“Some fifteen hundred innocent people were murdered, and their heads cut off, and … as we talked to our Ambassador to confirm the horror and the tragedy and the unbelievable fact that they were firing on Americans and the American Embassy, he was talking to us from under a desk while bullets were going through his windows.…”
But Cormier notes that “Bennett later reported that he knew of no bullets being fired into his office, and that he never had cowered under a desk. Nor was it ever established that anyone was beheaded. And the only Americans harmed were two newsmen shot by Marines.”
“A band of”: Johnson, quoted in Turner, p. 136. Evans and Novak were to write that while Johnson’s initial decisions in the Dominican Republic were courageous and decisive, his later statements and actions “transformed the crisis of revolution in the Dominican Republic into a crisis of credibility in Lyndon Johnson” (p. 516). Max Frankel of the NYT was to say: “Johnson was fundamentally dishonest in presenting the facts about what was happening in the Dominican Republic to the American people.… telling ridiculous stories about 1,500 heads rolling around in the streets and so on. Whatever the credibility gap ultimately became, the combination of opposition to the policy and the horror at the government’s handling and explanation of the event is probably where it was born” (Frankel, quoted in Miller, p. 424). For an analysis of the effect on his public image of Johnson’s “inconsistent reconstructions of events,” see Turner, pp. 134–37.
“Distrust of the President”: White, p. 102. “Died at the Alamo”: Turner, p. 167. A new phrase: Turner (p. 167) says “It first hit the newspapers in the NYHT of May 23, 1965 over an article by David Wise.” “Ambushed;” buttons: White, p. 102.
“It is difficult”; “could hardly believe”; “the reverence”: Tom Wicker, “Hey, Hey, LBJ …”, Esquire, Dec., 1983. $20 million: Caro, Path to Power, pp. xxii, xxiii, 788–89.
“87-VOTE ‘LANDSLIDE’”: Life, Aug. 14, 1964. “THE STORY OF”: USN&WR, Apr. 6, 1964.
1. Going Back
SOURCES
Much of this chapter is drawn from my first volume of The Years of Lyndon Johnson, The Path to Power.
Books and documents:
Dugger, The Politician; Miller, Lyndon; Montgomery, Mrs. LBJ; Steinberg, Sam Johnson’s Boy and Sam Rayburn.
Papers of Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDRL).
Oral Histories:
Helen Gahagan Douglas, Clifford Durr, Virginia Durr, Welly K. Hopkins, W. Ervin (“Red”) James.
Interviews:
George R. Brown, Edward A. Clark, Benjamin V. Cohen, Thomas G. Corcoran, Abe Fortas, Arthur (“Tex”) Goldschmidt, Elizabeth Wickenden Goldschmidt, Lady Bird Johnson, Alice and Welly K. Hopkins, James H. and Elizabeth Rowe.
NOTES
Johnson’s youth, early career through 1941 Senate race: Caro, Path to Power. “I’ll never forget”: Mrs. Johnson interview with author, and quoted in Montgomery, p. 27.
McFarlane’s exclusion: McFarlane to Roosevelt, July 29, 1939, OF-300-Texas, Box 70, Roosevelt Papers; McFarlane to Roosevelt, May 15, 1939, OF-300, Roosevelt Papers.
Roosevelt’s “special feeling” for Johnson: Cohen, Corcoran, Fortas, Goldschmidt, Rowe, Wickenden Goldschmidt interviews; Caro, Path to Power, pp. 444–49, 535–36, 555–56, 666–69, and passim. Exceptions in 1941: Caro, Path to Power, pp. 678–80, 724–27. “In the heat”: Johnson to Roosevelt, July 21, 1941, PPF 6149, Roosevelt Papers. “Sit”: Rowe, quoted in Miller, p. 88. “Everything”: Corcoran interview; quoted in Miller, p. 88. Young Democrats: Johnson, quoted in Dugger, pp. 237–38; Corcoran interview; Rowe put the suggestion in writing, Rowe to Roosevelt, July 17, 1941, PSF 184, Roosevelt Papers.
