many african americans blamed lyndon johnson and founded theories as to why lyndon johnson was likely involved in president kennedy's assassination because he appeared to have the most to gain. and letters came in to mrs. kennedy, condolence letters that would make this point. they should essentially say they believed lyndon johnson was involved in john kennedy's death. so this is the state of things when lyndon johnson becomes president. now, he does everything that he can in order to try to reassure black voters. e realizes that he needs to win them over because from the very beginning, lyndon johnson is well aware that the election is coming up one year from the moment, just under one year from the moment he's sworn in as president. so he's looking to build coalitions and to reassure liberals and african american voters. so he calls people like martin luther king, the southern christian leadership council, conference. he roy wilkins of the naacp to try to reassure folks. and he goes to congress five days after president kennedy's death and he tells congress and the nation and the w

he has always liked lyndon johnson. so, johnson tricks him. they asked him to come down to the lighthouse, for some meeting in the cabinet, and he doesn't tell harry byrd, the television cameras will be there. and, they turn for the cameras running, he turns to harry bird, and, says now, this is my version of the, quote is not exactly right. now, harry, when the bill comes over from the house, is there any reason why you can't start the hearings right away? it is being flustered and not that they know of, and they say, so, we will have the hearings right away, and they will be expeditious here mate, and harry byrd says, yes, in front of the television cameras. they not even angry about it, because he is so fond of lyndon johnson. reporters ask him what he thinks about it, and says, if i had known i would be on television, i would've worn a better suit. and, he holds the hearings, and johnson's relations with harry bird, are probably, summed up by what happens within the next year, and larry bird's wife dies. lyndon johnson, goes to the funeral

but he is always light lyndon johnson. so johnson tricks him and asks him to come down to the white house for some meeting in the cabinet and doesn't tell harry byrd the television cameras will be there. and with the cameras running, he turns to harry and says, this is my version. is not exactly right, so when the bill comes over from the house, is there any reason you cannot start the hearings right away? and harry says, flustered, not that i know of. and lyndon says he will have the hearings right away? and they will be expeditious hearings? and harry says yes in front of the television cameras. because he is so fond of lyndon johnson reporters ask him what he thinks about it and he says if i had known i was going to be on television i would have want to better suit. [laughter] and he holds the hearings. and johnson's relations with harry are probably summed up by what happens the very next year when harry burns wife dies. johnson goes to the funeral and after the funeral harry's car is driving away, the president of the

he has always liked lyndon johnson. so johnson trips him. he asks him to come down to the white house for some meeting in the cabinet. he doesn't tell them that the television cameras are going to be there. he turns with the cameras running and he turns and says, now, this is my version, it is not exactly right. when it comes over from the house, iss there anything that you can't start the hearings right away and harry byrd says, not that i know of. lyndon says, so, we will have the hearings right away and they will be expeditious hearings. harry byrd says yes in front of the television cameras. he has not even angry about it. he is so fond of lyndon johnson. reporters ask him what he thinks about it. if i had known i would be on television i would have worn a better suit. [laughter] he holds the hearings. johnson's relationship with harry byrd are probably summed up by what happens the very next year when harry byrd wife dies. he goes to the funeral and after the funeral, his car is driving away. president of the united states, lyndon johns

with lyndon johnson.ever that the publisher will let me get out of the contract so i started to write and i really hated doing it. [laughter] one day i get a call from my publisher. so that there is something i want to suggest to you. another think about that. [laughter] >> and then how do you keep them talking? and then but at the time then to be interested. but i don't know. but then we tried to describe some way. you have done a very good job. [laughter] if you have the opportunity to write a biography who would they be? >> . >> and then in history. and then the power. but then when you do something, and she passes and with that pension and disability and benefits. >> but then again you might. and some of you can say current news. and. >> or is the news networks? >> . >> or maybe when to come home and there are some more facts. i don't watch the 24 hour news cycle. >> you sleep at night? [laughter] >> this is getting more and more personal. [laughter] i don't sleep all that much. i've never slept that

