what happened is the nonessential pile grew. tons and tons of letters were never opened. she is saying, i it was really access. she would go to the president and ask him to say, what would you think of this, and if he could respond, he would respond. she had a little table set up outside his bedroom where she would meet with the cabinet members and conduct business there. appointment had to be made, bills have to be acted on or not. it is sort of a hodgepodge of things that she was trying to do as best she could. can watch the entire program sunday at 8:00 p.m. and midnight eastern on "the presidency." american history tv, only on c-span tv -- on c-span3. up next, on american history

america," a film of the activities on president johnson to the final months of 1966. lbj meets with mexico's president at a cooperative dam project on the border. he liked the white house christmas tree, negotiates a proposed tax increase, and celebrates the holidays with his at his texas ranch. the white house naval photographic unit shot the film which is now archived at the lbj presidential library. >> winter into the hill people of west texas is mostly wind and dust. it is a time when the land is at its harshest. the once green pastor is brown and dormant. the streams and the ponds are low.

this time of year, a particular -- in particular in an election off your, has been a time of trouble for candidates, especially when it follows a presidential election. two major documents must be laid before the congress, the forthcoming federal budget statement and the state of the union address. this responsibility alone would be awesome enough, but coupled with a vietnam conflict that must be continually explained to the american people, the trouble of the economy, and an upcoming -- and he divided congress, this created something that is not a -- not always pleasant. the future of the great society programs that swept the country. the summit had not yet been reached. a cautious congress, budget comebacks -- budget cutbacks created evidence that this crusade against society's greatest enemies may be slowed,

or worse, may level off and fade. facedfinished task that lyndon johnson on the first of december, 1966. ♪ >> they flew in regularly throughout the month of december. in the past, on trips like these, a briefcase was all that was needed. now, overnight bags and suitcases were in order. they were summoned by the president to help in the shaping of the nation's economic, social, and political destiny. profits, staffers, specialized assistance, bothltants, experts from private and public walks of life

whose opinion the president values. each would have the chance to suggest, report, advise, and recommend. each brings facts and opinions and the sum total goes on the scale. only then can the president make the final decision. one of the toughest problems was the question of the tax increase. bringionary fires and income and outlay more in line. some said it may promote a recession. the president would have to evaluate the nation's core structure and, in the light of intelligence estimates, consider it a $30 million antimissile system would be justified.

with the war in vietnam costing more than anticipated a year ago, there were needs for cuts at home. as the president saw ways to squeeze the water out of the budget, he could not neglect to the needs of the cities, the education of the children, and the reduction of poverty. the problems were not simple once and each, whether relating to the war, domestic spending, national security, or the shaping of the country's future, each had to be considered not alone but only as one part of the greater picture. an outsider could only guess where the answers would be. it was clear that when the answers came, they would reflect hours, days, and weeks of questions and debate on each topic. 3, therday, december president took a break from his busy schedule apparatus -- busy schedule act the ranch. accompanied by mrs. johnson, the secretary of state, and the

ambassador, he paid a visit to a small rivertown across the rio grande. the president of mexico and his their american visitors on a bridge spanning the river that separates the two countries. it is a small town but its role in hemispheric relations is a big one. it is here that the united states and mexico are building dam.mistad for friendship when completed in 1969, will help prevent the floods that in the past have ravaged both sides of the border. it will support a broad base for andoelectric power recreational waters to be shared by both countries. >> last april, we paid homage to a hero. today, we meet here on the front

-- only frontier to inspect a monument to the future. the work around us tells us the back story of what two people's working together can accomplish. united see mexican and states laborers working side-by-side directing the country structures -- the concrete structures. what we are accomplishing sense a pattern which i hope will be increasingly repeated by neighboring countries throughout this hemisphere. announcer: at every opportunity afforded them, the president tried to nail down his advisers the economy inf general. if they received no answers, it was largely their own fall.

it was clear that little or no definitive information would be released until the final figures were on the table. in spite of high interest rates and tight money, the economy was healthy and strong. if the president needed to be , he turned- reminded the trick by some texas style austerity.

