"DEAR LYNDON, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU IN THE MORNING"

JFK CHOOSES A RUNNING MATE

Los Angeles,  (JFK50) On July 14, 1960, Lyndon Baines Johnson of Texas, majority leader in the United States Senate, was nominated by the Democratic National Convention for the office of Vice-President of the United States.

Senator John F. Kennedy, who had been nominated as the Democratic presidential candidate the previous night, surprised many people, including members of his own staff, by offering a spot on the ticket to Senator Johnson.

Evelyn Lincoln, JFK's personal secretary, wrote that shortly after JFK had received the presidential nomination, the Senator gave her the following message to deliver to Senator Johnson...

 "Dear Lyndon...I would like to talk to you in your room tomorrow morning at 10:00..."

Mrs. Lincoln adds, however, that there had "never (been) any talk in the office that Mr. Johnson was to be the running mate."  In her view, JFK 's meeting with LBJ was not to offer him a place on the ticket, but "to gracefully shake Johnson's hand....and to discuss with him the southern leaders' meeting scheduled for later that day."

Mrs. Lincoln writes that JFK was forced to offer the Vice-Presidency to LBJ only after "news leaks" suggested that he would.  She added that Mr. Kennedy did not expect Lyndon to accept the offer.

When JFK returned from the meeting, he told his secretary that LBJ had not rejected the offer, but had expressed an interest in it.  By 4 p.m., JFK made the announcement that LBJ would be his running mate.

In his book "Jack Kennedy, Elusive Hero," Chris Matthews relates that JFK's decision to offer a place on the ticket to LBJ "was a model of cold-blooded politics."  A Massachusetts Democrat could not win the presidency without

the support of the "once reliable Democratic South."  LBJ's presence on the ticket definitely gave JFK a better chance, albeit not a certain one, to carry Texas.

SOURCES

"Jack Kennedy, Elusive Hero," by Chris Matthews, Simon and Schuster, New York, 2011.

"Kennedy & Johnson," by Evelyn Lincoln, Holt, Rinehart & Winston, New York, 1968.

JFK and LBJ at the White House

August 31, 1961

Photo by Abbie Rowe, NPS

JFK Library Photo

             

"I JUST SAW MY 1ST 10 GALLON HAT ON A RACK OUTSIDE THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE"

LBJ OCCUPIES OVAL OFFICE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On November 26, 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson officially occupied the Oval Office for the first time since being sworn in after the death of President John F. Kennedy on November 22nd.  The new president had been working out of his suite in the Executive Office Building next door to the White House.

After more than 1000 days of Camelot, there was a noticeable change in the West Wing.   One Kennedy aide said..."I just saw my first ten-gallon hat on a hat rack outside the President's office."

President Kennedy's personal secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, was gone replaced by LBJ's personal secretary, Juanita Roberts* and her staff.  The door which led into the Oval Office had always stood open when JFK was president, but now it was shut tight.

JFK's famous rocker, his naval paintings, and the Resolute desk were in the Oval Office no more.  A large painting of Lyndon B. Johnson now hung prominently in the West Wing. 

*Juanita Duggan Roberts (1913-1983) was born in Port Arthur, TX & graduated from Texas Women's University in 1933.  She was one of the 1st WAC officers to be promoted to Colonel during WWII.  JDR signed on with LBJ's congressional staff in 1953, served as LBJ's personal secretary & confidant, & was a key organizer of the LBJ Library.

SOURCES

"Juanita Roberts, LBJ Aide, Dies," The Washington Post, www.washingtonpost.com 

"Thanksgiving, 1963, The long weekend that defined LBJ's presidency," by Josh Zeitz, November 26, 2015, Politico Magazine, www.politico.com 

 

LBJ in Oval Office

August 3 1967

Photo by Yoichi Okamoto

LBJ Museum & Library Image

"DON'T WORRY JACK, IN 2 WEEKS THEY'LL SAY IT'S THE SMARTEST THING YOU EVER DID."

LBJ GETS NOD FOR RUNNING-MATE

Los Angeles,  (JFK50) On the evening of July 14, 1960, Lyndon Baines Johnson of Texas, majority leader in the United States Senate, was nominated by the Democratic National Convention for the office of Vice-President of the United States.