diploma means for people. >> i do think this is important.when the program got started and when lyndon johnson program got started in 1965, congress and president johnson would say that they wanted more people, modest income people to have their education covered by grants. this idea that everyone should have a huge loan was not part of the program but again what ended up happening is to cover students education with grants congress but it was too expensive so loans became the easy option. it was like we have this goal when the rubber hits the road and they look at how much it costs, that happened more and more. and it happens now. so every year or every time they would offer higher education they talk about tell grants which are intended to be a scholarship money that doesn't have to be repaid or modest income students but congress never increase the programs over time. they did but it didn't happen nearly as quickly as schools were increasing their prices so there had been this growing gap in what the telegraph covers and what modest income family ability pays. so loans just became the easy

lyndon johnson is the prime -- lyndon johnson found a way to work his will.nd i think it's important president is elected to do certain things, and we now see biden, you know, where is that going? has he found with all of his experience and so forth, is that an inhibitor or is that something that is been fitting him? but he has not found a way to work his will, and presidents need to know, i've been elected for reasons, and let's work those reasons. >> bob, this is been, i think anybody agree, tremendous talk. [applause] >> thank you. >> thank you so much. >> thank you, doug. knowhose of you who don't me, i'm dale gregory, vice president for public programs. .. person and this was very special and thank you so much >> you'll hear from the

diplomas mean for people. >> and i think this is important, when the program got started, when lyndon johnson's program got started in 1965, congress and president johnson would say that they wanted poor people, modest income people to have their education covered by grants. so this idea that like, everyone should have a huge learn was not the intent of the program, but again, what ended up happening, is to cover students' education with grants, congress thought that that was too expensive and so loans became the easy option. okay, we have this goal, but when the rubber hit the road and looked how much it would cost, you know what, let's just-- and that happened more and more and more and it happens now. and so every year, or every time that they would authorize the higher education act and they talk about pell grants intended to be scholarship money that doesn't have to be paid-- because it's never really increased the pell grant at the time, they did, but didn't increase nearly as quickly as schools were increasing their prices so there's increasing gap between what the poor or modest income

lyndon johnson is the primary -- lyndon johnson, he found a way to work his will. and i think it's important that the president is elected to do certain things and we now see biden. where is that going? has he found, with all of his experience and so forth, is that an inhibitor or is that something that is benefiting him? that he has not found a way to work his will? and presidents need to know -- i've been elected for reasons. and let's work those reasons. . >> this has been tremendous. thank you, thank you. thank you so much. >> thank you. [applause] >> thank you, david. for those of you who don't know me, i'm dale gregory, vice president for public programs and we thank you all so much for joining us on zoom and in person. this was very special. thank you for joining us on this occasion, bob woodward, doug brinkley, thanks again. >> the robert caro symposium continues. you will hear from the historian later but next a discussion on history and storytelling. >> great. so, good morning, and welcome once again to the new york historical society and our beautiful ro

there was a lot of stuff going on in lyndon johnson he had these goals and he was always in a rush. he really wanted to solve inequality and address these pics aside a programs in the really big way again with good intentions. if you do it quickly problems start to come up.s anyway why did the banks get involved? the federal deficit was rising very quickly because of all this funding and so there was a concern as there has been over the past 20 or 30 years that the debt rises in there could be all these other things that happen will affect our economy. so what if you have a student loan program and i'm out here. it's important. the way the government did accounting was if you generated a billion dollars and gave students a billion dollars in one year federal spending would rise up by that much. then -- and not one year. the program is very expensive when you gave students loans and when students paid them back 10 years out or whatever that woud be counted as income. the important thing to know is having a student loan on the government books -- lyndon johnson came up with this idea

the real purpose is to make a profit and so again, lyndon johnson saying give us the money and we well. the problem is congress kept raising interest rates and it's like it kept going on and on. here's what we are going to do. in 1972, we will create a for-profit corporation called salli mae. it's going to have access to money from the treasury department and they will use that money to give to banks which can then give to students and then sallie mae, they would bite existing loans off of the books any time the bank made a loan to a student, sallie mae would sweep in quickly, by that loan off of the bank and then hold the loan or make loans to the banks, so sallie mae had all of the powers of the treasury department but this was the mother of all hazards. everything congressza has ever done this is one of the ten. think about this. banks and schools. it's like the fox living in the henhouse. the institutions that needed and wanted to make money suddenly had access tode all of this mon, no risk whatsoever, through this really odd piece called sallie mae and so i will stop there because