“Most remarkable”; “help him”: Corcoran interview. Circle in Washington: Caro, Path to Power, pp. 450–58; Clifford and Virginia Durr, Hopkins, James OHs; Brown, Cohen, Corcoran, Fortas, Goldschmidt, Wickenden Goldschmidt, James and Elizabeth Rowe, Alice and Welly Hopkins interviews. “I like mules”; “wasn’t a man”: Wirtz, quoted in Virginia Durr OH. Rayburn’s birthday party: Corcoran, quoted in Steinberg, Sam Rayburn, p. 97. “If you had fallen”: Rowe to Johnson, Sept. 16, 1941, Box 32, LBJA SN.
“I would reproach”: Virginia Durr OH, and quoted in Miller, p. 73. “Lyndon would”: Virginia Durr, quoted in WP, Nov. 21, 1985. “Once”: Rowe, quoted in Miller, p. 68. “Made fun”: Douglas OH.
“He gave”: Miller, quoted in Caro, Path to Power, p. 273. For Johnson being “in tune” with the conservatives as a congressional secretary, see Chapter 16. “Basically”; “That was his leadership”: Brown, quoted in Caro, pp. 471, 552. “Hard to tell”: Douglas OH. “Protected himself”: Douglas OH. “Witty”: Douglas, quoted in Caro, p. 550. “Close-mouthed”: Douglas OH.
Johnson had made Brown rich: Caro, Path to Power, pp. 459–75, 577, 583–86, 598. Brown & Root’s role in 1941 campaign: Caro, pp. 685, 717, 742–53. Pledge: Brown, Clark interviews.
Rayburn’s loneliness: Caro, Path to Power, pp. 317–33. Relationship with Johnsons: Caro, pp. 333–34. “Now, Lyndon”: Rayburn, quoted in Caro, p. 334. Begging a favor: Connally to his biographer, Steinberg, quoted in Steinberg, Sam Johnson’s Boy, p. 94. Rayburn’s help to Johnson: Caro, Path to Power, pp. 452–53, 468. Johnson’s betrayal of Rayburn: Caro, pp. 557–605. Rayburn’s coldness to Johnson: Caro, pp. 618–25. Partial thaw: Caro, pp. 754–57. Rayburn’s attempts to get Mann a meeting with Roosevelt: Rayburn to Watson, Sept. 2, 1941, Watson to Rayburn, Sept. 3, 1941, unsigned to Watson, Sept. 11, 1941—all PPF 474, Roosevelt Papers.
“Shook hands”: Beaumont Enterprise, Nov. 11, 1941. “Close enough”: Johnson, quoted in Beaumont Journal, Nov. 10, 1941.
2. All Quiet on the Western Front
SOURCES
Books and documents:
Beasley, Knudsen; The Biographical Directory of the American Congress, 1774–1971; Burns, Roosevelt: The Lion and the Fox and The Soldier of Freedom; Caidin and Hymoff, The Mission; Daniels, White House Witness; Dugger, The Politician; Miller, Lyndon; Mooney, Lyndon Johnson Story; Newlon, L.B.J.: The Man from Johnson City; Sherwood, Roosevelt and Hopkins; Steinberg, Sam Johnson’s Boy; White, Queens Die Proudly.
Papers of Tom C. Clark (HSTL).
Papers of Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDRL).
Oral Histories:
Warren Magnuson.
Interviews:
John B. Connally, Thomas G. Corcoran, Alice Hopkins, Lady Bird Johnson, Sam Houston Johnson, Warren Magnuson, Mary Rather, O. J. Weber, Harold Young, Mary Louise Glass Young, James Van Zandt.