Senator John F. Kennedy, who had been nominated as the Democratic presidential candidate the previous night, surprised many people, including members of his own staff, by offering the VP nomination to Senator Johnson.

JFK's personal secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, would write that shortly after JFK had received the presidential nomination, the Senator gave her the following message to deliver to Senator Johnson..."Dear Lyndon...I would like to talk to you in your room tomorrow morning at 10:00..."

Mrs. Lincoln adds, however, that there had "never (been) any talk in the office that Mr. Johnson was to be the running mate."  It is her view that JFK 's meeting with LBJ was not to offer him a place on the ticket, but "to gracefully shake Johnson's hand....and to discuss with him the southern leaders' meeting scheduled for later that day."

Mrs. Lincoln writes that JFK was forced to offer the Vice-Presidency to LBJ only after "news leaks" suggested that he would.  She added that Mr. Kennedy did not expect Lyndon to accept the offer.

When JFK returned from the meeting, he told his secretary that LBJ had not rejected the offer, but had expressed an interest in it.  By 4 p.m., Senator Kennedy made the announcement that Lyndon B. Johnson would be his running mate.

In his book "Jack Kennedy, Elusive Hero," Chris Matthews relates that JFK's decision to offer a place on the ticket to LBJ "was a model of cold-blooded politics."  A Massachusetts Democrat could not win the presidency without

the support of the "once reliable Democratic South."  LBJ's presence on the ticket would definitely give JFK a better chance to carry Texas.

According to Mr. Matthews, House Speaker Sam Rayburn passed along the word to the Kennedy people that if a spot on the ticket was offered, LBJ would not turn it down.  It wasn't really that simple. JFK later told Pierre Salinger...

 "I don't think anybody will ever really know how this all came about."

It has been well publicized that despite criticism in some quarters of LBJ's selection, JFK's father liked the idea.  Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. told his son...

"Don't worry, Jack, in 2 weeks they'll say it's the smartest thing you ever did."

SOURCES

"Jack Kennedy, Elusive Hero," by Chris Matthews, Simon and Schuster, New York, 2011.

"Kennedy & Johnson," by Evelyn Lincoln, Holt, Rinehart & Winston, New York, 1968.

JFK and LBJ at the White House

August 31, 1961

Photo by Abbie Rowe, NPS

JFK Library Photo

              

JFK ENJOYED THE WHITE HOUSE SWITCHBOARD THE MOST

PRESIDENT KENNEDY WAS LIKE A KID IN A CANDY STORE 

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On Saturday, January 21, 1961, President John F. Kennedy took the reading copy of his inaugural address into his personal secretary's office.  He said...

"Mrs. Lincoln*, I read that one of the former presidents was offered $75,000." 

The President was referring to a signed copy of an inaugural address.  So, just in case, JFK signed his reading copy, handed it to his secretary and said...

"Here, keep this $75,000 for me."

Ralph G. Martin writes that in JFK's first days in the White House, he "was like a kid in a candy store with five dollars.  He loved it:  the honors, the trappings, the power, the perks and the gadgets."

The president "roamed all over, poking his head into doors...asking secretaries how they were doing."  Mr. Kennedy enjoyed the White House (telephone) switchboard the most.  The president could be put in contact with almost anyone "within minutes."

*Evelyn Maurine Norton Lincoln (1909-1995) was born in Nebraska.  Her father, John Norton, was a U.S. Congressman.  She graduated from George Washington University & studied law for 2 years.

Mrs. Lincoln went to work for JFK in 1953.   The NY Times describes their relationship as "a bond forged in political heaven" as she was "efficient, savvy and devoted."

SOURCE

"A Hero For Our Time:  An Intimate Story of the Kennedy Years", by Ralph G. Martin, Macmillan Publishing Company, New York, 1983.

Evelyn Lincoln

JFK's Personal Secretary

April 28, 1961

Photo by R. L. Knudsen

JFK Library Image

"BUT IT WILL NOT BE LYNDON"

JFK THINKING ABOUT SANFORD AS VP IN '64

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On November 19, 1963, President John F. Kennedy discussed replacing Lyndon B. Johnson as Vice-Presidential candidate for 1964 with Governor Terry Sanford* of North Carolina.

