A Review of Flawed Giant: Lyndon Johnson and His Times

Matthew Carpenter

HIST 2000: Sharon Simmons

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

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Lyndon Johnsons story begins in the southern state of Texas. He grew up as an orphan

and before he became Vice President he had a series of opportunities to climb the political

ladder. In Robert Dalleks Flawed Giant, the light of Johnsons life is told through the

authors use of political anecdotes and behind the scenes dialogues from President Johnson

himself. Overall, Robert Dallek describes Johnsons uncanny character and how it helped him to

achieve his accomplishments to shape a new America as the Great Society that Johnson dreamed

about.

Before becoming Vice President, Lyndon B. Johnson spent fifty two years climbing the

political ladder. He started as a secretary to a Texas congressman, then he became a Texas

congressman himself for twelve years, and later spent twelve years in the United States senate.1

Nevertheless, after all of the effort towards political gain left Johnson short of his goal in

obtaining the presidency. He was outmaneuvered by a younger more inexperienced man, John

F. Kennedy.

Once Johnson became Vice President, Dallek explains that Johnson is unhappy in his

dead end position and further explains how Kennedy managed to keep Johnson out of the loop

when it came to governmental decisions. Johnson yearned for power, but President Kennedy did

not want to allow Johnson any more power than that was allotted to the vice president by law.

Furthermore, Kennedy sent Johnson on global expeditions in order to keep his damn long face

away from the cabinet meetings.2

It is interesting that Dallek manages to describe Johnson as a force to be reckoned with,

yet as vice president he is only a shadow to the true puppeteer. Johnson attempts to retain his

1
Robert Dallek, Flawed Giant: Lyndon Johnson and His Times, 1961-1973. (New York: Oxford University Press,
1998), 5.
2
Dallek, Flawed Giant, 12.
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political influence under Kennedy, yet he realizes his position in the chain of command.

However, even though Johnson is blockaded by Kennedy at every turn, he manages to be the

best he can be at the opportunities presented to him. For instance, with the space program, he

had a series of factual space reports to the public on the work of NASA and his space

council.3 Johnson held so much pull in the space program that, even though it was unnecessary,

the command center was moved to Houston, TX, his home state.4

Later in the book, Johnson is described as a forgettable character. It explains how

Johnson felt misfortunate about his position in the Government. Johnson described his position

as filled with trips around the world, chauffeurs, men saluting, people clapping, chairmanships

of councils, but in the end, it is nothing.5 As a confident man who could take control of a room

just by stepping through the door, Johnson is described here as a depressed individual who hated

having to go through the motions of vice president. He wanted to change the world, he wanted

to end poverty, he wanted to help black people, and he ultimately wanted America to be what he

envisioned as The Great Society. How could this be accomplished if he was living in the

shadows and people were beginning to forget who he was?

On November 22, 1963, President Kennedy was assassinated during a visit to Dallas, TX

with Johnson in order to receive more support for the Democratic National Committee.6 In such

a tragic event, Johnson had now received his ultimate goal of the presidency. Johnsons

character as described by Dallek was very humble and respectable. He wanted to give

condolences and compassion to the Kennedy family, but he also did not want to leave a power

3
Ibid., 22.
4
Ibid., 22.
5
Ibid., 44.
6
Robert Dallek, Flawed Giant: Lyndon Johnson and His Times, 1961-1973. (New York: Oxford University Press,
1998), 48.
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vacuum in a nation who had just lost their beloved President. Johnson made sure that he did not

leave back to the White House without Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy and also made sure that Mrs.

Kennedy was present to endorse the transition of power by her presence.7 Johnsons

humbleness did not extend to Robert Kennedy upon returning to Maryland. He made a bitter

remark that Robert ran so that he would not have to pause and recognize the new President.8

This quote is surprising because it represented the insecurities of Johnson when it comes to the

power of the Kennedy family. Even though the family was grieving through a tragedy, Johnson

wanted it to be clear that he was now the one in power.

Lyndon Johnson took this new opportunity to accomplish his goals, yet he also changed

his perspective of John F. Kennedy. Once he was asked to put aside a bill to cut taxes by Florida

Senator George Smathers and he responded saying NO, no, I cant do that We cant abandon

this fellows program, because he is a national hero.9 Now whether this was his actual feelings

or if this was just his way of continuing Franklin Roosevelts New Deal is unclear, but Johnson

said that it was his responsibilities to take the dead mans program and turn it into a martyrs

cause.10 One would think that he was using the death of Kennedy to pass laws which helped

him to obtain his true goals of a better society.

As we all know in President Kennedys inaugural speech, he mentions that the torch has

been passed to a new generation of Americans. Johnsons speech to a college crowd of around

80,000 students shows just how much the Kennedy administration had influenced his vision. He

says that your generation has been appointed by history to lead America toward a new Age.

So, will you join the battle to give every citizen the full equality which God enjoins and the law

7
Dallek, Flawed Giant, 50.
8
Ibid., 50.
9
Ibid., 63.
10
Ibid., 63.
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requires, whatever his belief, or race, or color of his skin? Will you join in the battle to give

every citizen an escape from the crushing weight of poverty? Will you join in the battle to make

it possible for all nations to live in enduring peaceas neighbors and not as mortal enemies?

Will you join in the battle to build the Great Society?11 This quote alone from Johnsons speech

shows his intentions of creating a better America. Johnson wanted to end segregation, be at

peace with nations instead of in constant war, and he wanted to eliminate poverty.

Even though Johnson was trying to strive towards his Great Society, he had a huge hurdle

in his way, and that was the Vietnam War. It was interesting to me that Johnson wanted more

troops on the ground in the Vietnam War instead of using decisive air strikes to minimize

American sacrifice.12 Had Johnson not insisted on having more troops on the ground, the

outcome of the Vietnam War may have been completely different. As we know today, air strikes

are a modern advantage and a decisive way to handle foreign affairs with minimal United States

casualties. Had the amount of casualties in Vietnam been lower, maybe the American Public

would not have detested the war as much. In the end Johnson pulled out of the Vietnam War.

Robert Dalleks Flawed Giant: Johnson and His Times brings Johnsons character to

light. Dallek describes a man who can take control of a room just by walking through the door.

He also shows the intimidation factor that Johnson had in order to get things accomplished just

by overpowering his opponents. Before Kennedys assassination, Johnson felt invisible as he

had reached his dead end job as Vice President, after Kennedys assassination, Johnson true

color shined as the President of the United States. Ultimately, Flawed Giant describes how

even a great man can have flaws, yet be able to overcome his adversities to accomplish his goals.

11
Ibid., 82.
12
Robert Dallek, Flawed Giant: Lyndon Johnson and His Times, 1961-1973. (New York: Oxford University Press,
1998), 243.
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Works Cited

Dallek, Robert. 1998. Flawed Giant: Lyndon Johnson and His Times, 1961-1973. New York:

Oxford University Press.