On January 20, 1969 President Lyndon B. Johnson ended his time as the president of the United States of America. Today, the Ranger Magazine has the honor to ask him some questions about his time in service.
The Ranger: So, let's start with our first question.. .
Of course.. you were a great president in very rough times.. We all felt the great lost of President Kennedy in 1963… It was a terrible tragedy.. How did you managed his death?
Lyndon B. Johnson: It was a great lost that affected not only me, but everyone in America. However, I had the responsibility to act in response to this situation. I couldn't afford to take the time to fall apart because of what just had happened… I mean I had not only lost my president but also a dear friend. I had to take action and lift up my heartbroken county, so on that same day I took the oath to be the President of the United States of America.
TR: It was a big bourdon that you had to carry… Quoting a tour guide in your commemorative Library: “I was in college when I heard the news, everyone around me was crying and I couldn't help myself.. It has an spontaneous tragedy.” We all lost our President but you are right you’ve also lost a very close friend… To continue with the interview.. How reacted the people in the USA to all this events?
LBJ: People were devastated.. Not only in the United States, but everyone in the world with access to news. I can still remember the sound of the people panicking on the streets.. Crying and screaming in sorrow. For months the US people were paying their respects to the Kennedys family at the funeral.. But the world doesn't give you a break.. Life doesn't work in that way.. There were problems that needed to be solved, and someone had to deal with them. The citizens were aware of this, so they supported me and my decisions.
TR: What were those problems that you had to face when you entered the presidency?
LBJ: Well for starters the “hot line” had just been installed thanks to the missile crisis in Cuba, so there was still a lot of tension in result of communism spreading in some parts of the world. On top of that .the northern Vietnam was starting to have communist ideas, and they were also preparing themselves to attack south vietnam. We couldn't just watch this happen, so we had to intervene in the situation. I had to make a choice for communism not to spread, and that was our main priority.
TR: So now that the US was involved in the Vietnam War.. How did the people felt about this war during your service?
LBJ: Well when I took the oath to be President the US was already involved with Vietnam. During Kennedy’s Presidency we were dragged down to this war. People were tired of fighting this war.. There were a lot of casualties and not much results. It was difficult for the people to see their loved ones leave their home, and for them never to come back. Every war is difficult.. Every war brings on consequences.. Every war leaves scars to all the countries involved. However, people love their country… it is incredible the amount of patriotism that our citizens have.
TR: Now that you mention patriotism… What is your best accomplishment?
LBJ: One of the things I accomplished that I am most proud of was to pass through the senate the civil and voting rights act that Kennedy started, but wasn't able to finish.
TR: For our last question.. We haved saved the one that most Americans want to ask you.. “Why did you lied on sending more American troops to the Vietnam War?” (quote from Vicki a volunteer guide in LBJ Library).
LBJ: I wasn't able to tell people, for the panic it would have caused to release this kind of information to the American people and to the enemy. However, it was not a choice not to send troops. It was a decisions I had to make, and even though I'm not proud of it, it was necessary.