Oral history transcript, Harry C. McPherson, interview 1 (I), 12/5/1968, by T.H. Baker

Biographical information; implication of Joe McCarthy era prompted him into law and public services; Democratic Policy Committee; General Counsel; calendar calls; LBJ’s degrees of interest in legislation; 1946 Legislative Reorganization Act; 1957 Civil Rights Bill; LBJ’s 1964 campaign speech in New Orleans; Johnson treatment; immense capacity to judge people; Johnson-Rayburn relationship; first signs of Presidential ambition; LBJ’s relationship with oil and gas industries; relationship with Eisenhower Administration; self analysis; leader of an opposition on the staff; censure resolution; HHH; Richard Russell; HR 3; LBJ’s relationship with Kerr and JFK; contempt for some Senators and close friends in the Senate; LBJ singled out protégés; LBJ’s acceptance of the Vice Presidency; John Williams of Delaware; Mike Mansfield; LBJ’s visit to Senate Democratic cloakroom as VP; VP years; LBJ’s relationship with RFK; Bobby Baker; JFK assassination; Jim Rowe; LBJ’s interests; change in LBJ’s attitude; Panamanian crisis; confirmation hearings; McClellan; Rooney; Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.