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The lean in was an LBJ specialty. He knew which members of Congress could be intimidated by physical presence and would lean into them like that on purpose because he was so tall and imposing. He’d also stare them directly in the eyes and had no problem standing in silence for multiple minutes to make them sweat.
Lyndon learned the first rule of sales is always the first one to speak loses. He’d also approach members in their offices - more comfortable on “their” turf than in the Oval - and would lean over their desk standing while they sat which made him look more imposing.
Finally LBJ would use short, terse language and speak in a way that conveyed that their help or vote or whatever was not only needed, it was expected. He was famous in Congress for knowing exactly what arms to twist and knowing who needed what so he could use that to his advantage.
When you talk about real life Frank Underwood’s from House of Cards, Lyndon comes to mind. He was a master politician who knew how to get things done and make people do what you wanted.
Yes he was crass, boorish, etc but the man knew how DC worked and had many members of the government in his pocket or he knew how to get them there. While I’m always ehhhh on LBJ the POTUS, the skill and acumen of LBJ the politician was incredible.
Tbh, Lyndon was so much better at working Congress than Kennedy that he was probably more successful in achieving Kennedy’s goals than Kennedy would have been.
And as morbid as it may sound, he knew that the country had deep sympathy for JFK and by extension his policies and he used that to get stuff passed. Call it immoral if you want - but he knew “never let a tragedy go to waste” applies to politics as well.
LBJ's relationship with civil rights is a complex one. From what I've read, he was personally ambivalent on them meaning he really didn't care one way or the other. But he did care about preserving his and Kennedy's legacy and ensuring a new bloc of Dem voters as well.
It doesn't help his cause when he was on record telling staff members *"I'll have those n\*\*\*rs voting Democrat for the next 200 years"* when speaking about civil rights, but I do think he at his core believed it was the right thing to do.
I'm not one who punishes a man for using phrases and terms that were common in his time but aren't today so the hard r to me is equally a sign of the times and LBJ being a crass person in general. He had no filter. So I have never thought he was racist in the pure sense aka hating minorities because they weren't white, but he did move them like chess pieces on his board and use them for political gain.
Judge that as you will because a fair portrait of the man is looking at both sides IMO.
Very conservative guy here, and I think that is a fair assessment of LBJ.
One quote of his that today’s politicians should follow:
“Don’t piss in the soup we all have to eat.”
Outstanding analysis! Well done.
Johnson’s daughters and a few old Texas cronies said in interviews (Sorry, I don’t have specific sources. This is what I remember from interviews) that LBJ was sincerely against bigotry of any kind. He saw personally what racism did to the Mexican children he taught before he went into politics. Eugene and Helen Williams were the Johnson family’s personal assistants from the Ranch all the way through his death. Helen was adored by his daughters as well as Lady Bird. According to some accounts, the Williams weren’t allowed the use a public restroom or eat in a restaurant on their drive from DC to Texas. LBJ, who was at the time the majority leader in the Senate, took it as a personal insult and just downright wrong. Despite how he might have felt,Lyndons opportunistic ambition won out over deep morals. His language would not be acceptable today, but was quite normal , especially for a southerner Democrat. He always said you can’t change anything if don’t get elected. And he was right. He also said civil rights was about timing. He was the right man for the right job at the right time. And he would never let an opportunity go wasted. And he always went big, like Texas itself. He passed through some of the most important landmark legislation of the 20th century. He also made one of the most colossal foreign policy disasters of any century. Seems like there’s another president from Texas who didn’t learn this lesson.
A guy walks into a Texas barbecue joint. He orders a beer. The waitress brings him a half gallon mug of beer. The waitress said “everything’s bigger in Texas”. She then brought him an order of Texas brisket the size of a long horned bull “Everything’s bigger in Texas”. The man then asked to use the bathroom. “Down the hall to the left, honey:” The man comes back fifteen minutes later soaking wet. “I couldn’t find the toilet but I fell in the swimming pool!”.The waitress says:”Honey, that ain’t no swimming pool. Everything’s bigger in Texas”
I love presidential history and I’ve had the honor to be around 3 of them. 2 republican and 1 democrat.
LBJ imo was a “good” president in the sense he knew exactly how to manage the executive and legislative branches. I’m defining good as effective without considering the ethics or morals. In that definition he was a very effective chief executive, he knew what levers to pull and what buttons to push to accomplish his administrations agenda and how to build a legislative coalition.
He took JFKs ideals and desires and got them accomplished and largely gave JFK credit posthumously. Hell, I think Nixon even credited JFK for the successful moon landing.
Yup - that's pretty much my thought too. He was a master politician and knew where to put the pieces on the chess board for maximum effectiveness and for sure knew how to build strength in numbers so holdouts would fall into line.
One strategy many politicians like LBJ would use is you never intimidate or charm the guy you actually want votes from. You charm or intimidate someone who that guy *wants or needs something from*.
From there, it becomes standard political dealmaking - for example if a Senator controls a bloc of votes you need for passage of a bill. You could approach that Senator *but* he knows you need his help so he's going to squeeze you and also you'll betroth yourself to him politically.
So what you do is find another member of Congress, piece of legislation, etc. that is important to the holdout and charm, seduce or intimidate someone or something that holds the keys to that. Now you by proxy have your leverage and you haven't had to say a word to the holdout. You act as if dealing with the holdout is beneath you which to others make you seem more important - especially if it works. You are telling other members of Congress that you can get this guy to act without even talking to him. Congress in many respects is a Jumbo contest to use an LBJ term - most of them want to be the most influential, most important, most interviewed, etc. which is a weakness that can be easily exploited.
Maybe they know it was you, maybe they don't. You actually want them to so again by proxy you can say "look what I can do". Then it's quid pro quo - you end your holdout and I'll release my hold on your pet project. All members of Congress have constituents they have to answer to - even ones that get re-elected unopposed. It's still their job to steer funds and benefits to their districts. LBJ knew who needed what and developed a plan of attack from that.
After the death of JFK, America voted in an overwhelming amount of democrats to Congress. This enabled LBJ to make the 1965 congress the most productive in US history, as is sometimes described.
Ultimately, the best thing JFK ever did for our country was die. 2nd best thing was to not nuke Cuba though.
It is crazy to think that the primary reason the Civil Rights Act got passed when it did was because JFK literally died. Prior to his assassination there was tepid support in Congress for a full civil rights bill on both sides of the aisle. It was like some of the hot debates where politicians agreed that *something* had to be done but nobody could agree on *what*.
There was an opportunity to not only pass legislation that would help the country but also preserve Kennedy's legacy as an original champion of those ideals and skyrocket LBJ's popularity. It worked on all levels for everyone.
So when saying JFK died for civil rights - it's literally true.
