The Presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson

By Vaughn Davis Bornet

Book Overview

This pioneering assessment of all significant aspects of the Johnson presidency is the first book-length appraisal by a professional historian to cover all issues, decisions, and developments of consequence--from foreign affairs, Vietnam, and the space race to the Great Society, civil rights, and the war on poverty--during the span of Johnson's five years in office. At a time when unflattering portraits of Johnson's distinctive personal and governmental style prevail, this volume presents a full, thoughtful, and balanced evaluation of the administration's achievements and failures.

Vaughn Bornet draws a compelling picture of the dramatic period from late 1963 to early 1969 based on a close examination of memoirs, scholarly books and articles, manuscript materials in the central White House files, and key oral histories. Many of the sources of information have not been used before; only a few of those who worked closely with Johnson during his 1,886 days in office will be familiar with all the details of this comprehensive account.

Bornet documents that, at the very outset, Johnson ignored or dismissed information from key advisors showing that our Vietnam war efforts would fail without a major commitment. In his chapter on the hostile relations between Johnson and the media, Bornet blames both the President and the press for the so-called credibility gap. He credits Johnson, rather than Kennedy, with the moon landing. He shifts the focus from Johnson as a consummate politician to give full attention and credit to the Presidents important and talented team--a group that included Bill Moyers, Joseph Califano, Douglass Cater, Horace Busby, Walt Rostow, McGeorge Bundy, Lawrence O'Brien, Dean Rusk, George Reedy, and Jack Valenti. And Bornet is the first to argue that it was poor health, not political pressure, that caused Johnson to decide against seeking reelection in 1968.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0700602372
• ISBN13: 9780700602377
• Release Date: January 1984
• Publisher: University Press of Kansas
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 1.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.4" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

The author makes a few comments, in perspective

I am just a bit bemused by this opportunity. The Presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson was commissioned by University Press of Kansas as part of its Bicentennial Series evaluating all of our Presidents. Virtually every volume has appeared, thanks to the great prowess of Don McCoy, the famous history professor at University of Kansas. I brought to the contract experience co-authoring Herbert Hoover: President of the United States, and work on Franklin D. Roosevelt; there were also three volumes on social welfare and one on labor/politics, plus a stay at RAND and 4 l/2 years in WWII. And I taught contemporary problems courses as a historian/social scientist. Mainly, with my mandate plus my inclinations, I stuck with serious matters and minimized the jazzy and conventional portrayals of Johnson's personality and character. And I really worked hard on the Johnson archives (as then open to researchers). A Moderate Republican who voted for LBJ in 1964, I got only grudging endurance from the Library director, but great help from the professionals there. The book continues to sell, for it is comprehensive, and it ventures daring judgment throughout. Scholarly reviewers were more than generous, except for Kennedy-lovers, who have never accepted even basics about President Johnson. Although many tapes have been made available, candid memoirs long since acquainted persons like me with the so-called "real LBJ." I stand by my final chapter, "History Will Judge"--a quotation from Lyndon himself as he contemplated the end.