What was lbj like

So, exactly how repulsive was Johnson? He was horrid enough that the way he said things was almost as bad as what he said. Anyone who came into contact with him was at risk of encountering a spectacle of burping, farting, nose-picking and crotch-scratching. Bernard had licked your face for an hour, had pawed you all over. She does admit he kissed her on the cheek at least once. A truly unlucky few even got to see Johnson relieve himself.

The pantyhose bit was part of a troubling pattern. Recorded Oval Office telephone conversations include a exchange with staffer Ralph Dungan concerning female appointees to government positions. Johnson kept asking Dungan about their looks.

Former staffer Yolanda Boozer told Miller that Johnson would comment if female White House employees gained any weight, provoking anxious dieting. Rowe Jr. And then there was the N-word. Although Johnson styled himself as a civil rights crusader and did make progress on race relations, he still presided over a United States torn by racial violence. His public and private statements showed that he never realized he himself may have been part of the problem.

For example, Robert A. Robert Dallek learned of a meeting in the Oval Office with Texan state official Larry Temple, concerning possible black candidates for the Supreme Court. Not looking to cloud your day but winter is knocking! No need to wait until next weekend to score sweet sales on gadgets, gear. Sign up to receive the daily top stories from the National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. More Resources Lyndon B. Johnson Presidency Page.

Johnson Essays Life in Brief. Life Before the Presidency. Campaigns and Elections. Domestic Affairs. Foreign Affairs. Life After the Presidency. Family Life. The American Franchise. Impact and Legacy Current Essay. In-Depth Exhibits Scroll left to right to view a selection of exhibits. Mississippi Burning. The assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Johnson transition. Unlike most presidents, it is hard to come up with a single narrative thread for LBJ.

But to me, his presidency represents moral rectitude despite the political consequences. Johnson privately acknowledged that signing the Civil Rights Act would lose the Democrats the south for a generation, but he knew that it had to be done. They are human, they are inconsistent, and they are usually attempting to do what they see as right. By ignoring this we create a political environment that demonises the opposition and sanctifies our own — which denies the humanity of our politicians and, in turn, rewards them for inhumanity.

This article is more than 3 years old. Jack Bernhardt.