Oral history transcript, Lawrence F. O'Brien, interview 11 (XI), 7/24/1986, by Michael L. Gillette

Title:

Oral history transcript, Lawrence F. O'Brien, interview 11 (XI), 7/24/1986, by Michael L. Gillette

Number of Pages:

76

Description:

Optimism in the LBJ Administration going into the 89th Congress in 1964 with a large Democratic majority; Medicare and education as legislative priorities; the powerful alliance of Republicans and southern Democrats; O'Brien's awareness of elected officials' desire to protect their careers; the relationship between the White House and Congress; head counts and developing relationships with members of Congress whose support is needed; how the approach to passing legislation changed from 1961 to 1965; Republican members of Congress who supported LBJ's programs or were courteous in their opposition; the differences between Charles Halleck and Gerald Ford as House minority leaders; Republican leaders in Congress; Russell Long as Senate majority whip compared to Hubert Humphrey; Long's objection to changing the membership of the Senate Finance Committee; Mendel Rivers succeeding Carl Vinson as chair of the House Armed Services Committee; changes in the House Rules Committee; the addition of three Democrats to the House Ways and Means Committee; Dave Powers', Kenneth O'Donnell's, and O'Brien's decision to resign after the 1964 election; LBJ and O'Brien agreeing that O'Brien would stay until the end of the first session of the 89th Congress; LBJ's relationship with Powers, O'Donnell, and O'Brien and their career plans after leaving the White House; opposition to Medicare, especially from the American Medical Association (AMA); how the public mindset has changed regarding Social Security and Medicare; the Bob Kerr-Wilbur Mills alternative to Medicare; Mills' changing views of Medicare legislation; LBJ's surprise meeting with Harry Byrd, Sr., regarding Medicare and the televised results of the meeting; Russell Long misusing William Fulbright's and Albert Gore, Sr.'s proxy votes; the stance of various members of Congress on Medicare; Wilbur Mills' Medicare provision regarding charges for medical care; LBJ's and O'Brien's relationship with Mills; a failed White House party planned to thank the Congress for their legislative record; LBJ's caution in taking any credit for legislative success; the Medicare signing ceremony at the Truman Library in Independence, Missouri; O'Brien's role in the passage of the Medicare bill, the Voting Rights Act; the effect of public demonstrations like the one in Selma on the Voting Rights Act; LBJ's support for voting rights; the negative effect of American media coverage on public perception of U.S. involvement in Vietnam; O'Brien's concerns over television news presentation of events; James Eastland's charge that the Voting Rights bill had been drafted to exclude Texas; controversy surrounding whether or not to include a poll tax ban; D.C. home rule and the related discharge petition in the House; proposed elementary and secondary education legislation under JFK; O'Brien's work with congressional relations people and representatives from the National Education Association (NEA) and National Catholic Welfare Conference (NCWC) in developing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act; Adam Clayton Powell's character and delay of education legislation; the urgency in getting education legislation passed without amendments; the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) signing ceremony at a one-room schoolhouse near Stonewall, Texas.

Contributor:

O'Brien, Lawrence F. (Lawrence Francis), 1917-1990

Collection:

LBJ Library Oral Histories

Collection Description:

Go to List of Holdings

Series:

Transcripts of LBJ Library Oral Histories

See Also:

See all online interviews with Lawrence F. O'Brien

Relation:

Go to Interviewee bio page

Rights:

Possibly copyright restricted: see deed at end of transcript for details