Not rationalizing because , yes, he did believe in the domino theory , but what people who vilify him don’t realize is that he traded capitulation to the military-industrial complex for enacting some of the greatest things that ever helped working people in America EVER. The argument could be made that if he had not done so there would be no Medicare or Medicaid today, no voting rights bill etc etc etc….I’ve long contended that every senior citizen on all sides of the political spectrum should be thankful that LBJ was once President because otherwise they would not have Medicare today, which arguably is the greatest thing the house and senate ever passed in US history. And it all couldn’t have been done without LBJ . Period. LBJ was a new deal democrat at heart. He also was born poor so, unlike the overrated Kennedys , he really knew what it was like. Too bad JFK died, but America ,objectively speaking , was the better off for it ( no I don’t hate Kennedy -I just think he was overrated. In fact , it was unclear whether he would even be re-elected in 64. Why do you think he risked driving through Dallas in the crucial swing state of Texas with his limo top down? In Nov 63, his re-election in 64 was iffy. He just barely barely beat Kennedy in 60.) I admit I miss the days when the DemoRat Party had actual leaders like LBJ who cared about the common man - and actually DID something for him instead of being firmly in the pocket of the corporations and military-industrial complex and doing little more than virtue-signaling as today’s DemoRat Party does . I call today’s DemoRat Party “ GOP Lite .” They have become what the GOP was 40-50 years ago , enabling the GOP now to go further right and become a party of fascists. At least when LBJ gave in to the militarists and corporatists , working people tended to get something of real value in return. LBJ could never win the DemoRat nomination today- he cared too much for poor people. Look at how they stacked the deck against Bernie Sanders , who essentially is just a New Deal Democrat. It’s been so long since we’ve had a real “ New Deal” type Democrat , we can’t even remember today that 60-70-80 years ago the DemoCRATIC Party had plenty of them. Bernie would’ve fit right in to the DemoCRATIC Party of 50-60 years ago- today that same party vilifies him and conspires against and does everything they can to keep a New Dealer out of halls of power. If the Vietnam War had not happened on his watch LBJ would be readily known today as one of America’s greatest Presidents. There would’ve been no Nixon, no Watergate and maybe the DemoRat Party could’ve kept its New Deal legacy of working for the poor folks going longer. Today the only people who believe the DemoRats care about poor people are those who naively believe the modern DemoRat Party is still the DemoCRATIC Party of 1965.

[@jerryboggs3474]

Appeasing hawks for 'Nam? Lady Bird & daughters - as well as the Bushes - bought stocks & pieces of "war" businesses BEFORE the Dallas "visit". Oddly, Geo. Bush Sr., head of the CIA, was in Dallas that day!

[@alexanderchenf1]

LBJ was born in a wealthy family. Your facts were made up. “Great Society” has been wrecking American morality and mounting American debt to this day. Medicare, Medicaid are ponzi scheme

[@macaro28]

Johnson has always been my most admired for his dedication to bettering America. I only hope he is not forgotten.

[@CaptainSpalding72]

HE was fake.

[@magaareinbredhillbillies]

@@CaptainSpalding72 trump been the only fake.

[@sammyibrahim6104]

And a puppet

[@juliegoff1731]

Ask Jackie Kennedy about him

[@reddeserted13]

The last president who knew how to wield the power of the office. All since have been held hostage.

[@bonghunezhou5051]

Had he followed in his predecessors' steps with regard to the "brush wars" in Southeast Asia he might have been more effective in addressing domestic issues. The legacy of "Landslide Lyndon" shall always be weighed down by misjudging the significance (or relative lack thereof) of South Vietnam.

[@JB-uv4hm]

The myth that Kennedy would’ve chart a course significantly different is just that - myth. And it is largely the creation of the Kennedy circle.

[@rogermorris7309]

I don't think there was a good bone in his body. If you think I am wrong ask JFK

[@billfuhrman9772]

Better yet do some research on his sister. Many people believe that he had her killed because she liked to party and had many men friends.

[@redriveral2764]

I recently read that after he signed the civil rights legislation he said now they'd have the n****** in their pocket for the next 200 years. He wasn't what people think he was.

[@richardcline1337]

Also ask the thousands of young men in our military who died because of him!

