Lyndon Johnson Remembered: An Intimate Portrait of a Presidency / Edition 208

by Thomas W. Cowger, Sherwin J. Markman, Luci Baines Johnson, Hyman Bookbinder, Joseph Califano

Overview

More than thirty years ago, John Roche, former special assistant to President Johnson, wrote that no "historically valid" treatment of the Johnson years would emerge for decades. The problem, he insisted, was the scarcity of primary-source evidence. Objective analysis of the Johnson presidency would have to include material from the Johnson library as well as from the Johnson participants themselves.
Nearly three decades later, Thomas W. Cowger and Sherwin Markman help to fill this void in the Johnson literature by presenting the voices of many important Johnson administrators and insiders who look back on those critical years. These original essays reflect on Johnson's personality, domestic agenda, and legacy and in many cases, the authors have penned their observations or perceptions of this crucial period for the first time. Drawn from a myriad of perspectives, this volume paints a vivid portrait of Lyndon Johnson and his programs— a fitting tribute to and remembrance of our nation's 36th President.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780742527980
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	07/28/2003
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Thomas W. Cowger is associate professor of history at East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma. Sherwin Markman was assistant to Johnson from 1965–1968 and, after practicing law for many years, lives in Florida.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Preface Chapter 2 Foreword Part 3 Johnson in Literature and History Chapter 4 They Will Never Remember Me: Johnson in Historical Literature Part 5 Tall Texan in a Stetson: Johnson's Personality Chapter 6 An Uncommon, Common Man: LBJ's Pilot Remembers Him Chapter 7 Lyndon Johnson: An Awesome Engine of a Man Chapter 8 Some Aspects of Lyndon Johnson's Personality Part 9 Measure Each Word: Johnson the Communicator Chapter 10 Words Mattered: Johnson the Communicator Part 11 King of the Hill, the Great Coalition Builder: Johnson and Congress Chapter 12 Making Friends in Congress: LBJ and Congressional Relations Part 13 I Envision An America Where: Domestic Problems and the War on Poverty Chapter 14 Sending the Whole Country to Harvard: Lyndon Johnson' s Education Revolution Chapter 15 We Can No Longer Ignore Poverty In Our Midst: LBJ's Other War Chapter 16 Through a Glass Lightly: Reminisces of the Model Cities Act and LBJ's Dance with Legislation Chapter 17 Vietnam: Lyndon Johnson's Choice Part 18 The Best We Ever Had: Johnson and Civil Rights Chapter 19 Toward A More Just America for All: Johnson the Civil Rights Warrior Chapter 20 The Wind at His Back: LBJ, Zephyr, Wright, and Civil Rights Part 21 Retreat to the Ranch: Johnson in Retirement Chapter 22 A Lion in Winter: Johnson in Retirement Part 23 Epilogue: Is the Beautiful Woman Really Dead: The Legacy of Lyndon Johnson and His Great Society Chapter 24 The Great Society's Bum Rap Chapter 25 The Ship Sails On Chapter 26 List of Contributors

What People are Saying About This

W. Marvin Watson

Finally we have the opportunity to hear from so many individuals that were close to President Johnson and his programs. Perhaps we will more fully understand his genius and vision. This book deserves a wide audience and is an appropriate tribute to the legacy of one of our most important presidents.

David Pryor

This unique and valuable collection is a treasure for scholars, historians, and those who follow politics and government. Our generation is fascinated with Lyndon Johnson. These observations from some who knew him best provides deep insight into this enormously complex man who dominated our political scene during some of the most momentous times in American history. The editors of this 'intimate portrait' deserve our gratitude for their contribution.

Nick Kotz

Lyndon Johnson Remembered makes a significant contribution to an historical re-evaluation of Lyndon Johnson's Presidency, which will place him as the greatest champion of civil rights since Lincoln, and the President who accomplished the most to promote social justice for all Americans.

Editorial Reviews

Lyndon Johnson Remembered makes a significant contribution to an historical re-evaluation of Lyndon Johnson's Presidency, which will place him as the greatest champion of civil rights since Lincoln, and the President who accomplished the most to promote social justice for all Americans.

Nick Kotz

Finally we have the opportunity to hear from so many individuals that were close to President Johnson and his programs. Perhaps we will more fully understand his genius and vision. This book deserves a wide audience and is an appropriate tribute to the legacy of one of our most important presidents.

W. Marvin Watson

A more balanced assessment of LBJ.. .. Cowger and Markman bring together many of the people who know LBJ best, who remember Johnson's triumphs and failures, and the personality of this larger-than-life Texan.

Foreword Reviews

This unique and valuable collection is a treasure for scholars, historians, and those who follow politics and government. Our generation is fascinated with Lyndon Johnson. These observations from some who knew him best provides deep insight into this enormously complex man who dominated our political scene during some of the most momentous times in American history. The editors of this 'intimate portrait' deserve our gratitude for their contribution.

David Pryor

A more balanced assessment of LBJ. . . . Cowger and Markman bring together many of the people who know LBJ best, who remember Johnson's triumphs and failures, and the personality of this larger-than-life Texan.

ForeWord Reviews

Historian Cowger and former LBJ assistant Markman gather 15 firsthand views of the complex man who was our 36th president from administration insiders, including Joseph Califano, LBJ's special assistant for domestic affairs; James Cross, a military aide to the president; and speechwriters Harry Middleton (currently director of the Johnson Library) and Benjamin Wattenberg. Many of these contributors are speaking out on Johnson for the first time in these original essays, and the collection should contribute significantly to the historical record, primarily on domestic policy. Cross describes the ups and downs of being Johnson's pilot. Jack Valenti, a Johnson aide and later CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America, compares Johnson's strengths and weaknesses to those of Achilles, describing him as "terrorizing, tender, inexhaustibly energetic, and ruthless...." Erwin Duggan, deputy to Johnson's chief advisor on education, reflects on LBJ's "monumental" educational legacy. This book is appealing in its tone of intimacy, and will be of interest primarily to Johnson students and scholars. (Sept.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly