Oral history transcript, Robert D. S. Novak, interview 1 (I), 11/15/1971, by Paige E. Mulhollan

Career history; Novak's private meetings with LBJ; economic advisor Paul Douglas; LBJ drunk; Sam Shaffer and Newsweek; press coverage of the senate vs. the presidency; LBJ's attitude during the vice-presidency; Kennedy staff's disregard for LBJ; Novak's marriage to an LBJ secretary; poor press coverage for vice presidents; Novak's difficulty speaking with LBJ while preparing his book (Lyndon B. Johnson, An Exercise in Power); LBJ's attempts to limit distribution of Novak's column and book; LBJ's presidential press coverage; the effect of the Vietnam War on LBJ's presidency; the credibility gap; The Vantage Point; LBJ's press secretaries--George Christian, Bill Moyers; the fact that the press prints less than it knows; how Novak came to write his book; Bob Strauss; Novak's ability to separate his friendship from his ability to write critically about politicians.