[@vickihough6060]

JFK was no saint either.

[@centredoorplugsthornton4112]

His passing was just 2 days after Nixon's second inaugural. Nixon said he'd dismantle much of Johnson's Great Society programs. Also less than 30 days after Harry Truman passed away. Left the US with no living ex president til Nixon resigned in August 1974.

[@lisica8458]

LBJ accomplished what JFK likely could not, even if he had lived longer. LBJ's knowledge of and relationships with members of the Senate and House were vital in getting legislation done.

[@persephone1062]

@LJ Sopjes: Well said!

[@jackjohnsen8506]

JFK realized That the Vietnam war was about nothing but making the US arms Makers rich and was trying to get out, which was why they killed Him. The war on poverty cost 3 trillion dollars, in today's money, and increased Poverty. Why do you think the American people made Him get out of office...OMG

[@44excalibur]

Vietnam.

[@GoGreen1977]

How ironic that Johnson, a Texan, did his utmost to ultimately pass the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts, while the current politicians in control of Texas have done their best to undermine those very Acts.

[@44excalibur]

LBJ used to be a segregationist who attempted to block civil rights legislation that Eisenhower tried to pass in the 1950s.

[@SandfordSmythe]

And Nixon opened the door to Communist China, after accusing others of being soft on Communism.

[@bethgates9555]

He lied about what was happening in Vietnam....so many died needlessly. We did know the magnitude of his recklessness

[@richardcline1337]

He deliberately misled the American public by fabricating, along with another POS named McNamara, the second Bay of Tonkin "incident" that NEVER happened! He wanted to get elected for a term as President on his own and they cooked up this lie in an effort to do that. Thankfully, it backfired on him and he lost the election. If ever an individual deserved the fiery pits of Hell, it has to be Lyndon Johnson!

[@chocochef3092]

FDR was LBJ’s political idol and sought to achieve similar greatness FDR attained during his tenure. LBJ achieved and implemented successful policies, however his handling and escalation of the Vietnam war tainted his legacy.

[@mikeywestside8509]

Both of them were vile racists

[@Debaucherousgeek]

Vietnam haunted him and that is why he did not seek reelection.

[@franklatona7094]

Johnson's main goal as President was to have the initials LBJ be as iconic as FDR. Himself a racist he pushed equal rights bills through hoping they would cement his legacy Vietnam ruined everything for Johnson he was not about to withdraw troops from Viet nam and risk being labeled the first president to lose a war.

[@bobgong7832]

Really appreciate hearing Mr. Caro's and Mr. Updegrove's knowledge and insights on LBJ, but was not an interview with Doris Kearns Goodwin's (another great historian and author...) and her first hand experiences of working with and writing about LBJ considered for this piece?

[@juliegoff1731]

She sugar coats it too

[@clairelowry9122]

LBJ has and will always top my list of favorite US presidents.

[@44excalibur]

LBJ could have been charged with war crimes for Vietnam.

[@richardcline1337]

@@44excalibur, He deliberately misled the American public by fabricating, along with another POS named McNamara, the second Bay of Tonkin "incident" that NEVER happened! He wanted to get elected for a term as President on his own and they cooked up this lie in an effort to do that. Thankfully, it backfired on him and he lost the election. If ever an individual deserved the fiery pits of Hell, it has to be Lyndon Johnson!

[@christopherhand4836]

He was one of the many that was involved in the Kennedy assassination

[@blakeh6250]

Not, but nice try.

[@christopherhand4836]

@@blakeh6250 yes. But nice try

[@DwightAltenhoff]

My uncle had lots of stories about hanging out with LBJ. He drove LBJ around & got to know him & LBJ started inviting him to parties. Personally I wasn't a fan of LBJ. Gave us the Food Stamp Act of 1964, expanded welfare & gave us the Vietnam War.

[@robertcummings892]

Want to know about LBJ, read about Malcolm Wallace, Billie Sol- Estes, Madeline Brown, Henry Marshall, You’ll get the real picture, not what the corporate media wants you to believe.