and when you look at his achievement lyndon johnson piece and then how you've written bob about the power and the presidents also, what is your reflection lbj in american history and what was the johnson's presidency and the perils of his presidency. >> is easier to describe the creation of the universe. and as robert caro's trump finding out because there are many times in many many of sort them out and up to date and what is the real, what you and i were talking the other day, you can ask the question of a historian or a journalist, how good is history. and the answer is often, said it's best when it is too late, the words out of the presidency, he is deceased and in this internet age, of impatience and speed, the gift ask the question of how good his history but when his history and when will you be available to people i think the sooner the better, no one can match robert caro this going back and back and refining his understandings. >> you thank you so the perfect combination for so many journals become a historian particular political reporters covering the presidents for a while bu

lyndon johnson is the prime example. he found a way to work his well. i think it is important a president is elected to do certain things. and now biden, where is that going? with all of his experience, is that something that is benefiting him? but he is not found a way to work his well. know, i've been elected for reasons and let's work those reasons. >> this is been a tremendous talk bob. [applause] [applause] >> thank you so much. >> thank you doug and for those of you who don't me, vice president for the public programs, and we thank you all thank you guys. >> thank you. for those of you that don't know me, i'm vice president for public programs and we thank you for joining us on zuma and in person. this was very special thank you for coming and joining for the occasion. bob woodward, doug brinkley thanks again. >> good morning and welcome once againn to the new york historicl society and our beautiful auditorium. whether you are joining us in person or live stream we've been joined by another historical trustee and i'd like to

society and what it means for people. >> and i think it's important, the program that started in lyndon johnson program started in 1965, congress and president johnson, they wanted modest income people to have their education covid by grants so the idea that everyone should have a huged loan but not be but again what ended up happening is to cover student education with grants, congress thought it was expensive. loans became the easy option. when the rubber hits the road and they looked at the cost, but happened more and more and more. and it happens now. every year or every time they had a higher education grant, they talk about pell grants intended to be scholarships, it doesn't have to be repaid. congress never increased the pell grant overtime they did but it didn't increase as schools were face these so there's a growing gap between what the grant covers and poor modest incomes ability too pay it so loans became the easy option to fill the gap. >> right, it's also fair to note, it's hard to get into affordability and institutions with these prices. >> exactly, it's like how you building ri

>> what drew me to write about lyndon johnson? >> yes. >> so, well, you know, everything, when you talk about it, it sounds like you have this plan, and everything was rational. i can't really say that that's true. what actually happened was in order to get enough money to right the power broker, i had a two-book contract, one for robert moses and one for a biography of laguardia. i didn't want to do the laguardia biography. one thing i can't stand is to do something i have done before, and i had already written about new york in the 1940s. but what i realized was i realized that only when i started that what the power broker was about or what i, hopefully, think it's about wasn't just about the life of a man, but the life of how power works in cities. how urban political power works. not what we're taught in textbooks, but how it really works. and what i wanted to do next, really wanted to do, was national political power. and the perfect guy to do that, i thought, was lyndon johnson, because he understood power, national power p

but not lyndon johnson. he came home and said, now, did susie get a present? how about john? what dress do we have for josephine? it was one of those -- he wanted to give, give, give, give something to everybody. who had made that time so very special, and my mother writes in her -- and i asked her, why did she think or how could she have thought that this year would be somehow different? because lyndon johnson just was in love with christmas. >> and wasn't he known for giving out presents like the electric toothbrushes with the presidential seal on them? >> oh my gosh. >> what kind of other things? >> well, my favorite little gift was a small -- like a swiss army knife. it was a little tiny, tiny one. it could not have done any damage to anybody. it was so small. and it was about as dangerous as a emery board. but it had a little toothpick in it, and it had a little presidential seal on, and he gave them to so many loved ones as a sign of appreciation. >> at some point, my parents very rightly understood that there was literally nothing we could give my grand

it's more than lyndon johnson. it's about the very fabric of who we are -- >> no -- >> for me, that's what makes it a national -- book >> right, yeah -- >> yes -- >> it's rigorous. we look at famous people, what they've done, where they came from. but i think there is an art, right? both of the sentence and the research and the rigor that exist within bob's work -- >> yeah -- >> but it's truly extraordinary. if there is one passage, again, that's like, you know, as good as any novel. you could be reading robinson or you could be reading bob caro. >> [laughs] >> who cares about a stretch of highway, right? that's not something you build a beautiful sentence out of. but that's where we find ourselves. i don't know. for me, it was national books. >> no, no, it's very interesting. because two of these things -- i would make a footnote out of them -- bob has talked about this often, it's that he's not just concerned with the powerful. certainly, robert moses had tremendous power and was an unelected official, which was