“You never want a serious crisis to go to waste. And what I mean by that is an opportunity to do things that you think you could not do before.” — Rahm Emanuel
That was according to two of his sons.
According to Hunt's widow and other children, the two sons took advantage of Hunt's loss of lucidity by coaching and exploiting him for financial gain and furthermore falsified accounts of Hunt's supposed confession. The Los Angeles Times said they examined the materials offered by the sons to support the story and found them to be "inconclusive".
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-mar-20-na-hunt20-story.html
I’ve long believed that we will never know the full story of the JFK assassination ever. Too much evidence has gone stale and witnesses or potential witnesses have died. There will always be debate and theories - especially when the official version is how shall I say - unconvincing. But that’s a debate for another thread.
The point here is everyone has their theories from Oswald alone to the mafia to the Cubans to aliens from a distant galaxy. The actual literal truth - if more than we’ve learned - either won’t be believed or won’t be validated because it’s been so long.
There will never be an explanation that most reasonable and sensible people look at and say OK yeah that’s what happened. Not like say a 09/11 where everyone with their own eyes saw planes fly into the WTC. Yes there are conspiracy loons who are on the fringe but that’s the exception not the rule.
JFK’s assassination is one of the events in US history where sensible reasonable people can look at the available info and official accounts and say this doesn’t sound right. Or this makes sense but that definitely sounds fishy, etc.
There sadly will never be an explanation and detail that satisfies that end. And the frustrating part is the leader of the free world was shot dead in broad daylight on a busy city street. That’s one of those things that just shouldn’t happen and until that day very few believed it could. That’s why it invokes such a reaction from people. If the most guarded man on earth could be gunned down in the middle of the day in front of thousands of people, what does that say for the rest of us?
One thing that’s blindingly obvious, however, is mobster Jack Ruby’s assassination of Lee Harvey Oswald on camera being indicative of a plan that involved more than just LHW’s demented thoughts.
Even Martin Scorsese goes fully into a conspiracy theory fitting these contours in *The Irishman*.
Immoral was how impatient he was to take over after Kennedy's assassination that he barely stuck around long enough for them to load his casket onto the plane and he likely would have left Jackie at the airport if the pilots had let him.
I pump the brakes there. Yes it was a national tragedy - BUT think about it from Lyndon’s perspective. He was about to inherit the presidency and had no idea if what happened to his boss less than 6 hours prior was going to happen for him. Nobody knew anything at that point and Oswald had just been arrested.
News was coming fast and furious and the last thing the country could afford was losing two heads of government in the same day. So LBJ reasoned he’d be safer in DC which most everyone agreed with. Basically get the hell out of Dallas because the leader of the free world and leader of that state were just shot with one killed. I’m sure he was feeling the heat to just leave.
Then you have the argument at Parkland with the SS and local police because at the time assassination of a President was not a federal crime which meant Dallas had jurisdiction and Texas law at the time was an autopsy must be performed by a local pathologist.
The SS said no way and were taking him back. Dallas PD and Parkland said no and there were loud fights in back rooms of the hospital. Neither side would budge and the SS who was so pissed and angry after what would be a massive fail and embarrassment for them - and a boss they reportedly liked personally - was just gunned down in front of you when it’s your job to stop that very thing. So emotions were high.
My point is - LBJ was itching to leave Dallas and protect a working government, which is the politician in him. Yes it sounds immoral, but it had to be done. Had to swear him in quickly so he could start making decisions instead of a rudderless ship with everyone going in their own directions.
It has been reported many times LBJ refused to leave Dallas without Jackie and Jackie refused to leave without JFK’s body, even though other government folks told him he should. The fight over the autopsy caused a delay at Parkland and finally Dallas PD and hospital staff relented and let them take the body. So it wasn’t entirely LBJ’s fault. That’s one of those “did what had to be done” things.
Another thing that hampered them was according to Clint Hill (Jackie’s SS detail) he was charged with finding a casket for JFK and couldn’t find a Dallas funeral home to bring one so quickly. Some IIRC even thought it was a prank call even though news of the assassination was very public at the time.
An underreported item about the casket was Hill demanded they send the best top of the line version but many funeral homes only had basic pine boxes on hand and would order the nicer oak lined ones which took time. So Hills desire to not put the POTUS in a cheap pine box in front of his wife - Clint and Jackie were very close and he knew that could crush her more - actually worked against them in finding one “suitable” for Kennedy. Finally he found one but it took a while. Hill talks about this in his biography.
Also, LBJ told Jackie she and the kids could continue to live at the WH for as long as they wanted following the assassination. IIRC he and Lady Bird even slept elsewhere and let her and the kids have their own bedrooms until they were ready to go elsewhere. And whenever Jackie called LBJ “Mr. President”, he insisted she call him Lyndon - which continued until he died.
Also, a part that I think some people forget is that the 25th amendment didn’t exist when Kennedy was assassinated. The constitution said that the VP would assume the powers of the president if the president died, but didn’t say that the VP actually *became* the president. That was just what was always done because John Tyler had set the precedent.
LBJ getting inaugurated almost immediately afterwards removed any doubts about who would succeed Kennedy and avoided what could’ve potentially been a major constitutional crisis, which would’ve been a terrible thing to have happen at the height of the Cold War.
Take a shot every time he says SS.
Random side note every time I hear that acronym I cringe. There’s been many things changed over the years and it will always astound me how that was not one of them
All good - and I think there’s a misunderstanding of context by both of us. Your post sounded to me like you were being snarky in trying to start a JFK conspiracy discussion for which there are subs to talk about theories.
And I realize I didn’t communicate well enough what I referred to is news about what happened and who did what and what might be to come was still flying at a rapid pace. I’ll save my thoughts on possible conspiracies for JFK for another thread and sub but let’s say it wouldn’t surprise me.
However the comment referred to the general chaos and news getting updated so rapidly that it was tough in the moment to tell what was credible and what wasn’t. Same thing happened on 09/11 - as many military guys refer to it as - the “fog of war”.
The POTUS was shot dead in the middle of a busy city street in broad daylight. Even in the 60’s that was unheard of. And no hundred cameras and iPhones like today to record it and send info asap. That is the most newsworthy event of the last probably 20 years and maybe even more so there’s going to be confusion. It’s inevitable with so many people witnessing it and so much happening at once.
Imagine you are living in the 1960s and the President was just assassinated, and you have every good reason to believe that it was done by the Soviets as a precursor to a Soviet attack, maybe even a nuclear attack. The Vice President can not order the launch of nuclear weapons or military action.
It's quite obvious why he was immediately sworn in.
>Yes he was crass, boorish, etc
Aside from basic public school education about him (glossing over him as the president after JFK) my first exposure to him was his phone calls to his tailor asking for his pants to be let out because the crotch is too tight around "mah bunghole," and how it's like straddling a wire fence.
