Lyndon B. Johnson: A Memoir

by George Reedy

The long-time Johnson aide and former presidential press secretary paints an incisive portrait of the two faces of Lyndon Johnson--the brilliant, inspiring political leader and the boorish, egotistical personality

Genres: Politics, History, American History

159 pages, Hardcover

First published December 31, 1982

Reviews

[Brian]

I am an inveterate reader about Lyndon Johnson, in part because of my job but more so because of the subject, an immensely complex and "colossal" American character. Reedy, who knew his boss well, provides an invaluable, albeit acutely prejudiced, as Reedy takes pains to admit. But the composite portrait is an important one, with all the requisite warts truth demands. The respect he had outlasts the anger and hurt, and one imagines George must have found himself too often on the receiving end of LBJ's irrepressible cruelty.

I strongly recommend the work to anyone interested in this outsized man.

[Erin Wanek]

“He had never, in his entire life, learned to confess error, and this quality - merely amusing or exasperating in a private person - resulted in cosmic tragedy for a president.”

[Gregory Gentry]

Fascinating and uniquely personal insight to one of the most interesting presidents. Reedy is harsh but fair, and he writes about Johnson from personal experience, putting many things about Johnson's psyche, faults, and strengths into a very intimate and understandable perspective. Absolutely kick ass memoir