that is just the structure and lyndon johnson in his years. it is really a book at the way the investigative profile as a way to write about everything. it's to write about history and power and character and influence and the impact. but the thing about a person. people are so interesting to us that it creates a form that will drive readers through. so often when i'm trying to think how i can get somebody to read like campaign finance which is so boring. i thought what about these billionaires who were really benefiting and shaping the system. maybe i could get american readers to care about how money works in american politics. the format of the characters is one of the things he shown to do this in the most ambitious possible way. among the other thing so many things that i learned from him. among other things as bob woodward said. go to the hard targets and don't get stopped by the roadblocks. there is so many times were bob caro who was told were not talking to you. it's robert moses. two years they were gonna lock up, everybody knows the

kennedy, rachel carson and lyndon johnson. the environmental history of the '60s and '70s, which we call the long '60s from say '60 to '74. bob carol is in my book. he was on the the ddt spring problem. in long island they would spray ddt and there were people in the late 50s that started suing. she said i'm an organic farmer and you're spraying ddt over my farm and i have a right as an american citizen to be an organic farmer and you can't pray that stuff. rachel carson's book came out in 1962 and bob carol was the first person he met with and wrote this incredible serious about rachel carson's book. it's so much so, it coincided almost exactly the caro stories were coming out. new yorker did an excerpt of carson. john f. kennedy held a press conference and said we're looking at miss carson's research and kennedy created a science council and found out that a lot of these insecticides that were developed an multiplied during world war ii were u.s. fish and wildlife and she was connecting it to humans. >> thank you for that. >

the film is courtesy of the lyndon johnson presidential library.

. >> the focus on the presidency of lyndon johnson, you'll there about the 1964, civil rights act ofnd the march and selma and the war in vietnam, not everyone knew that they were being recorded. certainly johnson secretaries new because they were tasked with transcribing many of those conversations and in fact they were the ones to make sure the conversations were taped as johnson would signal to them through an open door between his office and there's rated. >> he also here blessed talk. >> how about the number of people on the #. [inaudible]. and if i can't go to the bathroom, will going to promise you i won't anywhere and i'll just stay right behind here. >> presidential recordings find on c-span now mobile app where we find podcast. >> communications commission nominate, - sewn another nominees testified at the confirmation hearing before the senate commerce sign in and transportation committee and watch tonight at 8:00 p.m. eastern on "c-span2", online a cspan.org or watch full coverage on c-span now, our new video app. >> book tv, every sunday on "c-span2" features leading aut

as lyndon johnson's attorney general draft of the fair housing act in 1968, his dad justice tom c. clark, resigned from the supreme court to avoid the appearance of conflict of interest involving cases the federal government might bring to fill that c l. b, j appointed thurgood marshall, 1st african american to serve on the high court in 1972, with no end in sight to the vietnam war, ramsey clark met with communist officials and hand. oh, it publicly criticized american conduct of the war. in 1980 after americans were taken hostage in iran, he went there violating the travel band and criticizing the united states for supporting the shock. after max cleveland lost 3 limbs in vietnam, he served as georgia, state senator and secretary of state and ran veterans affairs in the carter administration before a terminate in the united states senate. we often saw our ed schultz interview richard franco, who was president of the united mine workers before becoming a f l. c. i o for us. no bill priest prize laurie at f. w declaring was south africa's last head of state from the euro. white min

party became the party of b civil rights under lyndon johnson. with devastating impact for the community and then in terms of the pool of resources that would be shared to create the commonsense investment we know help secure a good quality of life. now that law support for the ideas in the political party that fell off and moved those. >> he figured out opens the book is a parable for so many other a themes that was in birmingham, do i have that right? >> that was in montgomery. >> you are looking for this one grand historic pool that have been varied be tells a little bit about it. i think giving a real sense at a personal level and the landscape itself the literal ground we walk on. >> actually keep here on my desk something i went to montgomery, alabama were one of the grandest pools in the south, and oak park which is the main park in order to defy desegregation order in 1959. so i went to visit to see what it was like. the montgomery parks and recreation and the entire parks and direct department of the city closed in order to not have inte