NOTES
“If the day ever comes”: For example, in radio address, Abilene, Texas, May 6, 1941. Also DMN, AA, AA-S, May 6-June 30, 1941. Variations: For example, “I hope as your Senator I shall never have to vote to send your boy to the trenches. I love peace, but I tell you mothers, the day my conscience tells me to vote that way, 32-year-old Lyndon Johnson who registered for the draft will give up his seat and go with your boys” (radio address, Lubbock, Texas, May 7, 1941, “Campaign Speeches,” Lyndon Johnson Senate Race—1941,” Box 331, JHP). In San Angelo, he said: “If I ever feel it necessary to cast a vote for a declaration of war, I’ll offer my services the next day to go up there to the front with the rest of the boys” (requoted on the occasion of his enlistment, San Angelo Evening Standard, Dec. 9, 1941). In Elgin, he said: “The day I vote to send your boy to war, that day I will resign and go with him” (requoted, Elgin Courier, Dec. 11, 1941). “Would be in the front line”: Johnson, quoted in Fredericksburg Standard, Oct. 9, 1941. “If Hitler makes”: Undated text of Johnson speech, p. 5, Box 331, JHP. He added the “I shall never vote” sentence in hand. “WE NEED COURAGE LIKE THIS”: “Postcards,” Box 34, JHP. “I may be scrubbing”: Beaumont Enterprise, Nov. 11, 1941. “Already in that war”: Austin Tribune, Oct. 9, 1941. In another speech, he said: “When the president said shoot on sight, that meant we were in war!” (Austin Statesman, Oct. 7, 1941). “A number of persons”: Fredericksburg Standard, Oct. 9, 1941. “Some time ago”: San Antonio L
ight, quoted in San Marcos Record, Oct. 25, 1941.
Had enrolled in the Naval Reserve: “Public Activities—Biographic Information, L. B. Johnson, June 11,1940, Commission in U.S. Navy,” Box 73, LBJA SF. Went to Nimitz’ office: Magnuson OH. “When you get back”: Johnson to Hopkins, Dec. 8, 1941, Personal Papers of Welly K. Hopkins, Box 1, LBJL. Magnuson appealed to Vinson: Magnuson interview; Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Dec. 20, 1941, May 10, 1942. Magnuson’s combat service: Magnuson interview; Magnuson OH; Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Dec. 21, 1941-May 21, 1942; HC, Dec. 12, 1941.
Request for “active duty”: Johnson to Roosevelt, Dec. 8, 1941, PPF 6149, Roosevelt Papers. Pro forma: Among those aware of the job Johnson wanted were Corcoran and Young. On the same day on which he went to see Roosevelt, he introduced a bill in the House that would create the new agency, which, under his bill, would be headed by a $10,000-a-year director appointed by the President (Brenham Banner-Press, DMN, Dec. 10, 1941). During his talk with Roosevelt, it is unclear that any other type of “active duty” was even mentioned; if it was, the type Johnson had in mind may be hinted at by the fact that presidential assistant Marvin McIntyre wrote on Johnson’s letter, at the time Johnson was going to Forrestal’s office, “File—taken care of,” and explained to Grace Tully a few days later that Johnson “is on active duty in the Navy here in Washington” (Tully to Roosevelt, Dec. 17, 1941, PPF 6149, Roosevelt Papers). Johnson himself was to say, “I took my oath as lieutenant commander and went to work as a deputy to Secretary of the Navy, James Forrestal.” As will be seen, his lobbying for the directorship continued all during December.
Johnson’s previous proposal to merge NYA and CCC: Memo to Roosevelt, Dec. 6, 1941, PPF 6149, Roosevelt Papers. “Said he understood”: Johnson, quoted in Dugger, p. 239. Goes to Forrestal’s office: Barker to Bard, Dec. 16, 1941, Navy Unofficial Personnel File, LBJL. “How do you want?”: Forrestal to Johnson, undated, Box 4, LBJA FN. Dispatched for inspection tour and liaison: Forrestal to Olds, Dec. 20, 1941; “Memorandum for Commander Gingrich,” Dec. 18, 1941, Baker to Beswick, Dec. 16, 1941, Navy Unofficial Personnel File, LBJA SF. “I am very hopeful”: Johnson to Roosevelt, undated (acknowledged Dec. 30, 1941), PPF 6149, Roosevelt Papers. “Will probably get out”: Johnson to Tom Clark, Jan, 2, 1942, Box 5, “Je-Jo,” Clark Papers. Note from Roosevelt: Roosevelt to Johnson, Dec. 30, 1941, PPF 6149, Roosevelt Papers. “Art galleries and all”: Mrs. Johnson interview with author.
Loathed his work: Mooney, pp. 60–61. “A paper-shifting job”: Johnson, quoted in Miller, p. 92.
Encounter with Admiral: Johnson, quoted in Dugger, p. 239.