[@CaneloWeHo]

Exactly

[@chrisfinch8637]

It wasn’t such an easy transition for LBJ to come into office, just after Kennedy had died, nearly 60 years ago, but since then, he was determined to do what Kennedy had planned on doing, throughout his sadly short time in office. Rest in Peace, after 50 years, Lyndon Baines Johnson, our 36th President of the United States. 🇺🇸🕊️

[@lisica8458]

LBJ had his own ideas but took advantage of sentiment for JFK and used it as leverage to push throught civil rights. JFK couldn't have done that.

[@jackjohnsen8506]

JFK wanted out of Vietnam, and Johnson made us go deeper, and killed 58l good men

[@frisbee544]

No, he didn't. Kennedy wanted the US out of Vietnam by end of '65, Lying Lyndon pulled a false flag in the Gulf of Tonkin so we'd get heavy into Vietnam. While VP Johnson stalled Kennedy's civil rights initiatives but the when he was elevated into the presidency after he had his boss slain in Dallas, he got those civil rights bills .passed. Lying Lyndon had at least 8 people murdered including his sister before he even got to Washington, so killed JFK was no big deal to him.

[@jackjohnsen8506]

@@frisbee544 am little over the line But 90% true

[@juliegoff1731]

Well at least he did that for JFK ,he owes him that much ,since he was in on jfks demise ,nice of him

[@Max126]

Well...our country survived this Jag Off.......we can probably get past the current Jag Off !

[@markdwighttadina7655]

His best things he did was acknowledging the value and importance of Civil Rights, his only mistake was more American involvement in Vietnam.

[@detsportsfan18]

If you think LBJ was either a great President or good for the country, you're incredibly naive.

[@kevinomurchu5192]

“mean, bitter, vicious - an animal in many ways,” - RFK on LBJ and he was right!

[@lewstone5430]

And do you know RFK’s reputation? Consider the source my friend.

[@islandgirl1403]

I urge you to read up on the bitterness on both sides of that turbulent relationship. It was not one sided. Absolutely small minded Northeastern snobbery vs perceived Southern backwater. Robert Caro’s The Passage of Power: The Years of Lyndon Johnson is an excellent source. Enjoy!

[@MTknitter22]

Yes naturally CBS always paints the Democrat as heroic. Nobody who has written of him at that time in the Cabinet had good things to say. There is a reason he is shall we be kind and say “underrated?”

[@maryruthwillis6098]

@@MTknitter22 l.p.

[@florinest]

You knew them personally? Then you know that RFK was no bed of roses, either.

[@j-graze3898]

Rest in peace to 36th US President Lyndon B. Johnson! He died a half-century ago at precisely 3:39 PM. Lyndon Johnson cemented his monumental legacy by formally enacting the Revenue Act of 1964 into law, which produced the most robust economic growth in US History for three consecutive years in the postwar era. An adroit architect of consequential civil rights and entitlement legislation, Johnson championed the Food Stamp Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, resulting in the subsequent Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965, the Housing and Education Act of 1965, the Endangered Species Act of 1966, the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, the Equal Housing Act of 1968 and the Gun Control Act of 1968. The Social Security Amendments of the president's 'Great Society' established Medicare and Medicaid. The Amendments expanded retirement benefits as well. The general consensus among prominent economists is President Johnson's "unconditional war on poverty" spurred a substantial reduction of poverty rates from 20 percent in 1964 to 12 percent in 1974. Of all federal officeholders, President Lyndon Johnson ranks second in two key metrics analyzed by 142 prominent historians in a 2021 C-SPAN survey- relations with Congress and pursued equal justice for all.

[@davidshirley6726]

Half of a century is 50 years, LBJ passed away 46 years ago.

[@disappearintothesea]

Wow! I never knew he did so much for America.

[@jackjohnsen8506]

He had the economy going because he gave trillions to the arms makers, and when 1970 came He was booted out of his job by the American people...are you above the age of 10?

[@callmethebreeze1297]

You forgot one, He had Kennedy assassinated.

[@44excalibur]

He also got the USA into the Vietnam War. If we only ever judged a president by legislative accomplishments, then Richard Nixon would be considered one of the greatest presidents in history.

[@marsspacex6065]

LBJ should be given credit for the moon landing and the space race he is more responsible than JFK.

[@jaysnowden2]

I met Lady Bird when she ate at our restaurant. She was gracious and kind. I wish LBJ’s programs would’ve considered the implications of what would happen if you penalize women with children if they’re married. They lose their benefits if they marry. Sadly the government basically fostered generations of single mothers growing up without fathers. After multiple generations of single fatherless single parents the youth have lost important aspects which lead many into conflict and crime.