in terms of the politics of it, what should we know about bob dole. >> you mentioned lyndon johnson, and -- he was conservative. let's not make any bones about that. he was faithful to his party and he opposed much of the legislation that came out of lyndon johnson's great society, but he voted for the civil rights act. the voting rights act. he understood the greater good. one of the greatest members of the greatest generation that understood and fought for the greater good. he was an american first, a partisan republican, second. >> the partisanship that exists today, that escalated in the trump era, what do you think the message is for too. they are there to pay respects for someone like bob dole, who they worked with or at least knew. >> i hope so, there is a huge contrast between bob dole and mitch mcconnell. mcconnell so clearly puts party first. he doesn't think about the greater good to the extent that bob dole did. it was hard not to see the burial of bob dole as the burial of a bygone era in politics where republicans and politics came together at key times. and put partisa

the film is courtesy of the lyndon johnson presidential library. ♪ ♪♪ ♪ ♪♪ ♪ ♪♪ this building is 1600ue washington dc is the most significant house in the nation, america's executive power and also a home, for the 34 families throughout this presidencies of the united states. ♪ ♪ ♪♪ ♪ ♪♪ in a hammock in the south has seen it personal triumph and tragedy. it is known joy, frustrations, and heartbreak and has over 168 year span witnessed a lot. >> the administration of james monroe a presidents and daughters were married living there printed on these occasions, the daughters had chosen the white house itself is a scene for the wedding predict this was 53 years ago blossom avenue and president wilson's daughter eleanor was married their and these occasions are so rare these events happened it bt once in a lifetime. ♪ ♪♪ ♪ ♪♪ ♪ ♪♪ >> you trace rest is how your courtship began and when you realized that it was serious. >> i really don't know when my courtship began, chuck and i played a lot together and we didn't play as partners actually became some of the others office partner but that's

here many of those on the new podcast. >> the focus is lyndon johnson. you will hear about the civil rights act, the presidential campaign, the gulf of tonkin incident, the march on selma, the war in vietnam. not everyone knew they were being recorded. >> johnson's secretaries new. they were tasked with transcribing any of those conversations. they were making sure the conversations were taped. question will also hear blunt talk. >> the number of people assigned to kennedy the day that he died. if i can't go to the bathroom, i won't go anywhere. >> presidential recordings, find it on the c-span mobile app. >> washington journal continues. host: welcome back on christmas eve. we are in open form, taking your issues that are on your mind. let's begin with president biden talking about the omicron variant. fears that americans have. here is. >> there are three big differences between then and now. one, more than 200 million americans have been fully vaccinated. in march, 2020, no one was fully vaccinated. what that means is today as cases for fully vaccinate

i do not think that he does like the books and you know, i mean here is the problem and with lyndon johnson can you never get all you can do is describe behavior and he's the fact man, if you clean out all of the facts, and with donald trump, what does he think. does he think it. [laughter] no seriously, we define ourselves by impulses and i think that is true and i asked trump what books he read and he said i don't read books nicety must've been about when you were younger and he said no i just with my god, and as you never read a book in lincoln or kennedy he said amount of visual percent and bragging about operating in most people exaggerate for the reeded places i don't read, that's were losers and when you think about, for the not be disqualifying or somewhat disqualifying for somebody seeking the presidency. >> yes. >> i often thought the people that want to be a president should go to president school. >> i like that idea. >> spend a week with carol. [laughter] >> and of people had military service, at least you could work out some of the kings of the leadership skills with the army-

. >> season one focuses on the presidency of lyndon johnson. you will hear about the civil rights act, the presidential campaign, the gulf of tonkin incident, the march on selma, and the war in vietnam. not everyone knew they were being recorded. >> certainly johnson's secretaries knew, because they were tasked with transcribing many of those conversations. in fact, they were the ones who made sure that the conversations were taped, as johnson would signal to them through an open door between his office and there's. >> -- and theirs. >> you will also hear some blunt talk. >> i want a report of a number of people who signed kennedy the day he died, the # t -- the number signed to me now. if i cannot ever go to the bathroom, i cannot go. i will just stay behind these black gates. announcer: presidential recordings. find it on the c-span now mobile app or every you get your podcasts. -- or wherever you get your podcasts. >> they are saying enough is enough because decency is out the window. right? so they got pop culture. they got sports and acade