Not a joking matter; Vinson’s relationship with Admirals: Caro, Path to Power, p. 537. “He couldn’t stand”: Caro, p. 229. “If he couldn’t lead”; take his ball: Caro, p. 71. “Settle a personal problem”: Miller, p. 92; Steinberg, p. 189. Roosevelt gives him no satisfaction: Roosevelt to Watson, Jan. 22, 1942, PPF 6149, Roosevelt Papers; Corcoran interview. Meeting and charming Barker: Barker to Gingrich, Barker to Bard, Dec. 16, 1941, Navy Unofficial Personnel File, LBJL. Dispatched as Barker’s assistant: Barker to Pederson, Dec. 16, 1941, Navy Unofficial Personnel File, LBJL.
Restoration of relationship with Rayburn: Caro, Path to Power, pp. 754–63.
“We would go”: Connally interview. “We had a lot of fun”: Connally interview. Faking the photographs: Otto Crider, quoted in Dugger, p. 240. Dugger does not identify Kellam by name, but Kellam himself often told the story in later years. Wrestling match; “the next morning”; Weisl’s arrangements: Connally interview.
Alice Glass’s biography and relationship with Johnson: Described in Caro, Path to Power, pp. 476–92. “Give Herman the dam”: Caro, p. 483. Selling him land: Caro, p. 488. Oil deal: Caro, pp. xiii–xvi. Told intimates that she and Johnson had discussed marriage: The intimates to whom she told this include her sister, Mary Louise Glass Young, and Harold Young, who at the time was an aide to Vice President Henry Wallace and an adviser to Charles Marsh. “A young man”: Caro, Path to Power, p. 482.
“I can write”: Alice Glass to Oltorf, Sept. 16, 1967 (copy in author’s possession). The letter goes on to tell Oltorf, Brown & Root’s lobbyist: “You could certainly write a very interesting chapter on his rise (we must call it from ‘rags to riches,’ nothing else would pass his approval) in the financial world. I could also add some factual details to your original. This chapter should give hope and ambition to many a young poor Texan—we certainly owe the youth of Texas this. It is our duty. But there you are; nothing but trouble with the Historic Society.” When The Path to Power—and its description of Lyndon Johnson’s long relationship with Mrs. Marsh—was published, a former Johnson aide, Liz Carpenter, for example, said, “I think it is a ridiculous charge made at a time when the man who could answer it can no longer answer.” She said she knew nothing “whatsoever” of any romantic involvement between Johnson and Glass (AA-S, Oct. 20, 1982). “She was disgusted”: Mary Louise Young interview. “Lyndon was the love”: Hopkins interview.
“An interesting time”: Connally interview. Use of “due bills”: Mary Louise and Harold Young interviews; Dugger, p. 239. Mary Louise, Marsh’s secretary at the time, arranged for Johnson to use the bills. Matsomoto episode: Connally interview. He showed the author the robe with great pride.
“Placed in line”: HP, Dec. 11, 1941. Johnson’s location being concealed from Marsh: On Feb. 21, 1942, Johnson’s secretary, Mary Rather, telegraphed Johnson at the Empire Hotel in San Francisco: “MARSH AT BEVERLY WILSHIRE HOTEL, BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA, TODAY. ANXIOUS TALK TO YOU ON PHONE OR SEE YOU. TOLD GLASS I WOULD ATTEMPT LOCATE YOU” (Rather to Johnson, Feb. 21, 1942, Box 26, LBJA SN). “Glass” is Alice’s sister, Mary Louise, who was one of Charles Marsh’s secretaries. She told the author that Marsh had instructed her to locate Johnson, a task she was anxious not to carry out, since she knew Johnson was with her sister in California. Mary Louise says that when she called Miss Rather, Miss Rather panicked and not knowing what to do sent the telegram to Johnson. Miss Rather then called her back and said she could not contact Johnson, so Miss Glass was able to tell her boss, Marsh, that Johnson could not be located, and the possibility of an embarrassing scene was avoided.
“We were really working”: Connally interview. “Where is that man?”: Weber quoted Barker’s remarks in his letter to Johnson, Feb. 15, 1942 (Box 35, LBJA SN). “I’m very glad”: Barker to Johnson, Feb. 16, 1942, LBJ-Navy Unofficial Personnel File, LBJL. “Crossing each other”: Johnson to Barker, Feb. 19, 1942, LBJ-Navy Unofficial Personnel File, LBJL. “I’ve been wondering”: Barker to Johnson, Mar. 10, 1942, LBJ-Navy Unofficial Personnel File, LBJL.
