Progressive: Did Lyndon Johnson really say this?

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Thursday, January 30. 2014

Progressive: Did Lyndon Johnson really say this?

"I'll have the niggers voting Democratic for the next 200 years."

President Lyndon Johnson

Real, or apocryphal?

Posted by The News Junkie in History at 13:15 | Comments (24) | Trackbacks (0)

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I've just spent some time googling this quote and haven't found a primary source for it, the best I found was that it was said to two unidentified governors aboard Air Force One on an unknown date before an unknown audience and unknown soruce.

Does anyone have a primary source?

Because if not, the quote is a vile ad hominem and far below the standards we conservatives should strive for.

#1 wirraway on 2014-01-30 14:08 (Reply)

I think it came from a tape recorded phone call. I remember hearing something like this maybe 25 years ago.

#1.1 feeblemind on 2014-01-30 14:18 (Reply)

I suggest the gravity of the accusation warrants more than an anecdote -- and a different one from the AF1 anecdote -- in support.

#1.1.1 wirraway on 2014-01-30 14:20 (Reply)

While not the quote in question, here is one where he uses the so-called 'N' word.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1rIDmDWSms

There may be more if a guy wants to rummage through youtube.

#1.1.1.1 feeblemind on 2014-01-30 14:51 (Reply)

Didn't LBJ usually pronounce it "nigras"? I've heard tape of him saying that in a number of contexts.

#2 forest on 2014-01-30 14:34 (Reply)

I'm no LBJ fan, but I spent much time in Texas and surrounding states where " niggrah" (however spelled) referred to people with certain skin, facial and hair characteristics. "Passing for white" was an economy unto itself.

#2.1 jma on 2014-01-30 23:53 (Reply)

Apparently, it isn't out of character for LBJ

QUOTE:

I had never heard the above quote from Ronald Kessler's book, Inside the White House before but my father had told me about LBJ's terrible mouth and frightful personality.

Here's a quote from 1957 when he was a Senator:

QUOTE:

"These Negroes, they're getting pretty uppity these days and that's a problem for us since they've got something now they never had before, the political pull to back up their uppityness. Now we've got to do something about this, we've got to give them a little something, just enough to quiet them down, not enough to make a difference. For if we don't move at all, then their allies will line up against us and there'll be no way of stopping them, we'll lose the filibuster and there'll be no way of putting a brake on all sorts of wild legislation. It'll be Reconstruction all over again."

#3 JKB on 2014-01-30 14:38 (Reply)

I've seen the "uppity" quote, often in the same article or blog as the original post quote. same problem, no primary source attribution. this quote was so bad that even wikipedia has removed it pending better sources.

our standards as conservatives shouldn't fall to libtard levels of scholarship. we don't need to make up quotes like this to win arguments.

#3.1 wirraway on 2014-01-30 14:56 (Reply)

Apparently, the original quote in question is from Ronald Kessler's book. I don't have that book to check. I did see a complaint that his book has a lot of unnamed sources so this may be the same.

But it does have a published reference written by a known Washington journalist/writer. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Kessler

Apparently, the uppity quote is cited to Kessler's book as well.

#3.1.1 JKB on 2014-01-30 15:55 (Reply)

thanks for checking.

I don't see either quote as adequately sourced and their use is intellectually dishonest and an embarrassment to conservatives.

#3.1.1.1 wirraway on 2014-01-30 16:15 (Reply)

I don;t have time to research it, but it sure sounds like him - and like his attitude.

Maybe somebody else can source it for us.

#4 BD on 2014-01-30 15:05 (Reply)

He was right.

#5 NJSoldier on 2014-01-30 15:36 (Reply)

Fake, perhaps -- but as voting history indicates, accurate.

#6 Ralph of New London (Link) on 2014-01-30 16:05 (Reply)

so the general sense here is that its OK to fake quotes, so long as what, they confirm something you want to believe about the person?

#7 wirraway on 2014-01-30 18:48 (Reply)

You are more than likely correct here, not only on the quote but on the use of it as well. Still, the sad fact remains that the past fifty years, and certainly the present moment, have shown the prescience of such a non-existent quote, even if conjured out of thin air its conclusions have become fact.

#7.1 XRay on 2014-01-30 20:49 (Reply)

everyone has different standards when it comes to ethical debate.

in my business, I'd fire anyone who faked a quote, no excuses.

#7.1.1 wirraway on 2014-01-30 21:25 (Reply)

Fine, no disagreement. Though that wasn't my point.

#7.1.1.1 XRay on 2014-01-30 21:45 (Reply)

Seems to be a matter of evidence, and your assertion has none, witless...

#7.2 Jess1 on 2014-01-31 09:46 (Reply)

If it was good enough for Dan Rather. . . . [/sarc]

#7.3 Jim on 2014-01-31 18:04 (Reply)

There is no evidence that these very specific quotes are fake. They apparently appeared in a bit of a gossip book about the true nature of several recent presidents. Until we see the book, there is no basis to know the original source. They are not out of character for LBJ.

#8 JKB on 2014-01-30 23:23 (Reply)

not good enough. you propose the quote, you adequately source it, especially when it is laced with racist invective.

the burden of proof is yours.

#8.1 wirraway on 2014-01-31 10:58 (Reply)

Eisenhower proposed a civil rights act while president. It was opposed by Democrats in the Senate - Lyndon Johnson was Majority Leader. So, the quote sounds in character for someone who saw racial groups as political pawns.

#9 Juan Paxety (Link) on 2014-01-31 19:34 (Reply)

"… for someone who saw racial groups as political pawns"?

Why limit it so?

"For those who see racial [and other 'identity'] groups as political pawns" is just as apt.

Is it not?

#9.1 Ralph of New London (Link) on 2014-01-31 21:17 (Reply)

Reminds me of a tribute show to James Cagney I saw.

Jimmy got up at the end and said,"I want to take this opportunity to correct a misunderstanding that has gone on for far too long. I NEVER said, You dirty rat! What I did say was, Judy!, Judy!, Judy!"

#10 John the River (Link) on 2014-02-01 12:00 (Reply)

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Thursday, January 30. 2014

Progressive: Did Lyndon Johnson really say this?