Oral history transcript, Kenneth E. BeLieu, interview 1 (I), 10/11/1984, by Michael L. Gillette

Belieu's work with the Armed Services Committee in the mid-1950s; a bill LBJ requested to transfer the San Jacinto Army Ordnance Arsenal from the federal government to the state of Texas; how Belieu came to lead both the Senate Space Committee and the Preparedness Investigating Subcommittee; the power structure within the Senate in the 1950s; Senator Richard Russell's relationship with LBJ; Belieu's work as LBJ's chief of staff; LBJ's reluctance to fire staff members; LBJ's presidential aspirations; LBJ wearing contact lenses; LBJ becoming vice president and Belieu going to work for John Connally; Belieu's reaction to LBJ's temper; LBJ's attempts to manipulate Sarah McLendon through Belieu; Sam Houston Johnson's relationship with LBJ; the influence of LBJ and other senators on which military bases would close; Belieu's involvement with natural gas and Francis Case; problems relating to the Suez Canal; Ralph Zwicker's promotion and the Army-McCarthy hearings; U.S. interest in space prior to Sputnik in 1957; concerns about Russian scientific advances.