Doris Kearns Goodwin on Obama's 'Johnson Moment'

[babylonsister]

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-07-20/doris-kearns-goodwin-on-obamas-johnson-moment/?cid=bsa:featureline


Doris Kearns Goodwin on Obama's 'Johnson Moment'
by The Daily Beast

As Barack Obama aims to turn his presidency from the bully pulpit to bullying Congress on health care, White House aides have found in President Lyndon Baines Johnson the historical example of how a president should behave. Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, who served as a White House fellow during the Johnson administration and assisted LBJ with his memoirs, tells The Daily Beast that Obama will need to find his "Johnson moment."


Goodwin writes via e-mail:

{Johnson} often said that Congress had to be with you on the takeoff so they'd be with you on the landing. That philosophy Obama followed in giving Congress a leadership role in drafting the health care bill. After the debacle of the Clinton administration's secret task force it made double sense. And add to that the understanding that Democrats on the Hill have been waiting for years for their moment in the sun.

LBJ also understood that the president was the ultimate weapon and thus had to be held in reserve until the moment was right, but this is the critical moment we are at today. This is the moment, LBJ would suggest, when the president has to take charge, to draw lines, to pressure, to threaten, to cajole, to exert every resource of leadership he has—to put pressure on wavering Democrats to make it clear that losing health care will be a huge blow not only to him but to all Democrats who were brought into office on the promise of big change, and particularly on health care.

LBJ used to have big charts where he could know which congressman or senator he needed to call at every instant. He would then invite them to breakfast, cocktails, call them at any hour of the day or night. He called one senator at 3 a.m. and said to the senator, 'I hope I didn't wake you up,' and the senator replied, 'Oh no, I was just lying here hoping my president would call.' So this is the moment for Obama to mobilize his troops in the field, to play hard ball, to do whatever it takes to get a bill passed. LBJ once said it was fine if final votes were razor thin, even with big majorities in the Congress, for that meant he had secured the maximum provisions he wanted, rather than compromising too early and too much.

[Captain Hilts]

1. This is good. nt

[Skink]

2. This is good but they are only in Washington Tues to Thurs.

And most of that time is spent playing video games.

[Auggie]

3. Recommended

[phantom power]

4. Obama is tantalizingly close to getting this.

If he can fully tap into his inner LBJ, big things might happen.

[xxqqqzme]

5. We seem to have that compromise

thing down to an exact science. Time to rise up from that submissive position and start kicking butt. The country is waiting for the donkey that roared. Let's hear some noise.

[babylonsister]

9. I heard a roar yesterday, from Obama and Gibbs. I think

they're going to keep up the pressure this week.

[TexasObserver]

6. Recommend

[Demeter]

7. Johnson Was a Political Genius and He Worked Very Hard

Fortunately, he was on our side.

[grantcart]

8. Glad it wasn't referring to Johnson's famous moments in the john lol

[cliffordu]

10. Right to the bathroom humor, eh, GC???

My mother in law would be sooooo proud.

[Orsino]

13. I was afraid this was another reference to Obama's jeans.

:wow:

[girl gone mad]

11. If true, this is a big improvement.

To paraphrase our newest Senator, Obama is good enough, he's smart enough and, doggoneit, people love him. He doesn't need to waste anymore time trying to win congress over through submission.

[depakid]

12. LBJ had a LOT more experience at this- and wasn't shy about retaliating

Completely different kind of guy than Obama.

[Shanti Mama]

15. Completely different, yes, but

I don't think Obama will by shy about letting folks know what might be in store for them if they don't cooperate. I don't think his retaliation will as mean as LBJ. he is ALL CLASS which does not mean he's weak or unable to be extremely assertive. This is his game now. His opportunity to make history (again) and he will do so.

[gauguin57]

14. I was saying this exact thing (in different words) to my friends the other day.

Obama has to get on the phone, and get people from his administration to cajole members of Congress to work toward health-care reform. I was saying to my friends, "Remember how, on the 'West Wing,' Josh and Toby and others used to go up to the hill or walk around Washington or go to lunch with congresspeople and wheel and deal to get their agenda passed?"

I assume Obama and members of his admin. ARE doing this. But whatever they're doing ... they need to do more.