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brush

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33. Best books on LBJ

Sat Jan 26, 2013, 10:12 AM

Jan 2013

Read the Robert Caro books on Johnson. They are biographical volumes that read like best selling fiction, and they are all true. Johnson, save for being mislead on Vietnam by the generals, was actually one of the better presidents. And when he was a Congressman in the hill country of Texas he fought for and got running water and electrification to the region. No doubt he was ruthless in getting what he wanted and crude to some, but he was actually a genuine populist, as witnessed by his taking up and getting passed all the civil rights legislation that was just being talked about in the Kennedy administration. Just think about the courage it took for him to seat the black Freedom Democratic Party at the 1964 Democratic Convention over the objection of the Dixiecrats. He knew it was the right thing to do even if he was a white "Southerner", if you call Texas a southern state. He knew how to kick ass and get things done from his days as Senate Majority Leader, including his major Great Society accomplishments of Medicare, Medicaid, Head Start, Job Corp, National Endowment for the Arts, Social Security funding adjustments, and many others, second only to FDR by the way. We need that kick ass quality now in the Senate and the White House.

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I never knew LBJ was so crass.... [View all] ceejdre82 Jan 2013 OP

I guess you're young! elleng Jan 2013 #1

Yeah, he's a bit before my time.... ceejdre82 Jan 2013 #6

Yes, she worked for him. elleng Jan 2013 #8

I saw her interviewed on TV and also heard her on... ceejdre82 Jan 2013 #14

Good, do that. elleng Jan 2013 #17

The rumor is that she most certainly worked for him... MADem Jan 2013 #115

Hard to believe, 'knowing' her (just having observed,) but anything's possible. elleng Jan 2013 #116

This isn't just idle rumor, Sally Quinn used to snark about it all the time. MADem Jan 2013 #118

I don't think much of Sally Quinn, elleng Jan 2013 #119

She (Doris) admits he crawled into bed with her for "interviews." Really. MADem Jan 2013 #120

Oh gee, missed that 'crawled into bed' interview part! elleng Jan 2013 #125

I am not going to 'judge' Doris, or hold her to a standard that wasn't operative at the time MADem Jan 2013 #126

And she might also be thinking of HER kids and grandkids! elleng Jan 2013 #127

Valid point entirely! MADem Jan 2013 #133

Best books on LBJ brush Jan 2013 #33

Just my personal opinion, but LBJ pushed the 1964 Civil Rights Bill because he knew.... OldDem2012 Jan 2013 #50

Possible but . . . brush Jan 2013 #76

Absolutely... Sekhmets Daughter Jan 2013 #78

"I'd rather have him inside the tent pissing out, than outside pissing in." LBJ on Hoover. Crass? panzerfaust Jan 2013 #40

This cartoon is probably better remembered Brother Buzz Jan 2013 #56

Robert Caro is working on Volume 5 of an incredible biography of LBJ... Sekhmets Daughter Jan 2013 #52

If you found this conversation amusing fujiyama Jan 2013 #92

IIRC, he dragged people into the bathroom with him... backscatter712 Jan 2013 #2

If Johnson had to work with people like Rand Paul .... oh08dem Jan 2013 #3

Johnson would not be cowed by Rand Paul brush Jan 2013 #77

It was not a big secret when he was in office Still Sensible Jan 2013 #4

Yes, all the talk of bungholes and nutsacks is unbecoming. MrSlayer Jan 2013 #5

I think the big beltch is great too! ceejdre82 Jan 2013 #10

It's one of the ways he let you know he was in charge. backscatter712 Jan 2013 #13

You'd think the President would have more dignity. MrSlayer Jan 2013 #18

LBJ was earthy, as the saying is. He mostly behaved himself in public, though. Hekate Jan 2013 #59

Johnson loved to make his aides squirm with his The Second Stone Jan 2013 #7

The JBK-RFK rivalry is one of the greatest American political rivalries fujiyama Jan 2013 #94

LBJ didn't care 'bout no -- BRUPP! -- stinkin' republicans. Eleanors38 Jan 2013 #9

