LBJ: Architect of American AmbitionFree Press, 1. 8. 2006 - 1024 strán (strany) For almost forty years, the verdict on Lyndon Johnson's presidency has been reduced to a handful of harsh words: tragedy, betrayal, lost opportunity. Initially, historians focused on the Vietnam War and how that conflict derailed liberalism, tarnished the nation's reputation, wasted lives, and eventually even led to Watergate. More recently, Johnson has been excoriated in more personal terms: as a player of political hardball, as the product of machine-style corruption, as an opportunist, as a cruel husband and boss.InLBJ,Randall B. Woods, a distinguished historian of twentieth-century America and a son of Texas, offers a wholesale reappraisal and sweeping, authoritative account of the LBJ who has been lost under this baleful gaze. Woods understands the political landscape of the American South and the differences between personal failings and political principles. Thanks to the release of thousands of hours of LBJ's White House tapes, along with the declassification of tens of thousands of documents and interviews with key aides, Woods'sLBJbrings crucial new evidence to bear on many key aspects of the man and the politician. As private conversations reveal, Johnson intentionally exaggerated his stereotype in many interviews, for reasons of both tactics and contempt. It is time to set the record straight.Woods's Johnson is a flawed but deeply sympathetic character. He was born into a family with a liberal Texas tradition of public service and a strong belief in the public good. He worked tirelessly, but not just for the sake of ambition. His approach to reform at home, and to fighting fascism and communism abroad, was motivated by the same ideals and based on a liberal Christian tradition that is often forgotten today. Vietnam turned into a tragedy, but it was part and parcel of Johnson's commitment to civil rights and antipoverty reforms.LBJoffers a fascinating new history of the political upheavals of the 1960s and a new way to understand the last great burst of liberalism in America.Johnson was a magnetic character, and his life was filled with fascinating stories and scenes. Through insights gained from interviews with his longtime secretary, his Secret Service detail, and his closest aides and confidants, Woods brings Johnson before us in vivid and unforgettable color. |
Vyhľadávanie v obsahu knihy
Výsledky 1 - 3 z 51.
Strana 315
... administration's failures , they should be aboard on the takeoff , share credit for its successes . In his State of the Union address of February 2 , 1953 , Ike called openly for bipartisanship . He then institutionalized regular ...
... administration's failures , they should be aboard on the takeoff , share credit for its successes . In his State of the Union address of February 2 , 1953 , Ike called openly for bipartisanship . He then institutionalized regular ...
Strana 319
... administration.20 FOR THE MOST PART during the 1950s , the Soviets sought to project their power not by means of military ... administration's conservative approach to combating the spread of communism was perhaps best revealed in its ...
... administration.20 FOR THE MOST PART during the 1950s , the Soviets sought to project their power not by means of military ... administration's conservative approach to combating the spread of communism was perhaps best revealed in its ...
Strana 796
... administration's surtax proposal lay dead in the water . Members of the conservative coalition did not want to give the administration additional funds because they opposed most aspects of the Great Society pro- gram ; liberals did not ...
... administration's surtax proposal lay dead in the water . Members of the conservative coalition did not want to give the administration additional funds because they opposed most aspects of the Great Society pro- gram ; liberals did not ...
Iné vydania - Zobraziť všetky
Časté výrazy a frázy
Abe Fortas administration advisers American asked attack Austin began believed bill Bill Moyers Bobby bombing Bundy Busby called campaign civil rights commitment Committee communist Congress congressional Connally conservative declared defense Democratic party Eisenhower election federal forces Fortas George Reedy going Harry McPherson Houston Humphrey Jack John John Connally Johnson City Kennedy KTBC labor Lady Bird later LBJ's legislation liberal Lyndon and Lady Lyndon Johnson majority leader McGeorge Bundy McNamara McPherson military million Moyers Negro never North Orville Freeman percent political poverty presidential ranch Rayburn Rebekah recalled reported Republican Richard Russell Roosevelt Rusk Russell secretary Senate social South Vietnam southern Soviet speech staff Stevenson talk Texan Texas thing thousand tion told troops Truman United vice president Vietnamese vote Washington week White House Wirtz wrote young