Sen L. Johnson in Hotel

Transcript (Download)

Senator, do you expect the Texas delegation to vote for you after the first ballot? The Texas delegation under resolution by our convention is instructed to vote for me as long as my name is before the convention.

How many ballots they'll have at the convention I would not want to anticipate, and I would not at this stage be very prophetic about how those ballots will be cast, other than to say that Texas is going to vote for Lyndon Johnson.

Well Senator, does the candidacy, does your candidacy more important than any other aspect of the business on the convention at this time? I would say no.

What's the prospect? I could elaborate on it.

The question is such that I don't think it requires much elaboration.

Have you supported support for your candidacy among other delegations outside of Texas? I have heard it so stated.

Have you any non -Texas support without seeking it? Yes.

What exactly has been your activity in the convention then so far if you have not actively been promoting your candidacy, sir? Well it's been a rather healthy, steady, enduring one, about 17 to 18 hours a day, visiting with members of the Congress and delegates from the various states who wanted to discuss with me some of their personal problems, most of them the problems involved in the platform, and some of them their individual candidacies.

I met with Governor Stevenson and we talked about Suez's situation for a while and then we talked about the problems of the convention and I'd be less than frank if I didn't say we talked about the problems of a would -be president.

In what respect does Texas stand with, I'll start that one over again, how does Texas stand with respect to the formation of the platform, sir, on civil rights for example? We have a very able member of that platform committee.

They're prudent and conscientious and a citizen of the state, Mr.

Van Kennedy, and I'm going to leave the writing of the platform up to them.

I learned several days ago not to try to write a platform before the committee made its report.

I have confidence that the platform should be and I think will be, hope will be, a platform that the Democrats of the North and the South and the East and the West can all run upon with dignity and decency and I believe that under the leadership of John McCormick we'll have a platform that a majority of the Democrats of the convention will approve and a majority of the people of America will endorse in November.

With respect to candidates for the presidency, sir, you've maintained a kind of neutrality.

Does that position still prevail? It still prevails.

I was a supporter of Governor Stevenson 52 and I stated in my LBJ Ranch at Johnson City when Governor Stevenson visited me last year that I support him 52 and I'd be happy to support him at 6 if he were the nominee.

I have said to Governor Harriman and Senator Simonton and other possible candidates that I did not feel that it was my role to attempt to tell the delegates this convention or the people of America who their nominee should be.

I have pursued a religiously neutral policy because I do not consider it within my province to select the candidates and notwithstanding the rather inaccurate kingmaker stories that abridge me.

One final question, Senator.

There's been a report that with yourself as the favorite son that your state and yourself might become a rallying point for Southern unity on differences within the convention itself.

By geography, I come from the Southwest.

Both of my grandfathers were in the Confederate Army.

I'm very proud of my Southern heritage and the friends that I have in the South.

I'm not a sectional leader and have known all along that in order to unify the party that we should try to work out the problems from all sections standpoint instead of any one.

I have never sought to speak for any section including the South.

Thank you very much, Senator.

Identifier

F.2012-03-1136

Date Of Production

August 1956

Abstract

An interview with Lyndon Johnson circa August 15, 1956.

Description

This film features an interview with Texas Senator Lyndon Johnson concurrent with the 1956 Democratic National Convention, in which he answers a reporter’s questions concerning his chances of winning the nomination as the Democratic candidate for president.

Run Time

0:05:42

Format

16mm

Extent

203 feet

Color

B&W

Sound

Optical

Reel/Tape Number

1/1

Has Been Digitized?

Yes

Element

Negatives

Genre

Interview
Journalism
Political

Form

Interviews

Subject

Political conventions
Political elections
Politicians
Presidents

Related Collections

SUBSERIES I: Politics & Government

Related Places

North America ➜ United States ➜ Illinois ➜ Chicago

Main Credits

Koza, Frank (is filmmaker)

Participants And Performers

Johnson, Lyndon (is participant)

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