In a private conversation with his personal secretary Evelyn Lincoln, the President said...

"I am going to advocate changing some of the outmoded rules...in Congress.  To do this I will need as a running mate in '64 a man who believes as I do."**

Mrs. Lincoln asked...

"Who is your choice of a running mate?"

JFK answered...

"...I am thinking about Governor Terry Sanford of North Carolina.  But it will not be Lyndon."

*James Terry Sanford (1917-1998) was born in Laurinburg NC & received his law degree at the University of NC at Chapel Hill.  JTS served in WWII & later was a Special Agent for the FBI.  JTS served as Governor of NC 1961-1965 & Senator 1986-1993.  In between those two offices, JTS was the campaign chairman for VP Hubert Humphrey in the 1968 presidential race.  After leaving politics, JTS was president of Duke University for 16 years.

**JFK was particularly miffed by the fact one of his bills was tied up in the House by a committee chairman who had seniority.  He felt Gov Sanford represented the "New South" which he needed for re-election in 1964.

SOURCE

"JFK'S Last Hundred Days:  The Transformation of a Man and the Emergence of a Great President," by Thurston Clarke, The Penguin Press, New York, 2013.

Gov Terry Sanford

Education Tour

Photo by 

Lt. Lloyd Burchett (NCHP)

THE PAY IS GOOD & I CAN WALK TO WORK

JFK'S FIRST FULL DAY AS PRESIDENT

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) January 21, 1961 marked John F. Kennedy's first full day as President of the United States.  The previous day he delivered a stirring inaugural address calling on Americans to "ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

The President took the reading copy of his inaugural address into his secretary's office.  He said, "Mrs. Lincoln*, I read that one of the former presidents was offered $75,000" for his signed inaugural address.  So JFK, after signing his copy, handed it to Mrs. Lincoln and said, "Here, keep this $75,000 for me."

Ralph G. Martin writes that in JFK's first days in the White House, he "was like a kid in a candy store with five dollars.  He loved it:  the honors, the trappings, the power, the perks and the gadgets."

The president "roamed all over, poking his head into doors...asking secretaries how they were doing."  Mr. Kennedy enjoyed the White House (telephone) switchboard the most.  The president could be put in contact with almost anyone "within minutes."

President Kennedy loved his job.  He liked to say "The pay is good and I can walk to work."  He liked the story about Calvin Coolidge standing outside the gates of the White House one day when he overheard a foreign visitor say "I wonder who lives there?"  Coolidge responded, "Nobody, they just come and go."

*Evelyn Maurine Norton Lincoln (1909-1995) was born in Nebraska.  Her father, John Norton, was a U.S. Congressman.  She graduated from George Washington University & studied law for 2 years.  EMNL went to work for Senator John F. Kennedy in 1953.   The NY Times describes their relationship as "a bond forged in political heaven" as she was "efficient, savvy and devoted."

SOURCE

"A Hero For Our Time:  An Intimate Story of the Kennedy Years", by Ralph G. Martin, Macmillan Publishing Company, New York, 1983.

Evelyn Lincoln
JFK's Personal Secretary
April 28, 1961
Photo by R. L. Knudsen
JFK Library Image

JFK CHOOSES LBJ

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 2009

THEY'LL SAY IT WAS THE SMARTEST THING YOU EVER DID

Los Angeles, California (JFK50) Today Republican presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump has reportedly narrowed his choice of a running mate down to three.  56 years ago, July 14, 1960, Democratic presidential nominee John F. Kennedy announced Lyndon Baines Johnson of Texas as his VP selection.

Mr. Trump's selection may or may not turn out to be a surprise, but JFK's choice of LBJ even surprised members of his own staff.  JFK's personal secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, would write that shortly after JFK had received the presidential nomination, the Senator gave her the following message to deliver to Senator Johnson...

"Dear Lyndon...I would like to talk to you in your room tomorrow morning at 10:00..."

Despite this message, Mrs. Lincoln says that there had "never (been) any talk in the office that Mr. Johnson was to be the running mate."  

She believed JFK 's meeting with LBJ was not to offer him a place on the ticket, but "to discuss with him the southern leaders' meeting scheduled for later that day."