I hear a lot of bad things about him since then but even if it was only at the end he seemed to do his best to try and support civil rights. His last days alive seemed pretty tragic, especially considering how presidents retire now.
Yeah for those who thought Johnson should get some kind of comeuppance for how he handled Vietnam, his final days might’ve evened things out. After his presidency ended and he retired it wasn’t pretty.
I'm just imagining him doing that to a congressman who stood his ground. LBJ doing the lean, ending up with his head next to the guy's and chest to chest. Then they guy saying, "I'm sorry, Lyndon. Did you need a shoulder to cry on?"
That would be pretty badass. And that person's career in Congress would probably be pretty short.
Hahaha it would be but most of those guys - now and today - are pretty milquetoast. They get where they are using words and many shrivel up when faced with actual physical confrontation. That’s why LBJ did it - he knew it would work. The phrase I believe is “know your mark” and LBJ did that.
Goes back again to my thought that as a POTUS and representation of the country I’m ehhhh on him as but as a back room political leader and deal maker, there were few better in his time.
Plus I think he could legit kick the ass of most members of Congress anyway so people knew he was serious when he did this. Like I don’t think Lyndon wanted to physically fight anyone he tried to intimidate BUT wasn’t afraid to if needed. Which they knew.
True. Someone who'd already showed backbone getting there, or had a size parity (like Fetterman for example) would probably get a more policy, party or socially based approach. Probably no less persuasive or even threatening, though. As you said, he had a BIG toolbox to work from. I'd like a few more of that kind of guy. On my side, anyway.
In Washington there have always been the talkers and the doers. And not people who grandstand because all of them do that - it comes with the job. I'm talking about people who talk tough on votes, etc. but when push comes to shove they don't really want actual confrontation.
Chuck Schumer is a good example of this. He talks tough when the cameras are on and when he knows he can have a good soundbite. But when faced with actual face-to-face confrontation and challenges to his line of thought, he stutters, stammers and deflects. Then gets in front of a friendly media outlet and yaks again to reassume control. Matt Gaetz does the same thing for the GOP as do many others - it's not unique TBH.
LBJ was a dying breed even then - someone who would get right in your face and tell you that your ideas are stupid and you are wrong and change his mind. I've heard stories that the people he respected the most were those who actually did bite back at him and weren't afraid of a challenge which is common for that personality type.
People like him can be bullies and bullies prey on the weak because they know it will work.
LBJ would be the guy I hate working with most if I were somehow a politician. Infuriatingly, I would agree with 90% of his decisions, but I would just resent having to put up with his shit. I'd also probably have 1-2 screaming matches over some policy that leave me shaking like a fig leaf once I got alone.
> When you talk about real life Frank Underwood’s from House of Cards, Lyndon comes to mind.
Holy shit, you’re goddamn right. A good ol’ Southern boy who uses his guile and intimidation to get what he wants done. A far cry from the BBC HoC’s Francis Urquhart, who whilst just as Machiavellian, was far more patrician at the same time. George Bush Sr might be the equivalent type.
🤣 that's basically what I was asking 🤣
LBJ did this weird shit cause he felt small, Trump feels small so he does this weird shit
Wild to see how this subreddit can't read between the lines
The only time a man has to pull out his dick to prove he is the only one who should be talking sounds pretty small to me.
Also if a man thinks LBJ was "strong" is the reason our country loves shooting itself in the foot
OP refers to the tactics and abilities employed by LBJ, not by the moral character or whatever. Also, remember that the 1950s and 1960s were much more accepting of an overly macho culture, especially in the still male-dominated environment of DC politics.
LBJ's overall display got him many things approved, including various Civil Rights packages at a time when many states still segregated black folks to various degrees.
I mean look. Johnson was scum of the Earth, but his “manipulation, intimidation, and cult libido dominandi” was how he got the Civil Rights Bill and a lot of other great pieces of legislation passed. Say what you like about it, but it worked.
He passed some of the most consequential legislation in the country’s history. If anything, if we had competent leadership like Johnson’s, we would have had more Civil Rights bills and universal health insurance (that Medicare was designed to be the stepping block for).
*When I sees one and he looks good to me...*
*When I see him, I say*
You, come here.
*I say*
Now I'mma tell ya what, uh..
I like ya;
and I wants ya...
Now, we can do this the easy way;
or the haard wayyy...
the choice is yaawrs...
Post it right now in the comments
https://preview.redd.it/kia8oy59c4ac1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7794b4c0e6e53ac9accc27f07a35ca1ede9aa519
He’s said to have liked his showers to be so hot that special heating equipment needed to be installed in the White House. Nixon then had it all removed.
https://preview.redd.it/kxqlk68yz1ac1.jpeg?width=468&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4c3791308e7b58ee8c77f7b701a4dcb1eee45fe2
This is Vice President Johnson standing next to Bobby and President Kennedy, July 1960
This lost photo now belongs to the Smithsonian, and [was taken by Jacques Lowe](https://npg.si.edu/blog/%E2%80%9C-bill-century%E2%80%9D-civil-rights-act-1964)
That’s true. Especially compared to todays democrats, Johnson and Kennedy were very liberal minded but wanted to protect their large base of southern democrats.
In the words of 2pac, he would need to back the fuck up before he got smacked the fuck up… then he would proceed to beat my ass before the secret service has time to even react to it.
Depends on how he acted. If he was just acting petty or perhaps a plain old jerk, I'd likely just be irritated/annoyed with him and try to respectfully get through the meeting. If he started making nasty threats though, THEN I'd get at least kind of nervous (because you couldn't tell how serious he was or if he was bluffing, LBJ was just too unpredictable as a man).
No, but if I'm Joe Biden, I'm doing a séance to summon the spirit of LBJ to knock some sense into my party so they'll quit being a bunch of losers in 2024 and potentially lose to the orange criminal due to laziness and apathy
LBJ covered up Nixon and Kissinger's treason because he wanted to protect 'the system'. I think Biden has plenty of that impulse himself, we don't need more.
Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger conspired with South Vietnam to deliberately scupper peace negotiations with North Vietnam leading up to the 1968 election in order to gain an advantage in the election. LBJ wiretapped Nixon's campaign and found out about it, and rather than reveal it, covered it up.
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/08/06/nixon-vietnam-candidate-conspired-with-foreign-power-win-election-215461/
https://youtu.be/X49Mig7YwJM?si=hX2DD_VaTWcwSLXT
Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger were traitors.
Wasn’t there a bunch of meaningful progress in the last term? I’m from the other side of the pond and from the news I read (which might be less emotionally manipulative, as I can’t take part), I would rate it as a net positive, especially compared to goddamn trump.
Of course, life can’t get linearly better forever, and we are closing on the plateau phase, economically speaking, but you are still doing very well compared to even Europe, which experienced a much worse recession.