king's assassination, lyndon johnson gets out of the race, robert kennedy's assassinated, chicago descendsthe democratic convention and george wallace wins 13.5% of the vote in five states. 1968 is also the first year america ever had an integrated electorate. think about that. the first presidential year after the 1965 voting rights act was the first time a multiracial democracy was actually recognized fully by the constitution by legislation. so we're really only about 56 years old. what happened in 1958 was the two clashing views of slavery and freedom and power and identity and faith and what worries me most is what happened in 1858 was the power of passion and pride to overcome reason and genuine devotion in the declaration. >> what do you think of, doris? >> what i think of when i think of the 1850s is some ways it does remind me of where we are today in a scary sense in they had a partisan press, just as we do now. if you're listening to one of the debates between steven douglas and abraham lincoln or reading the republican newspaper, they will say he's triumphant, carried out in th

and white americans walked away from the pool and they have never since, ever since lyndon johnson signedhe act, did the majority not voted for democrats since the party became the party of civil rights under lyndon johnson. so, in literal ways they walked away from the pool with a devastating impact for those communities and then in terms of the pool of resources that would be shared to create the kind of common sense investments like lost support for those ideas and the political party that so often moved those ideas. >> there is a theme that you described which of course you just pointed out it's a parable are so many things americans have lost as a result of racism. but this older couple, that was in birmingham, did i have that right? montgomery. you were looking for this one grand historic pool that had been buried. i think that it had been giving a real sense at the personal level and the landscape itself without, you know, -- i actually keep on my desk talking about the landscape, i went to montgomery alabama where one of the grandest pools in the south in oak park which is the nam

. >> season one focuses on the presidency of lyndon johnson. you will hear about the gulf of tonkin, the march on selma and the war in vietnam. not everyone knew that they were being recorded. >> certainly johnson secretaries knew because they were tasked with transcribing those conversations. they were the ones who made sure that they were taped as johnson would signal to them through an open door. >> you will also hear blunt talk. >> i don't want to report of the number of people who signed to kennedy the day he died. mine are not blessed and i want them blessed right quick. >> presidential recordings. find it on the c-span out mobile app or wherever you get your podcasts. >> download c-span's new mobile app and stay up-to-date with live video coverage of the days biggest lyrical events from live streams of the house and senate lore and key congressional -- house and senate floor and key congressional hearings. even our live, interactive morning program, washington journal were we hear your voices every day. download the app for free today. >

." >> season one focuses on the presidency of lyndon johnson. you'll hear about the 1964 civil rights ak, presidential campaign, the gulf of tom kin incident. the march on selma and the war in vietnam. not everyone knew they were being recorded. >> certainly johnson's secretaries knew because they were tasked with transcribing many of those conversations. in fact, they were the ones who made sure the conversations were taped as johnson would signaling to them through an open door between his office and theirs. >> you'll also hear blunt talk. >> jim. i want a report of the number of people assigned to kennedy on me the day he died and the number assigned to me now and if i'm not less i want them less -- >> find them on the c-span mobile app or wherever you get your podcasts. >>> get c-span on the go. watch the day's big gift political events live or on demand on the new mobile app, c-span now. access top highlights. listen to c-span radio and discover new podcasts. download today. >>> our weekly series "the presidency" highlights the politics, pol

that's just the structure and the subtitle, as he says in working is lyndon johnson and his years, it's really a book, just a way the investigative profile is a way to write about everything. it's to write about history, to write about power and character and influence and the impact, but the thing about a person is that people are so intrinsically interesting to us that it creates a form that will drive a reader through it, at least i find that. so often when i think how will i get someone to read about something like campaign finance, which is so boring, and so i thought, okay, what about these billionaires who are really benefiting from it and shaping the system, maybe i can get american readers to care about how money works in american politics. and so the format of the character is one of the things that i think he's shown the way to do this in the most ambitious possible way. among the other things -- i learned so many things from him -- but among the other things, as bob woodward said earlier and as bob caro would say, go for the hard targets and don't get stopped by the roadbloc

