Part 6 Chapter 42 Summary

LBJ's next three years in the Senate were marked by a challenge to his style of leadership. The GOP lost badly in the 1958 elections and Democrats outnumbered them almost two to one in both houses. Most of the newly elected Democratic senators were liberals, eager to join the beleaguered liberals who were determined to stand up to LBJ. They demanded fuller representation on the Policy and Steering committees. Muskie and Proxmire were unwilling to kowtow. They refused to observe the traditional keep-quiet-and-learn period and delivered speeches early on and without invitation. Proxmire dared give a series of talks attacking the "one-man rule" in both houses of Congress and demanding more frequent party caucuses and more democratic committees. Political cartoonist Herblock depicted "King Lyndon" with the peasantry growing restless around him. LBJ dismissed the criticism as myth and deflection of blame. He...