LBJ's last interview (w/ Walter Cronkite). Simply incredible

[Dennis Donovan]

[jaxexpat]

1. Thanks for this Dennis.

[secondwind]

2. Wow. Bookmarked

[Demnation]

3. Fearless self-reflection and critical thinking, which lead to enlightenment and bold change.

LBJ, had his flaws, as have all Presidents, but in this area of civil rights and racial justice his contribution was unprecedented in its reach and profound in its influence on America and our national history. Because of this, he was in my view a heroic figure, if also complex, and deserves our respect among the pantheon of great Democratic Presidents.

Brilliant. Thank you for posting this historic interview.

[kacekwl]

4. A flawed man who realized his and

the country's flaws and did something about it. It's was good to hear straight and honest in my mind answers to Cronkite's questions.

[Dennis Donovan]

15. I recommend the Caro books

He was quite a visionary, but Vietnam was a messup because he put too much faith in the JCS who jonesed for war (so they could keep their cushy jobs).

...and Ike warned us of those slobs.

[paleotn]

5. A complex man.

But if you get down to it, who of us isn't complex and full of idiosyncrasies and contradictions. He did some wonderful things and should be praised for those. Was he good in sum total? It's hard to say. Hard to say for just about everyone who's ever lived. A lesson in not turning any human, no matter who they are, into some demi-god of virtue and goodness.

[Martin68]

18. I agree, paleotn, it's hard to decide whether LBJ succeeded or failed as a president. His War on

Poverty and his civil rights accomplishments rank with the New Deal in my estimation. But then there was Vietnam...

[BarbD]

6. If courage is our constant companion, We shall Overcome!

Although I demonstrated vehemently against his Vietnam policy, there is no question that Civil Rights made substantial progress during his administration.

This is a long interview, but worth watching because it explains so much about where we were in the '60s and how to view the challenges of today. As LBJ said, we must acknowledge the racism in our society if we are going to overcome it.

[Lonestarblue]

7. One of my favorite places to take out-of-town visitors is the LBJ Library on the UT campus.

Most people do not remember all the programs he started, including the Head Start program for preschool kids as part of his War on Poverty. A visit to this presidential library is truly a walk down memory lane as it focuses on all the things going on during the 1960s, including the music and culture. I’ve been there four times already, and I learn something new every time because there is so much to see.

Here’s a link to the Library if anyone is interested in exploring.

http://www.lbjlibrary.org/exhibits/the-legacy-gallery/

[DesertRat]

9. We loved it!

Last edited Sun Mar 28, 2021, 07:51 PM - Edit history (1)

We were in Austin 5 years ago and our trip to the LBJ library was the best part of our visit. It was much larger and more comprehensive than I would have imagined.

I highly recommend a visit to anyone who will be in the Austin area.

[jmbar2]

14. Also the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center

As if the beautiful flowers and landscaping aren't enough, they have pioneered some very clever water conservation methods there. You can get good ideas for your home gardens from what they've done.

[joetheman]

8. This is what good journalism used to be. And this is one of the most honest Presidential interviews

ever! I should be played in schools for civics and journalism lessons. No one is above their own flaws and social warts. Come on down and examine your own.

If only we had interviews like this now and not the quickie "gotcha" interviews that darken our TV screens.

[ramapo]

10. Fascinating man

Read the series of Caro books on LBJ. The last book is still incomplete and focuses on LBJ’s last years. Caro’s research has been delayed due to COVID but I hope he can get it done.

[msfiddlestix]

11. All these decades, this is the first time I've heard this interview. My Word, It is powerful

as well as informative. I wasn't aware Truman had attempted to get Congress to move on the Voting Rights for the AA community (and I believe he mentioned Medicaid?) , Fascinating to listen to how legislation on voting rights, and all of the ancillary legislative pieces were enacted, his thoughts on moving past filibuster and his thoughts on executive orders, how he got equal housing passed through congress after his announcement that he wouldn't accept the nomination for the 68 Elections. and what he managed to do that final year.

So many other laws that were good for moving our country forward out of the jim crow era in face of opposition in the Congress, and Unions, the "backbone" of the party as Johnson put it.

So much to glean, but I wonder if Biden has listened to this video clip recently?

[bucolic_frolic]

12. The issues of Vietnam and Nixon shunted LBJ aside; time for revisiting his legacy

[wnylib]

13. One part of the interview that

stood out for me was where they discussed the resentment of working class white Dems who felt that their party had deserted them in focusing on civil rights. Those are the people who became Nixon and especially Reagan supporters.

Instead of embracing common cause with rights for all people, they supported a party that took more away from them than anything that they imagined that civil rights would take from them. Then their Republican party leaders validated their resentments and told them that it was government support of civil rights that reduced their incomes and cost them money in support of social programs. They believed it and reinforced their allegiance to Republicans, never catching on that their new party was crapping all over them.

[Quixote1818]

16. Fantastic other than the trumpet music at the 4:35 mark. LOL

An absolutely fascinating interview. Thanks for posting.

[Martin68]

17. Excellent interview. It is good to be reminded that there was a man in the presidency who put

the full weight of the office behind voting rights and civil rights in general. As LBJ says in the interview, he put all his chips in. It's too bad he felt compelled to do the same with the Vietnam War. My belief is that the CIA and the Pentagon gave him very bad analysis and advice on the subject.

[hay rick]

19. Outstanding video. K&R

You can draw a straight line from Johnson's civil rights legislation to today's Republican Party opposition to that legislation.