Oral history transcript, William A. Reynolds, interview 1 (I), 7/26/1978, by Michael L. Gillette

How Reynolds came to work for Senator Robert Kerr in 1953; LBJ's relationship with Kerr and Richard Russell, especially regarding civil rights; cooperation and leadership among Russell, Kerr, and LBJ and why they were successful; Senator Robert Taft's death and resulting changes in Congress; George Malone's reputation in the Senate; Senator Patrick McCarran's power in Nevada; LBJ's techniques for passing legislation and persuasion; LBJ pressuring Kerr to get Medicare legislation passed; cooperation among powerful senators; tension between Ezra Taft Benson, Kerr, and other senators regarding farm legislation and agriculture; LBJ's personality and treatment of employees; Carl Hayden and controversy surrounding plans to extend part of the Capitol; Reynolds, Kerr, Bobby Baker and Carl Hayden and their involvement with JFK's tax proposal relating to savings and loan money; Kerr's use of power; Kerr's involvement with the Arkansas River Project and his interest in "Land, Wood and Water" conservation; the formation of the Space Committee; the decision to build the Space Center in Houston; the Kerr-Mills Bill; billboard legislation; natural gas legislation; Kerr's relationship with the oil industry; Senator Jennings Randolph, Kerr and the Medicare bill; Kerr's involvement in hiring an assistant for Jim Webb of NASA; the Bricker Amendment; Harry Byrd's work on the Finance Committee; Kerr's meeting with the head of DuPont, Crawford Greenewalt; Kerr's opinions on Social Security and Medicare; LBJ's 1955 heart attack; LBJ and Kerr's dealings with Senator Joseph McCarthy; Reynolds' post-presidential visit to the LBJ Ranch with Bill Kerr; Eisenhower's responsibility for U.S. involvement in Vietnam; LBJ as vice president.