JACQUELINE KENNEDY, HISTORIC CONVERSATIONS: SIXTH CONVERSATION IX
Knoxville, Tennessee (JFK+50) Today JFK+50 continues our report on "Jacqueline Kennedy, Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy," published by Hyperion.
The sixth conversation was recorded on June 3, 1964.
Jacqueline Kennedy continues to discuss the issues concerning Lyndon Johnson.
She says:
"I thought Lyndon would be too old (in 1968) to run for president."
Mrs. Kennedy recalls a discussion that someone else might be named to run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1968.*
*A footnote in the book says that JFK was "vaguely pondering" North Carolina governor Terry Sanford as a possible running mate for 1964.
Mr. Schlesinger asks about the legislative breakfasts which JFK hosted at the White House on a regular basis with congressional leaders.
Mrs. Kennedy answers:
"I know one thing....that Larry O'Brien told me.**
Larry couldn't stand Ted Sorensen, but he said so many times Larry would have prepared an agenda for the breakfasts & just before they were about to start Ted would....change one or two sentences & then initial it.
You'll see that heavy hand of Ted...in more places....he wanted his imprint on so many things."
She goes on to tell Schlesinger.....
"Someone said (Ted Sorensen) loved himself &....one other person, which was Jack......he had a big inferiority complex."***
**Larry O'Brien was JFK's legislative assistant.
***Theodore Sorensen was JFK's speech writer & sometimes referred to as Jack's 'alter-ego'.
Ted Sorensen
Hudson Union Society Event
May 27, 2009
Photo by Justin Hoch
