Part 6 Chapter 43 Summary

Caro proclaims that he intends to deal with LBJ's campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1960 and his decision to accept second place on the ticket when defeated, in the next volume of The Years of Lyndon Johnson. Only one item in LBJ's post-1960s career belongs in this volume.

Texas law was changed to allow LBJ to run simultaneously for vice president and for senator in 1960, but federal law required he resign from the Senate before his swearing in. LBJ wanted to keep real power in the Senate, rather than merely presiding over it in a ceremonial way. He saw no reason why he shouldn't be able to continue to chair the Democratic caucus. In December, he discussed this with select senators, but failed to gain the support he expected. LBJ convinced his Whip, Mike Mansfield, who would become Leader...