LBJ and Ike Talk Smack
Tuesday morning, the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum released the former president's phone recordings from 1967. For some reason there are fewer recordings from that year than from previous ones. (I'm really looking forward to the 2008 release of the 1968 tapes, since that was such a tumultuous year.)
The conversations about the six-day war, growing discontent with Vietnam and the appointment of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall were all fascinating. Though, I always enjoy hearing LBJ talk politics since he's clearly varsity All-American at that game. An excerpt of LBJ and Dwight Eisenhower talking smack about Bobby Kennedy:
November 4, 1967, 10:10am
JOHNSON: He's this young jet set, society type. And they don't like anybody, you know, from away from the East Coast.
EISENHOWER: I tell you Mr. President. I'm a damn good Republican but if I tell ya, if ever they want that little pipsqueak as President of the United States, by golly Im really gonna get on the [unintelligible]... and Im really gonna work.
JOHNSON: Well that's what they're trying to do. And if I didnt run, and I havent at all concluded I would... I just think the Republicans could beat him if they didn't fight among themselves. But this boy is awfully vicious...
EISENHOWER: Awww he is. He is awfully ruthless.
Links
Listen to part of the conversation<
KVUE video story
Morning News coverage
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