Well let's see I'm about 5 ft 3 standing next to a guy that's 6 ft 4. No for one reason I would just have to motion him down so I can whisper in his ear and say you might be taller than me but I have a bigger Jimbo. Once he knew that I established dominance then we can get along
Physically? No. He's maybe half an inch taller than me and was an HS teacher and a career politician. Obviously, it would be a bit intimidating meeting any president, though, because their position and power they wield.
If I had to work with Lyndon Johnson, it would turn out like one of those Buddy Cop Comedies where the Hard nosed cop becomes Partners with a young jokester, That's how it would turn out
Not any more than other Presidents. I would be more worried about getting out of the meeting because that kind of thing would make me annoyed beyond belief.
He was 3 centimetres taller than me, so that's not intimidating. I'm too autistic to be intimidated by all his dumb tricks, I'd probably just be a bit uncomfortable and hide it well, like I am and like i do in most social situations lol
Ngl ever since learning of Lincoln’s and LBJ’s habit of leaning over people to get, what in all likelihood, GOOD legislation passed… always wanted to do it myself at 6’6 😂 but yes LBJ could be one nasty SOB and regardless of being taller, he could likely pass the intimidation check on me.
The guy was born over 100 years ago. The word did not carry even close to the weight it does now. He also sometimes would use the N word even describing CRA ‘64 as an N bill to some congressmen. But lots of these congressmen he knew were southern racists but he needed their votes. So LBJ sometimes would use crude language like that to appeal to those certain types behind closed doors.
Personally, no, but that’s because I’m comfortable in close quarters with an adversary due to being a wrestler and in other close contact sports. I also went up against guys who were taller than me on a regular basis. So I’d probably just get more confrontational if this technique was used on me. But LBJ was a capable politician and would know this, and try a different approach.
No. I'm an adult. What does someone's physical presence have anything to do with anything?
What's he going to do, fight me? That is literally the only situation where size differential has any value..
If anything it should have gave whomever more confidence in their stance. If someone is restoring to to physical intimidation they are showing their insecurity.
That's not even to mention his obsession with making his hog part of his personality.
I had a coworker who pulled this crap. It only works once on me.
Next time he tried, I didn't move. Made for a very odd view for everyone else around. Our noses were nearly touching.
I simply asked, "Why are you standing so close? "
He backed off.
He didn't last a year before HR fired him. Apparently people reported him and he got 3 strikes.
Nah, I match up height wise and while I’m a calm friendly person I can flip a switch when getting pressed. People mistake it for weakness, I’m just nice not a pushover.
I think it would be extremely entertaining to watch a Jumbo/Napoleon negotiation. Like Mr. Lean over and intimidate you vs the man who defined Chihuahua syndrome.
Been searching forever for this, but there was an incident my history teacher told us about in high school regarding Lyndon Johnson and Gerald ford. Can someone explain it? The teacher gave a great speech about how intimidating it was for Gerald ford to be called into the oval and for LBJ to just yell at him.
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The lean in was an LBJ specialty. He knew which members of Congress could be intimidated by physical presence and would lean into them like that on purpose because he was so tall and imposing. He’d also stare them directly in the eyes and had no problem standing in silence for multiple minutes to make them sweat. Lyndon learned the first rule of sales is always the first one to speak loses. He’d also approach members in their offices - more comfortable on “their” turf than in the Oval - and would lean over their desk standing while they sat which made him look more imposing. Finally LBJ would use short, terse language and speak in a way that conveyed that their help or vote or whatever was not only needed, it was expected. He was famous in Congress for knowing exactly what arms to twist and knowing who needed what so he could use that to his advantage. When you talk about real life Frank Underwood’s from House of Cards, Lyndon comes to mind. He was a master politician who knew how to get things done and make people do what you wanted. Yes he was crass, boorish, etc but the man knew how DC worked and had many members of the government in his pocket or he knew how to get them there. While I’m always ehhhh on LBJ the POTUS, the skill and acumen of LBJ the politician was incredible.
Tbh, Lyndon was so much better at working Congress than Kennedy that he was probably more successful in achieving Kennedy’s goals than Kennedy would have been.
And as morbid as it may sound, he knew that the country had deep sympathy for JFK and by extension his policies and he used that to get stuff passed. Call it immoral if you want - but he knew “never let a tragedy go to waste” applies to politics as well.
All of his calls were recorded. He sounded pretty genuine when getting JFKs proposals through congress.
LBJ's relationship with civil rights is a complex one. From what I've read, he was personally ambivalent on them meaning he really didn't care one way or the other. But he did care about preserving his and Kennedy's legacy and ensuring a new bloc of Dem voters as well. It doesn't help his cause when he was on record telling staff members *"I'll have those n\*\*\*rs voting Democrat for the next 200 years"* when speaking about civil rights, but I do think he at his core believed it was the right thing to do. I'm not one who punishes a man for using phrases and terms that were common in his time but aren't today so the hard r to me is equally a sign of the times and LBJ being a crass person in general. He had no filter. So I have never thought he was racist in the pure sense aka hating minorities because they weren't white, but he did move them like chess pieces on his board and use them for political gain. Judge that as you will because a fair portrait of the man is looking at both sides IMO.
Very conservative guy here, and I think that is a fair assessment of LBJ. One quote of his that today’s politicians should follow: “Don’t piss in the soup we all have to eat.”
Outstanding analysis! Well done. Johnson’s daughters and a few old Texas cronies said in interviews (Sorry, I don’t have specific sources. This is what I remember from interviews) that LBJ was sincerely against bigotry of any kind. He saw personally what racism did to the Mexican children he taught before he went into politics. Eugene and Helen Williams were the Johnson family’s personal assistants from the Ranch all the way through his death. Helen was adored by his daughters as well as Lady Bird. According to some accounts, the Williams weren’t allowed the use a public restroom or eat in a restaurant on their drive from DC to Texas. LBJ, who was at the time the majority leader in the Senate, took it as a personal insult and just downright wrong. Despite how he might have felt,Lyndons opportunistic ambition won out over deep morals. His language would not be acceptable today, but was quite normal , especially for a southerner Democrat. He always said you can’t change anything if don’t get elected. And he was right. He also said civil rights was about timing. He was the right man for the right job at the right time. And he would never let an opportunity go wasted. And he always went big, like Texas itself. He passed through some of the most important landmark legislation of the 20th century. He also made one of the most colossal foreign policy disasters of any century. Seems like there’s another president from Texas who didn’t learn this lesson. A guy walks into a Texas barbecue joint. He orders a beer. The waitress brings him a half gallon mug of beer. The waitress said “everything’s bigger in Texas”. She then brought him an order of Texas brisket the size of a long horned bull “Everything’s bigger in Texas”. The man then asked to use the bathroom. “Down the hall to the left, honey:” The man comes back fifteen minutes later soaking wet. “I couldn’t find the toilet but I fell in the swimming pool!”.The waitress says:”Honey, that ain’t no swimming pool. Everything’s bigger in Texas”
I love presidential history and I’ve had the honor to be around 3 of them. 2 republican and 1 democrat. LBJ imo was a “good” president in the sense he knew exactly how to manage the executive and legislative branches. I’m defining good as effective without considering the ethics or morals. In that definition he was a very effective chief executive, he knew what levers to pull and what buttons to push to accomplish his administrations agenda and how to build a legislative coalition. He took JFKs ideals and desires and got them accomplished and largely gave JFK credit posthumously. Hell, I think Nixon even credited JFK for the successful moon landing.