♪ >> some of the oldest words never seem to grow old. are these. gallantry and beyond the call of duty. o'malley ago, sergeant did more than fight for honor. in a place of great danger, he ignored danger. wounded, he refused to consider his own safety. at the risk of his own life, he shielded other men's lives.

today, i will give him the highest medal his nation can offer. i can think of only one gift sufficient to honor men like this. this man and every man who wears a uniform that their cause is a good cause. that the principles they stand for our sound principles. that the battle they are bravery.deserves their as the nation pays homage to new wartime heroes, she also works incessantly behind-the-scenes to prevent a very complex that pave the way for such heroism. came to lightork

on december 8 when, from the texas white house, the president announced that an agreement had been reached on the outer space treaty. a resolution he himself had initiated in 1966. the successful completion of the genesis -- of the program and that the more landing would soon become a reality. when ratified by all member nations, the treaty will indeed represent an historical meyer's milestone inical the end list story -- the endless story of man's attempt on both earth and beyond. on december 9, the first family returned to washington. a new round of presidential attacks, some in the national

spotlight and some can only be carried out in the cabinet room. ♪ narrator: the president and mrs. johnson opened the white house social season with a gala dinner .

the council brought into being by president johnson in 1964 as a broad mandate from congress to encourage the development of the arts throughout the country. council's ranks are filled with some of the most distinguished names to be found among the creative professions. the president's responsibilities are incredibly diverse, and this was never more in evidence than on december 15. he unveiled the model of the united states exhibit to this year's worlds fair, the canadian expo. architect fuller and the canadian ambassador were on hand to fill in the president with the details of the exhibit into

presented with an honorary passport to the exhibition. the worlds fair has symbolized the technological achievements. these come with problems? no world is now entering the last third of the 20th century. realizing problems will only get more complex, the president called for the creation of an international center, a former nations could examine and together find solutions to the problems common to all. on the same day, he discussed the details of the christmas truce in phenol with the ambassador to the united nations, arthur goldberg. later, he welcomed ambassador -- ambassador lodge. >> there is no doubt in my mind

that history will record that president johnson's decision in 1965 on u.s. troops was an historic decision. the story for us, historic for everybody. the edge of east asia has been ing,ed to the expense of pek and this would surely not have happened if we had been driven out of vietnam or if we had abandoned the. -- abandoned vietnam. narrator: two weeks earlier, the moved states agreed to allegations in budapest to embassy level. the united states may very well

see the last of the ministers. in our earlier days, the united states was not sending ambassadors abroad, she was too small and relatively unimportant. this is not shared by america today as all nations are considered important and their ambassadors are received in the traditional time-honored ceremony. ♪ narrator: the president concluded his official day with washington annual holiday ritual.

>> tonight, even as we speak, american men are fighting in a strange land a half a world away. , at this time, there are signs of hope and in the united states, we have made progress in human rights in the past six years, more than we have made in all of the previous 100 years. nation is the world, joining nation in a common lotrt to try to improve the

of man. let us here tonight dedicate this christmas tree with hope , and let usnfidence rededicate ourselves to the principles of our bill of rights , to give life to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of , into the way of peace. ♪ narrator: moments later, the first family returned to the white house to preside over the christmas party for the staff.

the antics of the baja marimba ensure an unforgettable evening at 1600 pennsylvania avenue. his midmonth completed, the president would aboard air force one and head back to texas for his own holiday and continued work on the budget.

♪ narrator: at a christmas bake sale in johnson city park, the president enjoy holiday delicacies texas style. ofkled okra and the rarest hill country appetite teasers. johnson city is borrowed from the pomp and circumstance of washington and yet, in its own way, the people in the town are more representative of america then the nations capital. this is why the president and mrs. johnson entertain international visitors at the ranch.

the rest of the world can see what america is all about. as lyndon johnson frequently remarks, it is the sort of place that they love you while you are alive, they take care of you while you are sick, and they miss you when you are dead. the johnsons are an integral part of the community and their presence is felt for reasons pride.han international sales.ociation ♪ mrs. johnson plays an active part in local civic work. although it is sometimes difficult for them to completely stepped out of the spotlight even in rural texas, moments

like these are a refreshing change of pace from the glittering formality of washington. ♪ ♪

narrator: it was largely partisan politics, but the rumblings from earlier in the month were largely amplified. as leader of the democratic party and longtime advocate of the principle that frank and open discussions can lead to a meeting of the minds among reasonable men, president johnson invited the democratic governors to the ranch to speak their minds and clear the air. of the 18 man group, nine accepted the invitation. their spokesman was governor hughes of iowa. >> the president gave us every opportunity to discuss every point that was made during the discussion at white sulfur springs. the communication was open and that hend the problems felt existed, he was given the opportunity to present them. i think a meeting as such clears the air for all of us as governors and also gave the