I am sure he had noises coming out his 'bunghole' too! ceejdre82 Jan 2013 #12

He was a two-toned Democrat! Eleanors38 Jan 2013 #68

LBJ... one hell of a man. EastKYLiberal Jan 2013 #11

Really? leftofcool Jan 2013 #28

Yep. It was disastrous. But we also got... Eleanors38 Jan 2013 #69

Quiet as it's kept . . . brush Jan 2013 #80

We had a presence since the Eisenhower administration, but Johnson substantially escalated the war Hippo_Tron Jan 2013 #106

True brush Jan 2013 #122

"It's like riding a wire fence" trackfan Jan 2013 #15

When LBJ asked what it was like having to leave politics, he answered... Eleanors38 Jan 2013 #70

Here's a bit of doggerel attributed to Lyndon Johnson. another_liberal Jan 2013 #16

remember when he picked up his beagle by the ears..... oldhippydude Jan 2013 #19

Yeah, I remember that too. undeterred Jan 2013 #63

He hated John.. and all of the Kennedys... Bigmack Jan 2013 #20

LBJ did what the Kennedy's talked about, but NEVER did or were going to do-Civil rights graham4anything Jan 2013 #26

LBJ was a stupid douchebag tabasco Jan 2013 #42

and he was a better President and man than Thomas Jefferson was. By far. graham4anything Jan 2013 #43

The Kennedys sidelined LBJ after the election kskiska Jan 2013 #98

and remember he followed Kennedy dsc Jan 2013 #21

that is SOME ego auntsue Jan 2013 #22

Read the 1964 book entitled, "A Texan Looks at Lyndon", by J. Evetts Haley.... OldDem2012 Jan 2013 #23

Thank you. Just placed my order for that book on Amazon based on your post. no_hypocrisy Jan 2013 #31

Also see the book "Wheeling and Dealing" by Bobbie Baker, SDjack Jan 2013 #34

Just Keep In Mind That Haley's Book Was A Right-Wing Hatchet Job. Paladin Jan 2013 #47

If you can point out a few Haley's facts they you believe are fabrications,.... OldDem2012 Jan 2013 #49

If Joachim Joesten Is Your Idea Of A Creditable Source..... Paladin Jan 2013 #62

Ah! Now we get to the true point of your angst! Good luck to you as well in a world... OldDem2012 Jan 2013 #64

Read Robert Caro's books on Johnson not that right wing hatchet job. nt brush Jan 2013 #81

Disagree 100% on "right wing hatchet job". See my earlier responses in this thread.... OldDem2012 Jan 2013 #83

Johnson might have started out a conservative dem . . . brush Jan 2013 #84

LBJ never pushed legislation unless he could personally or politically benefit from doing so..... OldDem2012 Jan 2013 #88

Haley was a John Birch Society member RainDog Jan 2013 #99

What can I say? Can you refute any of the facts in his book? nt. OldDem2012 Jan 2013 #110

His book was full of conjecture RainDog Jan 2013 #132

Howard Stern has been playing that phone call for years now on his show and goofing on it stultusporcos Jan 2013 #24

He played it on Tuesday, 40 yrs since LBJ's death.... ceejdre82 Jan 2013 #53

o-o-o-o, Howard. So cutting edge, with a 40 yr old tape of LBJ's windage. Eleanors38 Jan 2013 #71

LBJ Accomplished Some Good Things. Personally, He Could Be A Real Prick. Paladin Jan 2013 #25

On Top Of All That... WiffenPoof Jan 2013 #27

If they only had.. Historic NY Jan 2013 #29

I bet those don't feel like sitting on a wire fence! ceejdre82 Jan 2013 #75

Its called breathing room..... Historic NY Jan 2013 #90

Yes, he was crass...but so was Churchill, and Einstein aristocles Jan 2013 #30

I posted earlier that it is on my list ceejdre82 Jan 2013 #54

Hard to believe he was a teacher before he became a politician. no_hypocrisy Jan 2013 #32

He was a very good teacher. Are_grits_groceries Jan 2013 #37

He sounds like the type of asshole treestar Jan 2013 #38

What are you talking about? Are_grits_groceries Jan 2013 #44

Read some history . . . brush Jan 2013 #82

Maybe you should read more books about LBJ other than those intended to cast LBJ.... OldDem2012 Jan 2013 #89