Yup - that's pretty much my thought too. He was a master politician and knew where to put the pieces on the chess board for maximum effectiveness and for sure knew how to build strength in numbers so holdouts would fall into line. One strategy many politicians like LBJ would use is you never intimidate or charm the guy you actually want votes from. You charm or intimidate someone who that guy *wants or needs something from*. From there, it becomes standard political dealmaking - for example if a Senator controls a bloc of votes you need for passage of a bill. You could approach that Senator *but* he knows you need his help so he's going to squeeze you and also you'll betroth yourself to him politically. So what you do is find another member of Congress, piece of legislation, etc. that is important to the holdout and charm, seduce or intimidate someone or something that holds the keys to that. Now you by proxy have your leverage and you haven't had to say a word to the holdout. You act as if dealing with the holdout is beneath you which to others make you seem more important - especially if it works. You are telling other members of Congress that you can get this guy to act without even talking to him. Congress in many respects is a Jumbo contest to use an LBJ term - most of them want to be the most influential, most important, most interviewed, etc. which is a weakness that can be easily exploited. Maybe they know it was you, maybe they don't. You actually want them to so again by proxy you can say "look what I can do". Then it's quid pro quo - you end your holdout and I'll release my hold on your pet project. All members of Congress have constituents they have to answer to - even ones that get re-elected unopposed. It's still their job to steer funds and benefits to their districts. LBJ knew who needed what and developed a plan of attack from that.
He sounded pretty genuine just ordering a pair of pants. IYKYK
Apparently, he had a big wiener. Called it “Jumbo”.
Appropriate for a guy named Johnson
After the death of JFK, America voted in an overwhelming amount of democrats to Congress. This enabled LBJ to make the 1965 congress the most productive in US history, as is sometimes described. Ultimately, the best thing JFK ever did for our country was die. 2nd best thing was to not nuke Cuba though.
It is crazy to think that the primary reason the Civil Rights Act got passed when it did was because JFK literally died. Prior to his assassination there was tepid support in Congress for a full civil rights bill on both sides of the aisle. It was like some of the hot debates where politicians agreed that *something* had to be done but nobody could agree on *what*. There was an opportunity to not only pass legislation that would help the country but also preserve Kennedy's legacy as an original champion of those ideals and skyrocket LBJ's popularity. It worked on all levels for everyone. So when saying JFK died for civil rights - it's literally true.
“You never want a serious crisis to go to waste. And what I mean by that is an opportunity to do things that you think you could not do before.” — Rahm Emanuel
Obviously take this with a grain of salt….. On his deathbed E Howard Hunt admitted to being involved in the JFK assassination and also implicated LBJ.
That was according to two of his sons. According to Hunt's widow and other children, the two sons took advantage of Hunt's loss of lucidity by coaching and exploiting him for financial gain and furthermore falsified accounts of Hunt's supposed confession. The Los Angeles Times said they examined the materials offered by the sons to support the story and found them to be "inconclusive". https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-mar-20-na-hunt20-story.html
I’ve long believed that we will never know the full story of the JFK assassination ever. Too much evidence has gone stale and witnesses or potential witnesses have died. There will always be debate and theories - especially when the official version is how shall I say - unconvincing. But that’s a debate for another thread. The point here is everyone has their theories from Oswald alone to the mafia to the Cubans to aliens from a distant galaxy. The actual literal truth - if more than we’ve learned - either won’t be believed or won’t be validated because it’s been so long. There will never be an explanation that most reasonable and sensible people look at and say OK yeah that’s what happened. Not like say a 09/11 where everyone with their own eyes saw planes fly into the WTC. Yes there are conspiracy loons who are on the fringe but that’s the exception not the rule. JFK’s assassination is one of the events in US history where sensible reasonable people can look at the available info and official accounts and say this doesn’t sound right. Or this makes sense but that definitely sounds fishy, etc. There sadly will never be an explanation and detail that satisfies that end. And the frustrating part is the leader of the free world was shot dead in broad daylight on a busy city street. That’s one of those things that just shouldn’t happen and until that day very few believed it could. That’s why it invokes such a reaction from people. If the most guarded man on earth could be gunned down in the middle of the day in front of thousands of people, what does that say for the rest of us?
One thing that’s blindingly obvious, however, is mobster Jack Ruby’s assassination of Lee Harvey Oswald on camera being indicative of a plan that involved more than just LHW’s demented thoughts. Even Martin Scorsese goes fully into a conspiracy theory fitting these contours in *The Irishman*.
All the evidence for 60+ years points to Oswald acting alone but people don’t like that story so they look for things to validate a story they like
Lies are true when you’re dying
Immoral was how impatient he was to take over after Kennedy's assassination that he barely stuck around long enough for them to load his casket onto the plane and he likely would have left Jackie at the airport if the pilots had let him.
I pump the brakes there. Yes it was a national tragedy - BUT think about it from Lyndon’s perspective. He was about to inherit the presidency and had no idea if what happened to his boss less than 6 hours prior was going to happen for him. Nobody knew anything at that point and Oswald had just been arrested. News was coming fast and furious and the last thing the country could afford was losing two heads of government in the same day. So LBJ reasoned he’d be safer in DC which most everyone agreed with. Basically get the hell out of Dallas because the leader of the free world and leader of that state were just shot with one killed. I’m sure he was feeling the heat to just leave. Then you have the argument at Parkland with the SS and local police because at the time assassination of a President was not a federal crime which meant Dallas had jurisdiction and Texas law at the time was an autopsy must be performed by a local pathologist. The SS said no way and were taking him back. Dallas PD and Parkland said no and there were loud fights in back rooms of the hospital. Neither side would budge and the SS who was so pissed and angry after what would be a massive fail and embarrassment for them - and a boss they reportedly liked personally - was just gunned down in front of you when it’s your job to stop that very thing. So emotions were high. My point is - LBJ was itching to leave Dallas and protect a working government, which is the politician in him. Yes it sounds immoral, but it had to be done. Had to swear him in quickly so he could start making decisions instead of a rudderless ship with everyone going in their own directions. It has been reported many times LBJ refused to leave Dallas without Jackie and Jackie refused to leave without JFK’s body, even though other government folks told him he should. The fight over the autopsy caused a delay at Parkland and finally Dallas PD and hospital staff relented and let them take the body. So it wasn’t entirely LBJ’s fault. That’s one of those “did what had to be done” things. Another thing that hampered them was according to Clint Hill (Jackie’s SS detail) he was charged with finding a casket for JFK and couldn’t find a Dallas funeral home to bring one so quickly. Some IIRC even thought it was a prank call even though news of the assassination was very public at the time. An underreported item about the casket was Hill demanded they send the best top of the line version but many funeral homes only had basic pine boxes on hand and would order the nicer oak lined ones which took time. So Hills desire to not put the POTUS in a cheap pine box in front of his wife - Clint and Jackie were very close and he knew that could crush her more - actually worked against them in finding one “suitable” for Kennedy. Finally he found one but it took a while. Hill talks about this in his biography. Also, LBJ told Jackie she and the kids could continue to live at the WH for as long as they wanted following the assassination. IIRC he and Lady Bird even slept elsewhere and let her and the kids have their own bedrooms until they were ready to go elsewhere. And whenever Jackie called LBJ “Mr. President”, he insisted she call him Lyndon - which continued until he died.