president an opportunity to address his views to us in open areas of discussion. clearhink he has made it that some people paid to prevent them. i think we all have the same overall objective. people at different levels in the city, the state, the federal government do have different haveaches and we democrats never been known for suppressing our differences. we have always found you people willing partners to cooperate. the president's burdens in the month of december were not likened by the resignation of his press secretary. hence he take -- since taking over the job in 1965, he had won the trust of the press corps. a tireless worker totally

dedicated to the president and the details of his job, he became one of the top policy advisers in the white house. he was not only a buffer between the chief executive and the press, work directly on many legislative matters, made foreign policy trips, and helped draft the state of the union message. on the day before christmas, the president, mrs. johnson, and daughter linda flew to kelly air force base. combat -- wereor wounded combat veterans from vietnam headed to a hospital in the san antonio area. the president took the opportunity to wish everyone a merry christmas.

pres. johnson: we can assure every man who wears our uniform that their cause is a good cause , that the principles they stand for our sound principles. that the battle they are fighting deserves their bravery. which deserves not only the bravery of our soldiers but the patients and the citizens of all of our . in far outweighs the reluctance who let others protect

them. on christmas eve, it was apparent that the defense -- nters would still dissent, the war would go on, and to tax issues would still be up in the air. for the moment, these issues would be put aside as the president and his family tried to celebrate his most joyous holiday. ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪ timeout oft became a war, a 48 hour rest bite -- 48 fightingite where the would, for the most part, stop. one of the most energetic piece of offenses in history but it

had encompassed nothing, the year before. this year, the united states commitment to seek and honorable and lasting and to the war. -- and to the war. andurn to you with the hope request you will take whatever steps necessary to bring about discussions that would lead to a cease-fire. i can assure you that united states of america will cooperate fully with getting such discussions started promptly and bringing them to a conclusion." bore fruit, itt would not be known until 1966. when it expired, the guns of vietnam would once again seek out there targets.

[explosions] saturday, december 31, the president held a press conference. his biggest regret was his administration's failure to bring peace to the world. a time ofering transition in foreign affairs and on the domestic front. in europe, overtures were making -- being made towards countries resistant. progress between the united states and soviet union. the budget.es on but during 1960 seven, the president would continue to devote all of his energy to the strengthening of his people. the great society had enjoyed a magnificent beginning but there was still a long road ahead before a summit would be reached.

programs may have to undergo change, goals may need to be reshaped, but in this time of transition, the country would move ahead in a constant direction upwards. ♪ announcer: interested in american history tv? website, c-span.org\history, where you can find more. ♪ >> next week, washington journal will evoke the entire program each day to the key issues facing the trump administration and congress. we will take a look at national security and defense issues, including problems facing donald trump's national security team

in the year ahead and we will take a look at the defense secretary nominee james madoff. and we will look at current trade laws. on wednesday, december 28, our topic is an urging and environmental policy. we will discuss how energy and climate might be impacted by the incoming congress and the trump administration. then on thursday will talk about how the new congress might change immigration politics and on friday, december 30, we'll take a look at the future of the affordable care act and how the repeal and replace will work and the key players. the sure to watch beginning at 7:00 a.m. eastern. announcer: next week on c-span and prime time, monday night at 8:00 p.m. eastern, hear from

some of the democrats vying to lead the party. >> you know that in 2014 we had a 70-year low in voter turnout? the democratic caucus is smaller than any time in history. in the last election, we had a 20-year low. we have a lot of rebuilding to do. announcer: tuesday night at 8:00 p.m., barack obama and the japanese prime minister visit the site of the attack that launched u.s. involvement in world war ii. wednesday night beginning at 8:00 p.m., a review of house hearings from 2016 including on topics like the flint michigan water crisis. and the wells fargo unauthorized

accounts. fired thousands of employees for improper behavior in cheated thousands of customers and you did not even once considered firing her ahead of her retirement? announcer: and we remember some of the political figures who passed away a including former first lady nancy reagan and chief justice william scully up. and mohammed ali, former senator and astronaut john glenn. friday night, on prime time, on c-span. >> next, we visit the national world war ii museum in new orleans from a program and titled "1946 and the origins of the cold war," the origins of