Why Don't You Give It A Fucking Rest? Paladin Jan 2013 #96

I've noticed that when some posters get backed into a corner, or can't respond with.... OldDem2012 Jan 2013 #109

Yeah, whatever . . . brush Jan 2013 #97

Read my previous posts in this thread. nt. OldDem2012 Jan 2013 #108

Really?? Are_grits_groceries Jan 2013 #105

You need to stop telling other people what to do. nt. OldDem2012 Jan 2013 #107

Ah, the irony. Le Taz Hot Jan 2013 #111

Clever. Got anything else to say that's REALLY intelligent? nt. OldDem2012 Jan 2013 #112

Right! (Pot, meet Kettle.) Hee hee. nt brush Jan 2013 #123

He used to hold "meetings" with staffers while he was sitting on the crapper. yellowcanine Jan 2013 #35

He probably had insufficient roughage in his diet--a bit more might have helped his heart, too. MADem Jan 2013 #121

Likely was a meat and potatoes guy like other Texans of his time. yellowcanine Jan 2013 #129

Crass yes. But if the GOPeas Are_grits_groceries Jan 2013 #36

He once told the press corps, "I've got to go now boys. I need to remind Hubert (VP Humphrey) ... 11 Bravo Jan 2013 #39

This animation that goes with the call is HILARIOUS. Brickbat Jan 2013 #41

Everytime I hear this I think of Cousin Eddie and his polyester pants... Historic NY Jan 2013 #45

Sweet.... MrMickeysMom Jan 2013 #67

he said and did what he wanted sad-cafe Jan 2013 #46

LBJ would be banned from DU RobertEarl Jan 2013 #48

Yes he was I read once he even had talks with people while in was sitting on the toilet. southernyankeebelle Jan 2013 #51

Same here. Some said how unutterably low-class, but one historian pointed out that kings... Hekate Jan 2013 #57

Did he grow up on a farm, do you know? He might have grown up with out houses and southernyankeebelle Jan 2013 #58

I don't know that much about their economic circumstances Hekate Jan 2013 #60

I googled him. LBJ Bio. Lots of interesting stuff. southernyankeebelle Jan 2013 #65

He Had A Humble, Rural Upbringing. (nt) Paladin Jan 2013 #72

According to the Robert Caro books Boomerproud Jan 2013 #86

Well he sure made a difference with his life. southernyankeebelle Jan 2013 #95

He just multi-tasking. Eleanors38 Jan 2013 #73

LOL, your right. He sure didn't let any grass grow under his feet. southernyankeebelle Jan 2013 #74

I think most of the bad history re LBJ is the "elite" revulsion to rural/Southern habits. Eleanors38 Jan 2013 #102

I got news for you that is a world wide attitude. Rural farm areas have terrible attitudes about southernyankeebelle Jan 2013 #124

Like Bill Clinton did. undeterred Jan 2013 #87

Any drunk/stoned blowhole knows full well. So there.rT Eleanors38 Jan 2013 #103

He was a visionary ahead of his time...because graham4anything Jan 2013 #79

You are pretty funnyyuyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy southernyankeebelle Jan 2013 #85

"Don't spit in the soup. We all got to eat." Hekate Jan 2013 #55

Ten years later, to the day, Nixon resigned from the Presidency MrScorpio Jan 2013 #61

I remember the time he showed his gallbladder scar. ananda Jan 2013 #66

Folksy....might be the best description... Historic NY Jan 2013 #91

So? He saved millions from poverty Zoeisright Jan 2013 #93

Exactly they forget Uncle Eddie... Historic NY Jan 2013 #100

LBJ provides a good antidote to fairy tales RainDog Jan 2013 #101

You didn't??? JDPriestly Jan 2013 #104

He wants 3+ inches Trascoli Jan 2013 #113

I am not crass, but there have been times when I have let out an uncontrollable bluestate10 Jan 2013 #114

Hell, who among us hasn't done a little "crop dusting" as well? MADem Jan 2013 #130

Exactly. We can control some things with diet. I have been in meetings after having a salad or bluestate10 Jan 2013 #131

Really? Ian Iam Jan 2013 #117

LBJ was a complicated man; the best and most thorough biography of him is Caro's. northoftheborder Jan 2013 #128