JUNE 2, 2012
HOW LYNDON GOT ON THE TICKET V
Knoxville, Tennessee (JFK+50) Today we conclude our report on Chapter 7 of the book by Kenneth P. O'Donnell & David F. Powers with Joe McCarthy. It is published by Little, Brown & Company.
The title of Chapter 7 is HOW LYNDON GOT ON THE TICKET.
Kenneth O'Donnell says that in regard to the idea that JFK offered LBJ the Vice Presidency with the "half-expectation" that he would refuse it, Kennedy would later say on more than one occasion that once it was offered, "he did not expect Johnson to grab at it quite so quickly."
Kenny adds that he believes JFK was as concerned about unification of the party with the selection of LBJ than he was to "remove Lyndon from the majority leadership in the Senate."
On the flight back to Boston after JFK had been nominated President & LBJ Vice-President, Senator Kennedy was asked by Helen Keyes: "What will I say to all my friends in Boston when they ask me why you picked Lyndon Johnson?"
JFK answered:
"Pretend you know something they don't know."
Kenneth O'Donnell says that in regard to the idea that JFK offered LBJ the Vice Presidency with the "half-expectation" that he would refuse it, Kennedy would later say on more than one occasion that once it was offered, "he did not expect Johnson to grab at it quite so quickly."
Kenny adds that he believes JFK was as concerned about unification of the party with the selection of LBJ than he was to "remove Lyndon from the majority leadership in the Senate."
On the flight back to Boston after JFK had been nominated President & LBJ Vice-President, Senator Kennedy was asked by Helen Keyes: "What will I say to all my friends in Boston when they ask me why you picked Lyndon Johnson?"
JFK answered:
"Pretend you know something they don't know."
