Part 4 Chapter 24 Summary

In the 1954 election, Democrats regained control of the House and came within one vote of controlling the Senate. Independent Wayne Morse had been feuding with LBJ, but sided with the Democrats in order to receive a seat on the Foreign Relations Committee through LBJ's intercessions. LBJ threw in a seat on Banking and Currency for good measure and was re-elected by acclamation as party leader. His two years as Minority Leader had infiltrated him into the internal workings of committees. No longer would he have to limit himself to monitoring and suggesting, mediating and unifying, bargaining and redacting.

Now, as Majority Leader, LBJ could dictate scheduling and often content. LBJ alone saw the big picture of the Senate, the alliances and trade-offs, the promises and threats, being made. He alone knew all the threads of committee work and how they were...