Reflection on The Years of Lyndon Johnson Volume I: The Path to Power

               This is the most thorough book I’ve ever read. That’s probably because it’s a 1,000 page biography that is just the first in a series of five books (still unfinished) on Lyndon Johnson’s life. It is a really deep dive and at some point I’ll try to read the second book. It’s written like a novel and I found it really captivating, though (obviously) a little long at times.

               The book starts with hill country, a land that was found lush and beautiful by the pioneers. It was where Lyndon Johnson would be born. However, by the time of his birth, in 1908, the land was ruined, overfarmed and without much rain. When it did rain, it wiped the earth clean off the limestone leaving only rock. The people who farmed it became very poor, like Lyndon’s family. Lyndon as a child was very bossy and used to getting his way. For example, when his cousin Ava would swing by on her donkey to take him to school, he would, even though he was younger, insist on sitting in front. He also liked getting the pity of others and would often lie and tell people his parents weren’t feeding him. He would also scream and holler extremely loud whenever he got beat or hit. He tended to be very unpopular in high school and college. And was known as a manipulator, especially with women, only ever dating the daughters of rich men.

               LBJ was really good at turning non-political or powerless institutions into powerful, political institutions. He did it with a social club (The White Stars) on his college campus, a debating society of assistants to Congressmen in the Capitol (The Little Congress), the National Youth Administration, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. He was always focused more on tactics and policy and found that through valueless pragmatism he could go far.

               When elected to congress as a long-shot underdog, Johnson spent his first term working on building a dam, paying back a major favor to its contractor, who funded his political aspirations. He also set about putting the New Deal to work for him, paying farmers to clear brush and leave land fallow, which did wonders to improve the land. He got serious money for his district. Otherwise, Johnson did little. Since he had no real political beliefs, except for a mild but very secret conservatism, he gave only ten speeches in eleven years in congress. He worked behind the scenes to cause a break between his mentor Sam Rayburn and FDR so that he could be FDR’s number one guy in Texas, showing that Johnson was always willing to betray those who helped him. He also slept with the wife of an influential newspaperman who backed his career.

               1940 through 1942 were critical years for Johnson. In 1940, he saved the day, taking over the Democratic fundraising effort and saving the congressional elections that looked like they would deliver the House to the Republicans. Even though he was unpopular, after 1940 everyone knew they owed him. His role in that election would transform electoral politics forever, revolutionizing and drastically increasing the role of money in politics. In 1941, Johnson ran for Senate, but (to make a long story short) was overconfident and just barely lost the election. In 1942, Johnson decided to join the Navy, fulfilling an old campaign promise, and pausing his political career.

               I came out of this book not liking Johnson at all. While I gained respect for his ability to get ahead in the world of democracy and politics, he is truly the wrong type of person to represent others. He was very manipulative and the “end” was not to help others, but to gain power for himself. He also built his early career through the patronship and mentorship of both Sam Rayburn and FDR, both of whom he would not hesitate to betray later on. The book is fantastic and I’m looking forward toreading the others.

Miscellaneous Facts:

• The Comanches were a feared menace to settlers in Texas in the early 19^th century until the Texas Rangers were equipped with revolvers. Until then, a Comanche could shoot twenty arrows in the time it took to reload a single-shot rifle.
• On their first date LBJ asked Lady Bird to marry him.
• Texas is big enough to cover all of New England plus New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia combined.