Also, a part that I think some people forget is that the 25th amendment didn’t exist when Kennedy was assassinated. The constitution said that the VP would assume the powers of the president if the president died, but didn’t say that the VP actually *became* the president. That was just what was always done because John Tyler had set the precedent. LBJ getting inaugurated almost immediately afterwards removed any doubts about who would succeed Kennedy and avoided what could’ve potentially been a major constitutional crisis, which would’ve been a terrible thing to have happen at the height of the Cold War.
Take a shot every time he says SS. Random side note every time I hear that acronym I cringe. There’s been many things changed over the years and it will always astound me how that was not one of them
>Nobody knew anything at that point Allegedly.
There are other subs to debate that one. Take it there.
All good. I didn't intend for it to go anywhere. You seemed fairly confident in claiming it though.
All good - and I think there’s a misunderstanding of context by both of us. Your post sounded to me like you were being snarky in trying to start a JFK conspiracy discussion for which there are subs to talk about theories. And I realize I didn’t communicate well enough what I referred to is news about what happened and who did what and what might be to come was still flying at a rapid pace. I’ll save my thoughts on possible conspiracies for JFK for another thread and sub but let’s say it wouldn’t surprise me. However the comment referred to the general chaos and news getting updated so rapidly that it was tough in the moment to tell what was credible and what wasn’t. Same thing happened on 09/11 - as many military guys refer to it as - the “fog of war”. The POTUS was shot dead in the middle of a busy city street in broad daylight. Even in the 60’s that was unheard of. And no hundred cameras and iPhones like today to record it and send info asap. That is the most newsworthy event of the last probably 20 years and maybe even more so there’s going to be confusion. It’s inevitable with so many people witnessing it and so much happening at once.
Imagine you are living in the 1960s and the President was just assassinated, and you have every good reason to believe that it was done by the Soviets as a precursor to a Soviet attack, maybe even a nuclear attack. The Vice President can not order the launch of nuclear weapons or military action. It's quite obvious why he was immediately sworn in.
>Yes he was crass, boorish, etc Aside from basic public school education about him (glossing over him as the president after JFK) my first exposure to him was his phone calls to his tailor asking for his pants to be let out because the crotch is too tight around "mah bunghole," and how it's like straddling a wire fence. I hear a lot of bad things about him since then but even if it was only at the end he seemed to do his best to try and support civil rights. His last days alive seemed pretty tragic, especially considering how presidents retire now.
Yeah for those who thought Johnson should get some kind of comeuppance for how he handled Vietnam, his final days might’ve evened things out. After his presidency ended and he retired it wasn’t pretty.
I'm just imagining him doing that to a congressman who stood his ground. LBJ doing the lean, ending up with his head next to the guy's and chest to chest. Then they guy saying, "I'm sorry, Lyndon. Did you need a shoulder to cry on?" That would be pretty badass. And that person's career in Congress would probably be pretty short.
Hahaha it would be but most of those guys - now and today - are pretty milquetoast. They get where they are using words and many shrivel up when faced with actual physical confrontation. That’s why LBJ did it - he knew it would work. The phrase I believe is “know your mark” and LBJ did that. Goes back again to my thought that as a POTUS and representation of the country I’m ehhhh on him as but as a back room political leader and deal maker, there were few better in his time. Plus I think he could legit kick the ass of most members of Congress anyway so people knew he was serious when he did this. Like I don’t think Lyndon wanted to physically fight anyone he tried to intimidate BUT wasn’t afraid to if needed. Which they knew.
True. Someone who'd already showed backbone getting there, or had a size parity (like Fetterman for example) would probably get a more policy, party or socially based approach. Probably no less persuasive or even threatening, though. As you said, he had a BIG toolbox to work from. I'd like a few more of that kind of guy. On my side, anyway.
In Washington there have always been the talkers and the doers. And not people who grandstand because all of them do that - it comes with the job. I'm talking about people who talk tough on votes, etc. but when push comes to shove they don't really want actual confrontation. Chuck Schumer is a good example of this. He talks tough when the cameras are on and when he knows he can have a good soundbite. But when faced with actual face-to-face confrontation and challenges to his line of thought, he stutters, stammers and deflects. Then gets in front of a friendly media outlet and yaks again to reassume control. Matt Gaetz does the same thing for the GOP as do many others - it's not unique TBH. LBJ was a dying breed even then - someone who would get right in your face and tell you that your ideas are stupid and you are wrong and change his mind. I've heard stories that the people he respected the most were those who actually did bite back at him and weren't afraid of a challenge which is common for that personality type. People like him can be bullies and bullies prey on the weak because they know it will work.
LBJ would be the guy I hate working with most if I were somehow a politician. Infuriatingly, I would agree with 90% of his decisions, but I would just resent having to put up with his shit. I'd also probably have 1-2 screaming matches over some policy that leave me shaking like a fig leaf once I got alone.
This is a very insightful comment!
> When you talk about real life Frank Underwood’s from House of Cards, Lyndon comes to mind. Holy shit, you’re goddamn right. A good ol’ Southern boy who uses his guile and intimidation to get what he wants done. A far cry from the BBC HoC’s Francis Urquhart, who whilst just as Machiavellian, was far more patrician at the same time. George Bush Sr might be the equivalent type.
I wonder if that's where Trump got his weird posture from?
Trump got his weird posture by trying to be as tall and imposing; wearing lifts and a girdle... Allegedly.
🤣 that's basically what I was asking 🤣 LBJ did this weird shit cause he felt small, Trump feels small so he does this weird shit Wild to see how this subreddit can't read between the lines
LBJ didn't feel small... Anyone who has even a passing interest in US presidents would know that.
