Johnson’s Achievements

Re “LBJ’s Achievements Dimmed by His Nature,” Commentary, April 1: Robert Dallek says that LBJ “privately helped Richard Nixon” in the 1968 election when Hubert Humphrey was the Democratic nominee. Absolutely, totally false. I say that because I was there. In early October 1968, President Johnson called me and said: “I’m not going to let Nixon win Texas in this election.” (No Democratic candidate had ever won a presidential election without carrying Texas.) He went on to say: “You get in touch with Hofheinz (Judge Roy Hofheinz was the owner of the Houston Astrodome) and tell him I want to come to his place about a week before the election for a big rally for Humphrey.”

I did as I was told and in late October, LBJ stood before a jubilant crowd of some 50,000 in the Houston Astrodome to make a rousing, roaring speech for Humphrey. Humphrey carried Texas.

Dallek complains that LBJ “secretly tried to suppress media criticism of the Vietnam War.” But Dallek doesn’t illuminate a central fact: Vietnam was the first and only war where there was no press censorship! World War II, Korea, Grenada, Desert Storm, all were under stringent press controls. Of course, LBJ found press criticism uncongenial. All presidents do. But he never imposed censorship, though a number of his advisors urged to do just that.

Dallek says Johnson “secretly tried to arrange a draft for himself at the 1968 Chicago convention.” This is a weary old canard with no support. I was in constant touch with the president during the weeks preceding and during the convention. Unless Dallek has a tape recording or video, I doubt seriously his evidence will hold up.

His conclusion that Johnson was a “failed president” has the ragged timbre of an uncertain trumpet. I suggest that Dallek ponder the words of Ralph Ellison, who said to LBJ: “Because of Vietnam you will just have to settle for being the greatest American president ever for the undereducated young, the poor and the old, the sick and the black. But, Mr. President, that’s not a bad epitaph.” Not bad at all.

JACK VALENTI

Washington

* After reading writings by Dallek and others trying to explain or shine up LBJ’s image, I wonder why more attention is not paid to LBJ as the creator of the Vietnam War. One can get a chilling feeling about this dubious leader and his real concern for the people of this nation by listening to his voice and that of Sen. Richard Russell of Georgia. LBJ in essence states he has to go ahead with the military buildup and tough war talk to maintain his public image. The tape recording was made in the autumn of 1964 by LBJ and is on file at his library.

ARTHUR G. SHADFORTH

Merritt Island, Fla.