the first public exhibition drawn from the archives of robert caro symposium and his words on lyndon johnson in they are regarded as masterpieces of modern biography and history and this is aed good time for me to acknowledge in the biographer in the master, china and robert. [applause] and we are very honored of course to have the archives but also to have both robert caro and his wife with us both today in today's first panel history and integrity in an age of misinformation is such a conversation it inspired by robert caro distinguished work and just before ica introduce or panel is however, i would like to thank and recognize a number of trustees who have joined us this morning, our chairman roger and her chair at the left and are other a cheer and others. i would like to think all of them but i would also like to think of trustees for joining us via live stream this morning, our chair pam, her vice chair, elect susan impact and trustees and others in many many thanks to all of you and everything that you do at this point of this institution has really been a great tribute to the dedicat

maybe lyndon johnson would bring the democrats into the white house until they figured out what they the people act get before the people. if it gets before the people in the congress, it will pass. >> let me take your point on educating the republic and ask you how we get younger voters to venerate democracy as us older folks do to care at the thought, the mere mention that it might go south. >> yeah, there was just a recent poll by the iop at harvard where younger voters are recognizing that democracy is in trouble. but there is a percentage of them who don't worry that that's a mark of america. somehow i think people who have lived as we have through much more trouble times may recognize where we are right now and younger people have not experienced that. so it's a matter of teaching them in school. it's a matter of that old civics things we older people keep talking about. it's a matter of all of us on social media talking about something that seems abstract, democracy, but it's part of our everyday live. the younger people came out in the last election. they are committed to env

. >> season one focuses on the presidency of lyndon johnson. tainly, johnson's secretaries knew because they were tasked with transcribing many of those conversations. in fact, they were the ones who made sure the conversations were taped as johnson would signal to them through an open door between his office and theirs. >> you'll also hear some blunt talk. >> jim. >> yes, sir. >> i want a report of the number of people assigned to kennedy on the day he died, the number assigned to me now. if mine are not blessed, i want them blessed right quick. if i can't ever go to the bathroom, i won't go. i won't go anywhere, i'll just stay right behind these black gates. >> presidential recordings. find it wherever you get your podcasts. >> our weekly series, the presidency, highlights the

one of the things that lyndon johnson said was the fundamental rights on which all of the other dependsnse, when he was arguing at selma to get that voting rights bill through, he said it's not a southern problem, northern problem, states rights problem, national problem, not a moral problem, it's absolutely right to deny your fellow americans the right to vote, it's the center of democracy. what is democracy? a system whereby people choose their leaders. if we make that as hard as we are now to get the right to vote and we make the chance state legislatures can overturn what the popular vote is, then i think democracy is really in trouble. but we can fight it. we still have the chance right now. >> let me ask you about the other side here, which is the most difficult part of all of this is not donald trump. it's that 70 million or 50 million or 60 million still agree the election was a fraud and he actually won. i was looking at the polls when they ask which of the following phrases best describes the united states. the one that wins out is a democracy in trouble. only 7%, for example,

of white americans have not voted for the democratic party since it became the party of lyndon johnson. in literal ways they walked away from the pool with devastating impact for those communities and in terms of the pool's resources that would be shared for the common sense investments that we know help secure a good quality of life. white americans lost support for those ideas and for the political party that so often moved those ideas. >> yeah, there's a scene that you describe in the chapter, racism drained the pool which of course, you just pointed out, it opened up for a parable that so many things have for racism. this older company, that was in birmingham. >> in montgomery. >> in montgomery. you're looking for this one grand historic pool that had been buried. tell, because i think it's giving a real sense both at the personal level and the landscape itself, what middle ground that we walk on as the bones of the choices that we make. >> i keep on my desk, when you talk about the landscape. so i went to montgomery, alabama, where one of the grandest pools in the south in oak par

. >> here focuses on that christmas eve lyndon johnson you hear about the 19624 civil rights act in cityfor presidential campaign, i also the march on selma in the war in vietnam another everybody knew, they were being recorded. >> shall be as the secretaries because they were asked to transcribe many of those conversations and in fact they were the ones who made sure the conversations were clearest johnson, there was an open door between his office in tears and you also hear some blunt talk. >> there were a number of people. [inaudible]. and it was that quick. and i promise you it won't go anywhere. >> c-span now video app, and podcast. [inaudible]. ♪ ♪♪ ♪ ♪♪ ♪ ♪♪ ♪ ♪♪