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In the Boat with LBJBook Review By Steve Labinski
LBJ insisted his circle of friends to be dedicated, loyal and hard-working to the point of
extremes. LBJ's biographer's cannot help discuss this when reviewing his life and
political practices. This is also the main theme of John L. Bullion's new 363-page memoir
on our nation's
36th President. Note that In the Boat with LBJ is not a biography - it is a memoir.
If you are looking for a more historial, broader treatment, try the biographical series from Robert Caro.
But reading this memoir is interesting, because you see some inside verification and fleshing
out of stories which are omitted from the larger biographies.
The author's father, J. Waddy Bullion, worked in LBJ's inner circle as one of his tax attorney's for many years. Bullion was also one of the trustees of Johnson's blind trust. Apparantly, folks who worked for Johnson didn't just work for the man. Johnson utilized his own power and personal magnatism to stretch the limits of this relationship to get a product that goes beyond a common working relationship. Bullion uses the experiences of his father, plus other associates to build on this theme throughout the book. A lot of the stories in the book are related by the author through stories told to him over the years by his own parents. For someone looking for a more scholarly treatment of subjects, this is definately a recurring problem with the book. Many of the stories are hear-say, related through a second or third generation speaker. Many of Bullion's stories are related by word from family and friends with the attitude that naturally they must be true.
However, the benefit to this is that we receive a very close and detailed portrait of LBJ
- almost
to the point of TMI (too much information). Bullion relates a story told to him by his aunt
of an instance where LBJ drops by their house in Dallas to cool his heels while waiting for
his mistress. Yikes! Imagine what future associates of Bill Clinton can relate in their future
memoirs.
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Book excerpt:The major focus of the Johnson family's investments was the Texas Broadcasting Corporation, the corporation they established that owned and operated their radio and television stations in Austin and controlled the shares they held in other stations elsewhere in Texas. Dad did not advise them on these purchases. During the 1950s, he had little expertise in communications and almost no contacts within that burgeoning Texas industry. Besides, the Johnsons had already found an advisor with both advantages -- Don Thomas, a senior partner in the Austin law firm of Clark, Thomas. LBJ began consulting with Thomas at the beginning of the fifties, which meant he was a comparative Johnny-come lately on the boat. No matter, his amazing string of unbroken successes in predicting which way the communications market would go recommended him to the Johnsons. He advised them on their heavy investments in the industry and swiftly established himself as the person who knew the most about the family's private business interests. My father enjoyed working with Don immensely. He was highly intelligent, exceptionally well informed, quick to grasp the essentials of a problem, and imaginative in finding solutions to it. At times, such people can be difficult collegues to work with. Don Thomas was the rare soul who complimented first-rate professional abilities with a pleasant, quiet, self-effacing personality. If he had a passion, it was his determination to remain behind the scenes and out of the public's eye. Others could take the bows; Thomas's satisfaction came from knowing that those who he respected admired his brilliance. To Dad, he was the ideal teammate. For Lyndon Johnson, he became the rarest of birds, a personal friend. "No one," Dad told me recently, "was closer personally than Don to LBJ, except, of course, Lady Bird." Then he looked directly at me, and repeated with an intense emphasis: "No one." |
Purchase This Book Now on Amazon.Com
Lyndon B. Johnson Political / Collectible Memoribilla:
Visit our political collectibles page for
Lyndon B. Johnson. Lots of interesting stuff!
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