The letters from Johnson’s congressional office: Weber to Johnson, Johnson to Weber, Feb. 2-Mar. 26, 1942, “O. J. Weber,” Box 35, LBJA SN. Texarkana rentals: Weber to Johnson, Feb. 16, 1942, “O. J. Weber,” Box 35, LBJA SN. Wrestling with the larger problem: Connally interview. Had promised Allred support: Connally interview. “Might not ever”: Connally interview. Roosevelt’s feelings: See, for example, Roosevelt to Ickes, Feb. 4, 1942, Box 70 (Texas, 1938–1945, G-J), OF-300-Roosevelt Papers. Wirtz told him: His feelings are shown in a letter he wrote to Lady Bird, which Wirtz evidently felt she would pass on to her husband: “If his name were put on the ballot … I think it would ruin his future political career because the people would have the idea he is trying to make political capital out of his uniform.” Wirtz to Mrs. Johnson, May 14, 1942, Box 37, LBJA SN. “War fever”: Connally interview. Plans for draft: DMN, May 13, 14, 1942.
“All over the place”: Johnson to Gingrich, Feb. 27, 1942, LBJ-Navy Unofficial Personnel File, LBJL. “A very frustrating time”; “a constant stream of letters”: Mrs. Johnson interview.
“Something big”: Corcoran interview. The “something big” was no longer the directorship of a merged NYA-CCC, because by this time, it was already obvious that these two agencies were more likely to be abolished (as, indeed, they were) than merged. “I can appreciate”: Wirtz to Johnso
n, Feb. 23, 1942, Box 37, LBJA SN. Knudsen appointment: Sherwood, p. 456.
“Things are very dull”: Johnson to Roosevelt, Johnson to Tully, Mar. 7, 1942; Roosevelt to Johnson, Mar. 17, 1942, OF-300-Texas-69(A), Roosevelt Papers.
Requesting transfer to Pearl Harbor: Johnson to Barker, Feb. 21, 1942, LBJ-Navy Unofficial Personnel File, LBJL. “I have no address”: Barker to Johnson, Mar. 4, 1942, LBJ-Navy Unofficial Personnel File, LBJL.
“Get your ass”: Marsh to Johnson, Apr. 21, 1942, Papers of Charles E. Marsh, Box 3, LBJL. “I am doubtful”: Wirtz to Johnson, Feb. 23, 1942, Box 37, LBJA SN.
Lockhart’s suggestion: AA-S, Mar. 12, 13, 1942. “Rendering patriotic and valuable service”: “government censorship”: AA-S, Mar. 13, 14, 1942. “Coming to a showdown”: Weber to Johnson, Mar. 16, 1942, Box 35, LBJA SN. “Have to have an answer”: Weber to Johnson, Mar. 14, 1942, Box 35, LBJA SN. “I am under orders”: Johnson to Blundell, “Political Correspondence, 1942,” Box 37, JHP.
“Getting it”: Magnuson to Parish, from “Somewhere in the Pacific,” printed in Seattle Star, Jan. 23, 1942. Magnuson’s war service: Magnuson interview; Magnuson OH; Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle Star, Dec. 23, 1941–May 20, 1942. Other congressmen’s service: Maas—Biographical Directory; Van Zandt interview; Osmers—NYT, Jan. 17, 1942. Unable to decide: Connally interview. Wirtz had let him know: Wirtz to Johnson, Feb. 23, 1942, Box 37, LBJA SN. And see Magnuson OH. There may even have been pressure from the Navy. According to a memo written for his files by Johnson, he met in San Francisco on April 9 with Admiral J. W. Greenslade. Greenslade “discussed briefly the kind of work Ensign Connally and I have been doing since entering active service.” Then, Johnson wrote, they “discussed … the desirability of extending our present work,” and Greenslade suggested an addition to their orders that would permit him to “assign additional duty such as submarine duty, bomber patrols, convoy commands.” If there was such pressure—the wording of the memo is ambiguous—Johnson evaded it. “I told the Admiral a request for this addition to the orders would be made on my return” to Washington, he wrote. But when he got back to Washington, he made no such request.
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