[@AHSpolitics]

Those liberals will still hate his guts even though he accomplished more than Kennedy, Carter, Clinton, Obama, and Biden combined. What a shame.

[@richardcline1337]

WOW! You listed the Rogue's Galary of the sorriest, most useless Presidents this country has ever had! I would add GW Bush to the list, though. No bigger hypocrite ever sat in the Oval office. HW Bush wasn't much better.

[@Erin-ce5gs]

One of the best Presidents there was; he was the main guy behind a lot of the civil rights legislation and did everything he could to get it passed.

[@cardinalRG]

Personally, he was a racist. He was obsessed with establishing his legacy, especially as a domestic president. He was happy enough to let the civil rights movement serve that obsession, but my guess is that he have been just as happy letting some other movement do the job. Keep in mind that he opposed civil rights legislation far into his career. And let's not get started on those other aspects which hardly show him as one of the "best presidents," such as his politically motivated debacle in Vietnam.

[@hectorr6299]

there should be a picture of a trash can next to his name.

[@ARTPAINTING101]

His ability to navigate the Senate ad Congress made him perhaps the most bipartisan President ever. Some say through intimidation, or deal making he passed some laws that had been incredibly divisive between the South and North, conservative and liberal factions. While I disagree with his viewpoint on Viet Nam I think he acted out of sincere concern and a deeply patriotic reverence. It was easy to see that he was heart broken over Viet Nam and the race riots and this predicated his withdrawal from the Presidency.

[@Yo_Kelz]

You should watch “Fog of War”

[@coophandluke3697]

Please explain why, on his 1st day in office, he reversed JFKs decision too not send combat troops to Vietnam???

[@richardcline1337]

He deliberately misled the American public by fabricating, along with another POS named McNamara, the second Bay of Tonkin "incident" that NEVER happened! He wanted to get elected for a term as President on his own and they cooked up this lie in an effort to do that. Thankfully, it backfired on him and he lost the election. If ever an individual deserved the fiery pits of Hell, it has to be Lyndon Johnson!

[@adamhyde7015]

With all of that stock that ladybird owned there had to be a way to cash in and Vietnam cashed in.... and 56,000 American boys died and Johnson made millions

[@jimparsons6803]

I recall that my 8th Grade English Class was about 1/2 through, the Teacher had stepped out, to let us student types to write our essays (that was the teaching style of those times, apparently), when she stepped back in and told that JFK had been shot. Bummer. I had heard about the 'Johnson Treatment,' on 60 Minutes from the mid 80s. A bit of a bully, apparently. Imagine that a politician being pushy, a bully even? I've heard the politicians might be dishonest, but being a 'bully?'

[@johnherlihy4739]

I grew up a Democrat and became a Republican in 1968, because of the way the Country treated LBJ and because I felt that Richard Nixon deserved to be elected President! I have consistently voted Republican since 1972 and continue to uphold that legacy! The Limousine Liberals despised Johnson, even though he implemented most of Kennedy’s legacy after Kennedy’s assassination. Kennedy would have had a failed Presidency, except for the loyalty of Lyndon Johnson in 1964 and 1965!

[@muffs55mercury61]

I just can't respect the man. He sent nearly 50,000 young men to their deaths in Vietnam before he left office in Jan, 1969. Men who were only trying to live in a free America with their families. Our freedom was not being threatened by what was going on over there. In the past I've met parents who'd lost a son over there. These parents were fragile as an egg shell that could break out crying at a moments notice.

[@SandfordSmythe]

Only half of your figure. The rest was on Nixon's watch.

[@richardcline1337]

He deliberately misled the American public by fabricating, along with another POS named McNamara, the second Bay of Tonkin "incident" that NEVER happened! He wanted to get elected for a term as President on his own and they cooked up this lie in an effort to do that. Thankfully, it backfired on him and he lost the election. If ever an individual deserved the fiery pits of Hell, it has to be Lyndon Johnson!

[@sn07]

He accomplished so much but unfortunately his stubbornness to win the war in Vietnam at all costs eclipsed all of that for most Americans. Still, the right person for the times of those days.

