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Lyndon Baines Johnson wanted to be remembered as the greatest president who ever lived. With that grand ambition in mind (and an ego to match), he launched such sweeping social programs as Medicare, Medicaid, Head Start, public radio, public television, and food stamps. Regardless, Johnson will probably be best remembered for his blinding arrogance, and what many would point to as the result of it—the Vietnam War.
But here, we’re choosing to remember Johnson not by the many political wheels he set into motion, but by the stuff he kept by his side—and close to his heart.
His Toilet
Johnson lived to dominate, and he used crass behavior to bend people to his will. At 6-ft., 3-in. tall and 210 lbs., he liked to lean over people, spitting, swearing, belching, or laughing in their faces. Once, he even relieved himself on a Secret Serviceman who was shielding him from public view. When the man looked horrified, Johnson simply said, “That’s all right, son. It’s my prerogative.” His favorite power ploy, however, seemed to be dragging people into the bathroom with him—forcing them to continue their conversations with the president as he used the toilet. [Image: LBJ and Senator Richard Russell, courtesy of the National Archives.]
His Car
When President Johnson was visiting his ranch in Texas, he’d invite friends down and take them for a joyride in his car. He’d drive down a steep incline toward the lake, pretend to lose control, and then yell, “The brakes don’t work! We’re going in! We’re going under!” The car would splash into the lake, and as everyone else was screaming, Johnson would be doubled over laughing. Turns out, Johnson was the proud owner of an Amphicar, the only amphibious passenger automobile ever mass-produced for civilians.
His Presidential Buzzer
When people told stories about John F. Kennedy’s great female conquests (and they often did), it made Johnson furious. He’d pound his fists on the desk and scream, “Why, I had more women on accident than he ever had on purpose!” And that may very well have been true. Johnson brought a lot of pretty young things back from Texas to work in the White House, even if they couldn’t type. He even had a buzzer installed in the Oval Office so that the Secret Service could warn him when his wife was on her way.
His Helicopter Chair
LBJ loved riding in helicopters. He loved it so much, in fact, that his desk chair in the Oval Office was actually a vinyl helicopter seat—green with a built-in ashtray. In the event of a flood or an emergency water landing, the cushion could have doubled as a flotation device. No joke.
His Wife’s Pecan Pie Recipe
Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson was her husband’s most vital political ally. In the early days of their marriage, he could boss her into picking up his socks or shining his shoes, but by the time they moved into the White House, he couldn’t give a speech without consulting her first. During the 1960 election, she traveled 30,000 miles campaigning for the Kennedy/Johnson ticket; and after they won, Bobby Kennedy said they couldn’t have gotten Texas without her.
She played an even bigger role in the 1964 election. That July, Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, which barred racial and religious discrimination in public places and the workforce. In doing so, Johnson betrayed many good ol’ boys in the South, where he desperately needed votes. Enter Lady Bird. Armed with big hair and big makeup, the Texas native spewed Southern charm from Louisiana to South Carolina. And everywhere she went, she handed out her recipe for pecan pie. The hospitality worked. In 1965, Mrs. Johnson held the Bible as her husband was sworn into office.
His Monogrammed Towels
Everyone in the Johnson family had the same initials—Lyndon Baines, Lady Bird, and their daughters, Lynda Bird and Luci Baines. Don’t think for a moment that it was a coincidence, either. They named the family dog Little Beagle Johnson.
Jenny Drapkin is the Senior Editor of mental_floss magazine. We’re currently serializing “All The Presidents’ Secrets,” her fantastic feature from the September-October 2007 issue. Yesterday: Richard Nixon. Wednesday: Andrew Jackson. Tuesday: Teddy Roosevelt. Monday: Silent Cal.