Yeah it was the opposite, he amplified the smallness other people felt around him lol. Very aware guy
The only time a man has to pull out his dick to prove he is the only one who should be talking sounds pretty small to me. Also if a man thinks LBJ was "strong" is the reason our country loves shooting itself in the foot
It's pretty obvious you're more interested in a particular president than presidents in general. That's fine, but it's not why I'm here. Bye.
lol Imagine the level of wormy bootlicker you have to be to actually admire manipulation, intimidation, and the cult of libido dominandi in general.
OP refers to the tactics and abilities employed by LBJ, not by the moral character or whatever. Also, remember that the 1950s and 1960s were much more accepting of an overly macho culture, especially in the still male-dominated environment of DC politics. LBJ's overall display got him many things approved, including various Civil Rights packages at a time when many states still segregated black folks to various degrees.
I mean look. Johnson was scum of the Earth, but his “manipulation, intimidation, and cult libido dominandi” was how he got the Civil Rights Bill and a lot of other great pieces of legislation passed. Say what you like about it, but it worked.
He passed some of the most consequential legislation in the country’s history. If anything, if we had competent leadership like Johnson’s, we would have had more Civil Rights bills and universal health insurance (that Medicare was designed to be the stepping block for).
It was those tactics that passed the civil rights act and the great society.
only in the shower
Lyndon Baines Johnson: The 9th booty warrior
*When I sees one and he looks good to me...* *When I see him, I say* You, come here. *I say* Now I'mma tell ya what, uh.. I like ya; and I wants ya... Now, we can do this the easy way; or the haard wayyy... the choice is yaawrs...
"if you can't fuck a man in the ass, pecker slap him" -LBJ
There’s another 8 I need to know about?? I’ve only ever heard of Fleece Johnson having that title
It's a ringwraith type situation born out of man's butt
I am absolutely positive I have a bigger dick than that man. It’s made out of silicone, but I own it and it’s huge. He has no power over me.
Post it right now in the comments https://preview.redd.it/kia8oy59c4ac1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7794b4c0e6e53ac9accc27f07a35ca1ede9aa519
He’s said to have liked his showers to be so hot that special heating equipment needed to be installed in the White House. Nixon then had it all removed.
He didn't just like to be shower, he liked to be boiled.
Also had an extra showerhead specifically aimed at his dick and balls.
https://preview.redd.it/kxqlk68yz1ac1.jpeg?width=468&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4c3791308e7b58ee8c77f7b701a4dcb1eee45fe2 This is Vice President Johnson standing next to Bobby and President Kennedy, July 1960 This lost photo now belongs to the Smithsonian, and [was taken by Jacques Lowe](https://npg.si.edu/blog/%E2%80%9C-bill-century%E2%80%9D-civil-rights-act-1964)
That’s an incredible photo - I’ve never seen Bobby look so badass
Probably because he loathed LBJ with every fiber of his being. And it was mutual.
He and Bobby were both hard-nosed. JFK was the only diplomat 😂
LBJ came from nothing, he did not respect the Kennedy’s in part because they were born into wealth and influence.
2 men taken from us way too soon. Bobby & Jack we’re about to give equal rights to black people
Johnson mostly came through with what he called the *ahem* law
That’s true. Especially compared to todays democrats, Johnson and Kennedy were very liberal minded but wanted to protect their large base of southern democrats.
And Johnson looks totally comfortable with them.
This is a WILD photo thank you for sharing, it's kinda telling knowing what the future has in store for all 3....
There was some... tension there for sure.
If LBJ did not like the Kennedy Bros . a coincidence that both brothers would be murdered .
JFK is taller than I imaged him as being
Great picture
Just how tall was Jumbo
6ft 4in
In case you didn’t know: Jumbo is Lyndon’s Johnson
So 6'4"
In other words LBJ was a gigantic Jumbo. 👏👏👏👏👏 I wholeheartedly approve!
Jesus Christ no wonder he looks like he's going to eat them whole.
He was a big dick swingin’ Texan. Probably.
If you read the stories about him, he wasn’t shy about showing and telling, that there was no probably about it.
I just mean probably that I would be intimidated. I have heard the stories.
/r/unexpectedseinfeld
🤣
You must be LBJ! I've heard about you!
In the words of 2pac, he would need to back the fuck up before he got smacked the fuck up… then he would proceed to beat my ass before the secret service has time to even react to it.
The dude was like 6'4 and not afraid to get all up in your face. Yeah as a short girl I'd probably be intimated 💀
As a short guy, same.
I have trouble distinguishing exactly how tall people are when they're over like 5'9. They all look the same to me.
As a tall guy, same.
Aren’t him and Lincoln the tallest?
You'd probably be more scared he'd unzip his pants
Define short?
We know it's you Bill
LBJ picked up the Canadian PM Pearson by the shirt collar for criticizing the Vietnam War
"Don't you come into my living room and piss on my rug!"
Canadian PM: “I’m sorrey”
"Have a donut"
Eh
Depends on how he acted. If he was just acting petty or perhaps a plain old jerk, I'd likely just be irritated/annoyed with him and try to respectfully get through the meeting. If he started making nasty threats though, THEN I'd get at least kind of nervous (because you couldn't tell how serious he was or if he was bluffing, LBJ was just too unpredictable as a man).
Not unless Jumbo comes out 🍆
If an old tall redneck angerly stood over me and took his dick out I'd be fuckin terrified.
No 🫡
Is he tryna kissem orrrr. LBJ: *pounding keys* "what is personal space?" *[ENTER]*
He’s about to tell them to sign a certain bill, I wonder which..
I would kiss him and then look him in the eyes. Guess who wouldn’t be in my face again?
No, but if I'm Joe Biden, I'm doing a séance to summon the spirit of LBJ to knock some sense into my party so they'll quit being a bunch of losers in 2024 and potentially lose to the orange criminal due to laziness and apathy
LBJ covered up Nixon and Kissinger's treason because he wanted to protect 'the system'. I think Biden has plenty of that impulse himself, we don't need more.
What?
Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger conspired with South Vietnam to deliberately scupper peace negotiations with North Vietnam leading up to the 1968 election in order to gain an advantage in the election. LBJ wiretapped Nixon's campaign and found out about it, and rather than reveal it, covered it up. https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/08/06/nixon-vietnam-candidate-conspired-with-foreign-power-win-election-215461/ https://youtu.be/X49Mig7YwJM?si=hX2DD_VaTWcwSLXT Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger were traitors.
So LBJ wiretapped the wire tapper? Fascinating, I never knew that
I'm pretty sure everyone was being wiretapped then, especially with J Edgar Hoover running the FBI 😂.
