Part 3 Chapter 17 Summary

In 1951 LBJ was already making no secret of his ambition for the White House and held no false hope that the job of Whip was anything but a "nothing job." His challenge was to make something out of nothing. When Congress came into session, Truman flaunted his intention to reinforce U.S. forces in Europe by four divisions, without consulting the Senate. Republican Leader Taft claimed that this was unconstitutional usurpation; Tom Connally, backed by General Dwight D. Eisenhower, contended that it was Truman's prerogative as commander-in-chief and vitally necessary for the defense of Western Europe. The "sense of Congress" was merely that Truman ought to consult them next time the U.S. moved abroad.

The eighty-first Congress, busily investigating the Administration and hunting communists, had little time to consider Fair Deal legislation and the American people were losing faith in...