[@minewheaties5029]

One the greatest. Tapes confirmed he had more credit in the Civil Rights movement than he publicly gave himself for. People wanted to belief the Kennedys were more serious than they actually were on the issue, hence his constant public praising of the Kennedys. He had the type of legacy which made him fit for Mount Rushmore. The Vietnam War got in the way, yes, but it was also a diversion for opportunistic manipulators like Robert Kennedy and his cronies. Nowadays, fans of Robert Kennedy fans have to deal with the fact that another Southern icon, Elvis Presley, opted to go through with If I Can Dream around the time of his assassination. There is no escaping the fact despite what it's stereotyped as, the Southern U.S. can be a source of enlightenment too.

[@rr7firefly]

Johnson showed great courage and moral rectitude when he championed the rights of the oppressed people of the South and the Southwest. That will always be a major part of his legacy. One of the funny things about LBJ is that he proudly called his manly instrument "JUMBO." You have to wonder about that.

[@lewstone5430]

So you wonder about Jumbo?? On second thought, I don’t wanna know, my friend!

[@whizbang7130]

Handouts cripple people and take away their motivation.

[@rr7firefly]

@@whizbang7130 Voting rights are not handouts.

[@whizbang7130]

@Noe Berengena my referral is to the welfare system Johnson created.

[@callmethebreeze1297]

Johnson was racist and a crook

[@rbsmith3365]

I remembered 50 years ago. About morning when, LBJ was having a heart attack. And he was flown to San Antonio Brooke Army Hospital in Fort Sam Houston Army Base and passed away there. In 1955, doctors ordered him to stop smoking since, it harmed his heart. And leaving White House in January 1969 and he first started to smoke in the plane. And, He suffered more hearts attacks.

[@frisbee544]

Poor BJ. He died to late for America.

[@davidhickey1972]

PS THEN HE LIED ABOUT VIET NAM

[@richardcline1337]

He deliberately misled the American public by fabricating, along with another POS named McNamara, the second Bay of Tonkin "incident" that NEVER happened! He wanted to get elected for a term as President on his own and they cooked up this lie in an effort to do that. Thankfully, it backfired on him and he lost the election. If ever an individual deserved the fiery pits of Hell, it has to be Lyndon Johnson!

[@theenlightenedexchange4817]

Exactly

[@ddoyle11]

I remember the day of his funeral. We were all summoned into the school library to watch it on TV. Several teachers wept quietly behind us as we sat cross legged on the floor. He was the last of his breed of politician.

[@joedimaggio3687]

This LBJ guy just might have been the worst president in American history.

[@Erin-ce5gs]

...Are you high? The man signed the Civil Rights Act into law, which ended segregation. That was one of the best things for our country to ever happen.

[@MrMarshall7491]

I didn’t like LBJ. His attitude was overly ambitious More keeps coming out about death of JFK, that looks bad for LBJ. Those interviewed here affirm my feelings that go back to 1963, my Sophomore year of High School. I lost so many friends in Viet Nam and my Dad hated me for not supporting the war. Ruined my life. I just want to know more about why he didn’t run second time.

[@Virginia-xk3nk]

The thing that will always stand out the most for me is the fact that LBJ Honored Kennedy's promise to put in place the Civil Rights Act.

[@Atrail_Mckinley4786]

@Taylor Lee Lies

[@andycummings-music]

@Taylor Lee if you believe anyone but Oswald killed JFK, you're the sheep. Ba.

[@FuckOffMyFood]

@Taylor Lee Actually, it was this guy......... "I'M LEE HARVEY OSWALD! 🤓︻╦╤──" - Huggbees.

[@frisbee544]

After he spent Kennedy's entire term holding up the Civil Rights Act.

[@lisica8458]

It wouldn't have gotten passed if LBJ hadn't become president. The Kennedys talked a good game about civil rights but were too timid to actually risk a political fight over it.

[@tomriggle3217]

He probably knows what happened to Kennedy

[@richardcline1337]

Hell, he orchestrated the whole thing so why wouldn't he know? That was the only way he was ever going to become President because he knew he was incapable of winning it by election.

[@Kim-lc3fv]

He looked old for his age by today's standards. One of my aunts, born into the same year, lived until 2003.

[@ilovegoodsax]

Yep, my grandpa born in 1909 was only a year younger than LBJ and died in 1997 at age 88.

[@redriveral2764]

I just read that LBJ passed away at 64. Heck I'm nearly 69 and I don't look anywhere near that old!

[@g6686not]

@@redriveral2764 the stress from being President aged him greatly.

[@justanotherguy1794]

Stack all the things he accomplished and weigh it ALL against Vietnam and it still puts every single one of the technocratic presidents we've had to endure since to disgraceful shame. It's an embarrassment, really.

[@marcjohnson7515]

I too am to young to understand how increasing from 20,000 to 500K improves our great nation.

[@davidolson8537]

Robert Caro should have told the real true story.

[@catlover34fl]

Thank you, President Lyndon Johnson!

[@jackjohnsen8506]

what for?...kiling 58 K of our men in Vietnam, or throwing away three Trillion in today's money in the war on Poverty, which did nothing but make the number of people in Poverty even more?

[@Erin-ce5gs]

@@jackjohnsen8506 For signing the Civil Rights Act into law, which ended segregation. That was one of our country's greatest accomplishments.

[@Pete-eb3vo]

@@Erin-ce5gs He's responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans over the excuse of Vietnam being 'communist' despite having decent relations with China, his endless spending on the war led to the American economy being so bankrupted that it was no longer being based on real money aka gold and silver bullion in 1971 which destroyed America's solid middle class and will never come back under this corrupt government and global powers. Under the influence of his masters, he is one of the key figures of creating new heights of unrest in America that is still going on to this day and yet he "ended segregation". Yeah, he ended 'segregation' in the same way that getting shot by a Vietnamese is good for your health.

[@jackjohnsen8506]

@@Erin-ce5gs and did it end racial divide and race riots.OPPS

[@stewiegriffin12341]

My personal favorite President even though I hate what he did in Vietnam. He’s such an interesting and consequential figure.

[@shirleyashanti3031]

Those were some turbulent times especially with that war. Friends and family were lost, many died, many became the living dead, physically and/or mentally scarred for life. Through it all, I watched this president grapple with America's sorrows. In my mind, he was one of our greatest. I believed it then and still do today. He was so determined to do good for our nation, and he did that with true empathy and compassion. Much love, respect and remembrance forever for him and Lady Bird.

[@sammyibrahim6104]

He was a puppet

[@kindnessfirst9670]

@@sammyibrahim6104 You have obviously never read the books about him that are mentioned in the video- I have. He had puppets he controlled- not the other way around. He was arguably the most stubbornly independent and driven of all the US Presidents. Also ruthless, cruel, vindictive and totally dishonest in his pursuit of political power. He understood how the US Senate actually worked to a degree no one else has before of since.

[@sammyibrahim6104]

@@kindnessfirst9670 he was part of the jfk assassination cover up

[@juliegoff1731]

You re right about ladybird

[@richardcline1337]

He deliberately misled the American public by fabricating, along with another POS named McNamara, the second Bay of Tonkin "incident" that NEVER happened! He wanted to get elected for a term as President on his own and they cooked up this lie in an effort to do that. Thankfully, it backfired on him and he lost the election. If ever an individual deserved the fiery pits of Hell, it has to be Lyndon Johnson!

[@jacksilver9935]

LBG put today’s Congressional leaders to shame. A vote occurred only after Johnson had secured to vote the way he needed the vote to occur. Think John McCains dramatic ObamaCare vote. The lesson is Mitch et al as a party leader cannot come close to governing the way LBJ did.

[@lisica8458]

Big difference between Mitch McConnell and Everett Dirksen. Dirksen and LBJ liked and respected one another and worked cooperatively. McConnell tried to scuttle every initiative of Obama's agenda and most of Biden's agenda.

[@2511dhall]

LBJ never met Queen Elizabeth II. His widow did in 1991.

[@ricodelavega4511]

we're still living in the Johnson era

[@Pete-eb3vo]

High inflation, endless wars, destruction of the middle class, high poverty, high unrest, baiting women and blacks to divide the entire population, seems about right.