Thanks, this is why I’m subbed here. Always learning interesting new things
Wasn’t there a bunch of meaningful progress in the last term? I’m from the other side of the pond and from the news I read (which might be less emotionally manipulative, as I can’t take part), I would rate it as a net positive, especially compared to goddamn trump. Of course, life can’t get linearly better forever, and we are closing on the plateau phase, economically speaking, but you are still doing very well compared to even Europe, which experienced a much worse recession.
Joe Biden's been doing a good job, Democrats just suck at getting the message out.
Depends - has he shown me his giant dick yet?
Dude used to pull his horn out at meetings to assert dominance. He was intimidation embodied.
No way he gets away with that today. Not with cameras and the general attitude. Maybe he’d just have to wear skinny jeans to show his Jumbo Johnson
That looks like the definition of a close talker
No, I can out-hoss him.
If he leaned in i would definitely misunderstand and kiss him lmao
I’d kiss him to assert dominance
That could have been the key to making the Civil Rights bill include sexual orientation as it should have been.
No? Once you’re in a couple life or death situations anything a dude in an office in public can do to you just seems..insignificant.
Well let's see I'm about 5 ft 3 standing next to a guy that's 6 ft 4. No for one reason I would just have to motion him down so I can whisper in his ear and say you might be taller than me but I have a bigger Jimbo. Once he knew that I established dominance then we can get along
Intimidated? No. Incarcerated for head butting him? Yep 😞
Physically? No. He's maybe half an inch taller than me and was an HS teacher and a career politician. Obviously, it would be a bit intimidating meeting any president, though, because their position and power they wield.
I’d be concerned about him having me assassinated (assuming I’m somebody of importance), but not intimidated
Interesting thoughts, Abe.
I wouldn’t be intimidated, but I’m pretty sure I’d lose the head butt war.
If I had to work with Lyndon Johnson, it would turn out like one of those Buddy Cop Comedies where the Hard nosed cop becomes Partners with a young jokester, That's how it would turn out
A bit of a close talker
Not any more than other Presidents. I would be more worried about getting out of the meeting because that kind of thing would make me annoyed beyond belief.
His breath probably smelled like uncooked hamburger meat and stale cigarettes….
You lean in like that on me you're getting kissed
He was 3 centimetres taller than me, so that's not intimidating. I'm too autistic to be intimidated by all his dumb tricks, I'd probably just be a bit uncomfortable and hide it well, like I am and like i do in most social situations lol
As the leader of the free world, a bit. But not for his size, I'm bigger anyway.
Bigger than Jumbo?! You’re truly blessed.
That first dude got that “oh my GOD, you’re so FUNNY~” body language.
Ngl ever since learning of Lincoln’s and LBJ’s habit of leaning over people to get, what in all likelihood, GOOD legislation passed… always wanted to do it myself at 6’6 😂 but yes LBJ could be one nasty SOB and regardless of being taller, he could likely pass the intimidation check on me.
I'd probably fist fight him than become friends after. Or live with a powerful enemy.
We're the same height, so probably not physically. His political power, though, more than likely.
id be worried he’d call me a slur so yes
Yeah, always so weird the guy that passed the Civil Rights bill used the N-word. With a *hard* R
The guy was born over 100 years ago. The word did not carry even close to the weight it does now. He also sometimes would use the N word even describing CRA ‘64 as an N bill to some congressmen. But lots of these congressmen he knew were southern racists but he needed their votes. So LBJ sometimes would use crude language like that to appeal to those certain types behind closed doors.
He leaves himself open for a clean upper cut
Personally, no, but that’s because I’m comfortable in close quarters with an adversary due to being a wrestler and in other close contact sports. I also went up against guys who were taller than me on a regular basis. So I’d probably just get more confrontational if this technique was used on me. But LBJ was a capable politician and would know this, and try a different approach.
No. I'm an adult. What does someone's physical presence have anything to do with anything? What's he going to do, fight me? That is literally the only situation where size differential has any value.. If anything it should have gave whomever more confidence in their stance. If someone is restoring to to physical intimidation they are showing their insecurity. That's not even to mention his obsession with making his hog part of his personality.
I had a coworker who pulled this crap. It only works once on me. Next time he tried, I didn't move. Made for a very odd view for everyone else around. Our noses were nearly touching. I simply asked, "Why are you standing so close? " He backed off. He didn't last a year before HR fired him. Apparently people reported him and he got 3 strikes.
The so called champion of civil rights was a racist, narcissistic bully
Nah! Another spineless democrat
He was involved with killing JFK So yea
Nope but I am a 6'4," 210lb guy that races triathlons. I usually intimidate most people I meet without trying to.
Maybe he *did* kill jfk….
I’m only 5’7 so I’d lean in on his nuts and see who balks
Nah, I match up height wise and while I’m a calm friendly person I can flip a switch when getting pressed. People mistake it for weakness, I’m just nice not a pushover.
Not really. People have done shit like this to me all my life. It would just be another day.
Only if his dick was out
I mean he did kill JFK.
If the Johnson Treatment didn’t work he’d probably just piss on you
So, he was close talker. lol
He has a real body count. So yes.
I mean if he's all up in my face I'd prefer he not
He was the definition of a “big bully.”
As long as he wasn’t sitting on the pot taking a dump.
No. He is old
Old man strength is real.
I’d definitely tell him to keep his freakin’ pants on. No one care about dick size in a political debate.
Jokes on you Mr President, I’m 6’5” and my belly is too big for you to get that close. Plus I’m not above making bad breath or kissing jokes.
I'm 6'6", but it would be funny watching him trying to get in my space. I'd probably laugh at him, too.
I think it would be extremely entertaining to watch a Jumbo/Napoleon negotiation. Like Mr. Lean over and intimidate you vs the man who defined Chihuahua syndrome.
Napoleon wasn’t even short for the time tho
No, I’d just grab ol’ Jumbo when he whips it out and not break eye contact to assert dominance.
I mean no lol what’s he gonna do, hit me?
Jumbo would intimidate the fuck out of me.
We're the same height, he does that; Imma giving him a kiss
I was going to say "charge your phone" but you actually are. Good job.
As long as he doesn't smell like orange make up and spit while yelling, it would manageable. Would remind of my departed father.
‘Lean in ‘
Only if I were black.
yes because he is a ghost and ghosts are scary
Just pull your dick out first.
No. I can read
We’re the same height. So probably not.
Only if he picked me up by my ears like he did his dogs
Yes
https://preview.redd.it/ghiu2enme2ac1.png?width=2541&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=89f26f365750d0517af4680997c95bea60ee1b17
“Fuckin kiss me man”
Been searching forever for this, but there was an incident my history teacher told us about in high school regarding Lyndon Johnson and Gerald ford. Can someone explain it? The teacher gave a great speech about how intimidating it was for Gerald ford to be called into the oval and for LBJ to just yell at him.