Fun Presidential Facts – Lyndon “LBJ” Johnson

Here are some quick facts, opinions, quotes and other information on President Lyndon “LBJ” Johnson:

Personal Information on Lyndon Johnson:

Thirty-sixth President (1963-1969)

Birthday: August 27, 1908 (Thursday)
Birthplace: Stonewall, Texas
Birthplace Website: President Lyndon Johnson’s Birthplace
Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Date of Death: January 22, 1973 (Monday)
Place of Death: Johnson City, Texas
Place of Burial: Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, Johnson City, Texas
Cause of Death: Heart attack
Age: 64 years old
Length of Retirement: 1463 days
Burial website: President Lyndon Johnson’s Grave
Presidential Library website: LBJ Presidential Library

Interesting Lyndon Johnson facts:

Lyndon Johnson shocked the nation when he announced that he would not seek reelection as President in the election of 1968. The writing was probably on the wall anyway. Johnson believed in the Domino Theory (if you let China fall to communism then Korea will follow; if you let Korea fall to communism then Vietnam will follow; if you let Vietnam fall to communism then Laos will follow; and on and on). This caused him to dig in and completely throw his support to Vietnam, which has probably been the most unpopular war in our history. Some claim he did a study and the real reason he decided not to run was that this study predicted he wouldn’t live through a second term. It said he was going to die when he was sixty-four years old. He died of a heart attack at the age of sixty-four years old.
Lyndon Johnson is one of only four men to serve as a US Representative, US Senator, Vice President and President. John Tyler, Andrew Johnson, and Richard Nixon were the other three. Twenty Presidents have also served in the US House of Representatives. Sixteen Presidents have also served in the US Senate. Fourteen Presidents have also served as Vice President.
Most people probably know that Abraham Lincoln was our tallest President at six feet four inches tall. For these people, they really only know half the story. Lyndon Johnson is also the tallest President. LBJ was also six feet four inches tall.

My favorite Lyndon Johnson Quotes:

Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose.

You aren’t learning anything when you’re talking.

I’m the only president you’ve got.

There are plenty of recommendations on how to get out of trouble cheaply and fast. Most of them come down to this: Deny your responsibility.

I have learned that only two things are necessary to keep one’s wife happy. First, let her think she’s having her own way. And second, let her have it.

When things haven’t gone well for you, call in a secretary or a staff man and chew him out. You will sleep better and they will appreciate the attention.

There are no favorites in my office. I treat them all with the same general inconsideration.

It’s the price of leadership to do the thing you believe has to be done at the time it must be done.

The guns and the bombs, the rockets and the warships, are all symbols of human failure.

If one morning I walked on top of the water across the Potomac River, the headline that afternoon would read: “President Can’t Swim.”

Lyndon Johnson blogs (click the title to go to that page):

Lyndon Johnson page on Presidential Crossroads (click “Lyndon “LBJ” Johnson” below):

Lyndon “LBJ” Johnson

Lyndon Johnson Blogs:

The Civil Rights Movement

The Very Tough Leader

The Election of 1968

The Teacher

Personal thoughts on Lyndon Johnson:

Strengths:

Strong willed, Commanding force, Knew how to work the system

Weaknesses:

Stubborn, Not the best listener

Presidential Greatness Scale (1-poor to 5-great): 3.8

Comments:

Usually I’m not a big fan of social politicians. LBJ was one of the kings of social politics. His Great Society and War on Poverty were all-out efforts to reform social injustice. They targeted civil rights, public broadcasting, Medicare, Medicaid, aid to education and arts, and urban and rural development. His Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 offered more opportunities for immigration for countries outside Europe. Many of those programs have become a huge part of our daily lives that we just take for granted today. I believe America is a better place because of some of the programs LBJ was brave enough to stick his neck out for. But when you look at LBJ you also have to look at Vietnam. His “stick to his guns,” and not listen to anyone attitude, led to a prolonged war that probably would not have turned out any differently than it did, if we would have left earlier. Protesters shouted, “Hey, hey, LBJ, how many kids did you kill today?” The Secret Service would not even let him go to the 1968 Democratic Convention because they feared they would be unable to protect him. The day he announced he would not be a candidate in the 1968 Presidential election his popularity rose from 36% to 49%.

Favorite Lyndon Johnson book:

Lyndon – An Oral Biography by Merle Miller

Favorite Lyndon Johnson story:

How the mean old tough man, who was always able to get away with twisting arms, bullying, and intimidating people, was basically put in his place in the election of 1968. He couldn’t get out of the Democratic primary and was pretty much forced to withdraw his candidacy.

Most memorable Lyndon Johnson memory:

Visiting the LBJ Ranch in Johnson City, Texas.

Favorite Lyndon Johnson possession (see picture at the top):

A Lyndon Johnson Wheaton Flask Bottle