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Lyndon Johnson’s Campaign by Helicopter (2016)

13 points by benbreen 4y ago

sosull 4y ago
If anyone hasn't read Robert Caro's books about Lyndon Johnson, give them a try. They are a truly exceptional achievement in both storytelling and research. I had no concrete understanding of what the New Deal actually was until I read the (fourteenth chapter) of the first book. The stories about it are insane: judges being kidnapped, stripped and beaten by farmers etc. There is a whole book, Means of Ascent, that's devoted to this short period in LBJ's life – the Senate primary campaign that he ran against Coke Stevenson. The helicopter features heavily.
- alexslobodnik 4y ago
  For those who are not aware Lyndon Johnson won by a mere 87 votes. Those votes were bought and paid for according to Caro. That chapter alone is worth reading the entire book for.
- kranke155 4y ago
  Caro’s book on writing is one of the most incredible pieces I’ve ever read on the subject. I highly recommend it to anyone who’s interested in the art.
ttctciyf 4y ago
I was amazed recently to read about some of the seamier aspects of Lyndon Johnson - aggressive bullying, sexual predator, wholesale corruption, etc., but perhaps the most eyebrow raising thing was Johnson's apparent habit of breaching taboo as a way of asserting control - continuing meetings through an open bathroom door while defecating, and waving his penis around in public. See for example: https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/lyndon-b-johnson-penis https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/lyndon-b-johnson-penis https://historycollection.com/lbj-used-one-thing-control-others-around-became-known-johnson-treatment/2/ https://historycollection.com/lbj-used-one-thing-control-oth... Obviously a vocal online minority has an interest in smearing a champion of civil rights. I wonder how true these stores are really?
- cafard 4y ago
  He wasn't inviting Barry Goldwater into the jakes--the stories about Johnson's crudeness came from his aides, who of course were Democrats. I have no first-hand knowledge, but the crudeness seems to have been well attested. I don't know that he was any more corrupt than many a politician of his day.
effnorwood 4y ago

13 points by benbreen 4y ago

If anyone hasn't read Robert Caro's books about Lyndon Johnson, give them a try. They are a truly exceptional achievement in both storytelling and research. I had no concrete understanding of what the New Deal actually was until I read the (fourteenth chapter) of the first book. The stories about it are insane: judges being kidnapped, stripped and beaten by farmers etc. There is a whole book, Means of Ascent, that's devoted to this short period in LBJ's life – the Senate primary campaign that he ran against Coke Stevenson. The helicopter features heavily.

alexslobodnik 4y ago
For those who are not aware Lyndon Johnson won by a mere 87 votes. Those votes were bought and paid for according to Caro. That chapter alone is worth reading the entire book for.
kranke155 4y ago
Caro’s book on writing is one of the most incredible pieces I’ve ever read on the subject. I highly recommend it to anyone who’s interested in the art.

ttctciyf 4y ago

I was amazed recently to read about some of the seamier aspects of Lyndon Johnson - aggressive bullying, sexual predator, wholesale corruption, etc., but perhaps the most eyebrow raising thing was Johnson's apparent habit of breaching taboo as a way of asserting control - continuing meetings through an open bathroom door while defecating, and waving his penis around in public. See for example: https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/lyndon-b-johnson-penis https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/lyndon-b-johnson-penis https://historycollection.com/lbj-used-one-thing-control-others-around-became-known-johnson-treatment/2/ https://historycollection.com/lbj-used-one-thing-control-oth... Obviously a vocal online minority has an interest in smearing a champion of civil rights. I wonder how true these stores are really?

cafard 4y ago
He wasn't inviting Barry Goldwater into the jakes--the stories about Johnson's crudeness came from his aides, who of course were Democrats. I have no first-hand knowledge, but the crudeness seems to have been well attested. I don't know that he was any more corrupt than many a politician of his day.

effnorwood 4y ago