Chapter 7, The Transition Year Summary and Analysis

In November, 1963, President Kennedy was assassinated in Johnson's home state. Because of the circumstances of his rise to the presidency, Johnson himself felt "illegitimate", a usurper of the office. The National Democratic Convention was eight months down the road and Johnson had to somehow convince his fellow Democrats and a grieving nation that he was presidential material.

Fortunately, the national government is a self-sustaining system no matter what the crisis. The "wheels" of government continued, and the day-to-day work got done. Johnson's task was to calm the public chaos and assuage the fear and uncertainty. His performance was stellar, and within four months he had affected a dignified transfer of power. His first address was to a joint session of Congress where, in Kennedy's name, he urged passage of the Civil Rights Bill that had...