[@happynappydrj5238]

My brother was wearing a shirt that said LBJ. I was so excited. LBJ is my favorite president. I have the Caro bio and Pres. Johnson's autobio. My brother looked at me, shook his head, laughed and said "Sister, LeBron James. LeBron James." I don't care. LBJ is LBJ. Hopefully folks will appreciate all that he accomplished.

[@rickpoindexter3150]

Yea,LBJ was a great President except for the fact that he had Kennedy murdered.

[@jackjohnsen8506]

If you like Johnson, you would have loved Adolf Hitler...

[@GavinsMarineMom]

It says a lot about a person who's favorite president was a psychopath.

[@44excalibur]

Let's not forget that LBJ took the United States into the Vietnam War and left office in disgrace, having divided the country more than it ever had been since the Civil War. If we only ever judged a president by legislative accomplishments then Richard Nixon would be considered one of the greatest presidents in history.

[@JB-uv4hm]

Kennedy’s war. Go read a book.

[@44excalibur]

@@JB-uv4hm I've read several books. Kennedy is the one who gave the greenlight for sending military personnel to Vietnam, but LBJ is the one who escalated the war with the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which expanded his powers to conduct warfare in southeast Asia. Perhaps you skipped over that part in your books?

[@richardcline1337]

@@JB-uv4hm, Johnson deliberately misled the American public by fabricating, along with another POS named McNamara, the second Bay of Tonkin "incident" that NEVER happened! He wanted to get elected for a term as President on his own and they cooked up this lie in an effort to do that. Thankfully, it backfired on him and he lost the election. If ever an individual deserved the fiery pits of Hell, it has to be Lyndon Johnson!

[@adamhyde7015]

Richard Millhouse Nixon was probably the greatest foreign policy president to ever serve or that will ever serve in the White House.

[@juliegoff1731]

Worst thing Kennedy did was to chose him

[@ProfarTheGod]

Couldn’t be worse than your grammar

[@adamhyde7015]

It sure didn't work out like Kennedy thought it would

[@davemaglish247]

I was very young when he was president but now I can appreciate the legislative accomplishments during his time as president

[@nickbarcheck1019]

Mr. Caro's books on LBJ should be required reading. Just extraordinary stuff.

[@Mrcharles.]

It is LBJ that caused a dramatic shift in how political parties are looked at today.

[@glnnchrstphr9717]

So many lives lifted here at home, and yet so many lives destroyed. Talk about two sides of the same coin.

[@JK-gu3tl]

Nixon and LBJ were very similar.

[@ProfarTheGod]

As a Texas State University Alumni, I used to shake LBJ’s hand (statue) on campus before every major exam. The respect I have for him is monumental, will forever go down as my favorite president

[@conniedean9466]

LBJ accomplished a great deal of good things for so many people.

[@chrisgardiner2215]

NO HE DID NOT

[@Yo_Kelz]

Dude was a terrible human being.

[@nehemiahpouncey3607]

He was a racist as well. That's why MLK had a hard time getting through.

[@vinceedwards575]

Well he has been able to keep Blacks voting democrat for 200 years.

[@adamhyde7015]

I think he called him something else other than blacks

[@vinceedwards575]

@@adamhyde7015 Yep but I can t post that part.

[@DouglasMoreland-qd5cz]

The greatest legislative president ever but ruined by a war he had no answers too..very sad indeed…always remember those who fought in Vietnam..thank you from this American

[@steveanderson8137]

I encourage anyone to visit the LBJ national park.

[@GoGreen1977]

The 1960s were the "best of times, they were "the worst of times."

[@disappearintothesea]

He was truly a president for the people.. if only he had stopped there.

[@craig8037]

1972 I sold him worms at Harry's house rode to Tennessee with him when I was 5 or 6 took him cookies up north when we went to our cabin they called him Andrew back then

[@kevinjenner9502]

Committing to total war in Vietnam based on the non existent attack of 8/4/64 in the Gulf of Tonkin.

[@richardcline1337]

He deliberately misled the American public by fabricating, along with another POS named McNamara, the second Bay of Tonkin "incident" that NEVER happened! He wanted to get elected for a term as President on his own and they cooked up this lie in an effort to do that. Thankfully, it backfired on him and he lost the election. If ever an individual deserved the fiery pits of Hell, it has to be Lyndon Johnson!

[@frankcivitak8248]

Historic man