Comments (15)
Comment
Whenever I think of LBJ and Lady Bird, I think of a few interviews I saw with Eartha Kit. She told a story of how she had attended a White House luncheon hosted by the First Lady to discuss how to solve the problems of crime in the inner cities. She said they were suggesting things like putting flower pots near windows to throw at muggers, etc. and that when she spoke up about how stupid those ideas were and that they should look to better education and schools, etc., Lady Bird got angry, told her husband about it they had Eartha Kit blackballed from working in movies and TV for a long time.
posted by Sheldon Siegel on 4-18-2008 at 8:29 am
Without the Viet Nam war LBJ would be remembered of as one of our nations greatest Presidents. Because of the disaster of the VN war he is remembered as an arrogant war monger. What a terrible, terrible waste of what might have been.
posted by PeterG on 4-18-2008 at 9:35 am
He was responsible for bringing electricity to most of rural Texas during his Congressional days.
posted by JD on 4-18-2008 at 9:44 am
Just another story of a good man gone bad. He did ALOT of good, but we continue to remember him for the bad.
posted by beth on 4-18-2008 at 9:56 am
Has anyone else noticed the strong resemblance, both in appearance and behavior (i.e. meetings in the bathroom), between LBJ and Buck Strickland, Hank’s boss on “King of the Hill”?
posted by C. Michael on 4-18-2008 at 10:10 am
He may have done a lot of good, but he still sounds like an ass. being overbearing and rude are not characteristics we need in our president.
posted by Claire on 4-18-2008 at 10:23 am
Sheldon, that Eartha Kit story is fantastic. Its great to hear kooky stories of social programs. So many of them are poorly thought out. I can’t wait to see the secrets of Jimmy Carter.
posted by Dan on 4-18-2008 at 11:47 am
I think I read somewhere (if I recall correctly, it was in “The Know-It-All” by AJ Jacobs, which I first heard about on MentalFloss) that LBJ was a well-endowed man, so it’s no surprise that he brought people into the bathroom to continue conversations in order to show his “superiority”.
posted by xxx on 4-18-2008 at 12:43 pm
It’s taken me a long long time to get over LBJ’s acceleration of the VietNam conflict. I was there from mid ‘68 untill early ‘70. I blamed the war on LBJ. I was wrong.
Yes, he ramped it up with the bogus Gulf Of Tonkin Resolution, but if one looks back into the history of our involvement there one finds Eisenhower’s fingreprints, along with JFK’s.
He was a great president (makes me feel a bit sick to say that, though), and his record on civil rights and other basic human needs will, I believe, place him in history as one of the greats.
Too bad the current occupant of the Oval Office will not be remembered so kindly…
posted by Doc on 4-18-2008 at 1:53 pm
I’m pretty sure that I once heard that LBJ’s shower was rather intimidating, having more than double the standard water pressure, multiple shower heads, and small spray jets on the walls. I think that it pinned some staff member to the wall when they tested it out.
posted by Will on 4-18-2008 at 1:57 pm
Wow. LBJ was a total bad ass! I actually never knew any of this about him. I think I know have a favorite president.
posted by Viola on 4-18-2008 at 2:24 pm
I think I now have a favorite president. I’m not sure why I can’t type well on Fridays.
posted by Viola on 4-18-2008 at 3:35 pm
Wonder if Slick willy kept that buzzer in working condition? And on the off chance he finds himself residing there once again whether or not HRC will have it torn out
posted by brick_city_man on 4-18-2008 at 6:09 pm
I first learned about LBJ’s conversations in the toilet via a Seinfeld episode. Lol.
posted by Amanda on 4-19-2008 at 11:16 am
Another LBJ penis story: “In his recent biography of Lyndon Johnson, Flawed Giant, Robert Dallek writes, “During a private conversation with some reporters who pressed him to explain why we were in Vietnam, Johnson lost his patience. According to Arthur Goldberg, LBJ unzipped his fly, drew out his substantial organ and declared, ‘This is why!’” (read more at badattitudes.com/Organ.html )
Sheesh. So essentially, thousands died because of Johnson’s obsession with his johnson.
posted by arfies on 4-21-2008 at 9:40 pm