Mrs. Lincoln writes that JFK was forced to offer the Vice-Presidency to LBJ only after "news leaks" suggested that he would.  She added that Mr. Kennedy did not expect Lyndon to accept the offer.

When JFK returned from the meeting, he told his secretary that LBJ had not rejected the offer, but had expressed an interest in it.  By 4 p.m., Senator Kennedy made the announcement that Lyndon B. Johnson would be his running mate.

In his book "Jack Kennedy, Elusive Hero," Chris Matthews writes that JFK's decision to offer a place on the ticket to LBJ "was a model of cold-blooded politics... a Massachusetts Democrat could not win the presidency without
the support of the "once reliable Democratic South."

Speaker Sam Rayburn passed along the word to the Kennedy people that if a spot on the ticket was offered, LBJ would not turn it down.  It wasn't really that simple. JFK later told Pierre Salinger...

 "I don't think anybody will ever really know how this all came about."

It has been well publicized that despite criticism in some quarters of LBJ's selection, JFK's father liked the idea.  Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. told his son...

"Don't worry, Jack, in 2 weeks they'll say it's the smartest thing you ever did."

SOURCES

"Jack Kennedy, Elusive Hero," by Chris Matthews, Simon and Schuster, New York, 2011.

"Kennedy & Johnson," by Evelyn Lincoln, Holt, Rinehart & Winston, New York, 1968.

JFK and LBJ at the White House

August 31, 1961

Photo by Abbie Rowe, NPS

JFK Library Photo

              

A KENNEDY-JOHNSON TICKET

DEMOCRATS NOMINATED LBJ FOR VP 55 YEARS AGO TONIGHT

Los Angeles, California (JFK50) Fifty-five years ago this evening, July 14, 1960, Lyndon Baines Johnson of Texas, majority leader in the United States Senate, was nominated by the Democratic National Convention for the office of Vice-President of the United States.

Senator John F. Kennedy, who had been nominated as the Democratic presidential candidate the previous night, surprised many people, including members of his own staff, by offering the Vice-Presidential nomination to Senator Johnson.

JFK's personal secretary, Evelyn Lincoln, would write that shortly after JFK had received the presidential nomination, the Senator gave her the following message to deliver to Senator Johnson...

"Dear Lyndon...I would like to talk to you in your room tomorrow morning at 10:00..."

Despite this message, Mrs. Lincoln says that there had "never (been) any talk in the office that Mr. Johnson was to be the running mate."  It is her view that JFK 's meeting with LBJ was not to offer him a place on the ticket, but "to gracefully shake Johnson's hand....and to discuss with him the southern leaders' meeting scheduled for later that day."

Mrs. Lincoln writes that JFK was forced to offer the Vice-Presidency to LBJ only after "news leaks" suggested that he would.  She added that Mr. Kennedy did not expect Lyndon to accept the offer.

When JFK returned from the meeting, he told his secretary that LBJ had not rejected the offer, but had expressed an interest in it.  By 4 p.m., Senator Kennedy made the announcement that Lyndon B. Johnson would be his running mate.

In his book "Jack Kennedy, Elusive Hero," Chris Matthews relates that JFK's decision to offer a place on the ticket to LBJ "was a model of cold-blooded politics."  A Massachusetts Democrat could not win the presidency without
the support of the "once reliable Democratic South."  LBJ's presence on the ticket would definitely give JFK a better chance to carry Texas.

According to Mr. Matthews, House Speaker Sam Rayburn passed along the word to the Kennedy people that if a spot on the ticket was offered, LBJ would not turn it down.  It wasn't really that simple. JFK later told Pierre Salinger...

 "I don't think anybody will ever really know how this all came about."

It has been well publicized that despite criticism in some quarters of LBJ's selection, JFK's father liked the idea.  Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. told his son...

"Don't worry, Jack, in 2 weeks they'll say it's the smartest thing you ever did."

SOURCES

"Jack Kennedy, Elusive Hero," by Chris Matthews, Simon and Schuster, New York, 2011.

"Kennedy & Johnson," by Evelyn Lincoln, Holt, Rinehart & Winston, New York, 1968.

JFK and LBJ at the White House

August 31, 1961

Photo by Abbie Rowe, NPS

JFK Library Photo