Lyndon Baines Johnson and the Uses of Power [Hardcover]

The papers were, by and large, of good quality, but two are worthy of particular attention. Michael Riccards'sFailure of Nerve: How the Liberals Killed Liberalismand Robert D. Loevy'sTo Write It in the Books of 1964are outstanding and fresh contributions to often debated topics. . . . Bill Moyers's epilogue is superb, rich with personal observations on the man he served for many years.Choice

Two decades after his presidency, Lyndon Baines Johnson continues to be remembered for the brilliance of his political skills, the sweep of his social vision, and the turbulence produced by his Vietnam policy. This collection of essays offers a variety of interpretations of the Johnson presidency and its legacy. The collection blends scholarly analysis with the insights of people who were once either at the heart of the Johnson administration policy-making system or well-known for their political activism. Lyndon Johnson managed to translate a vision of New Deal liberalism into a domestic program of immense and far-reaching proportions. At the same time, his steadfast support in Vietnam of traditional Cold War assumptions, such as the domino theory, though predictable, brought about the unraveling of his presidency. These essays examine the establishment of the Great Society and its programs, the Johnson administration civil rights program and Supreme Court appointments, and the impact of the Vietnam War on the Great Society and the nation's economic health. Introductory and concluding remarks are provided by Tom Wicker and Bill Moyers to complete a unique and fascinating compilation.

BERNARD J. FIRESTONE is Associate Professor of Political Science at Hofstra University. He is the author ofThe Quest for Nuclear Stabilityand is currently writing a book on the United Nations under U Thant.

ROBERT C. VOGT is Associate Professor of Political Science and Dean of the Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

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