Islands of the Oil Kings: Part 1 -- How FDR’s island visit helped birth an era of Texas power

[TexasTowelie]

[font size=4]Flush with new wealth, Clint Murchison Sr. and Sid Richardson impressed a president and cued the rise of Eisenhower and LBJ[/font]

Two isolated islands off the coast of South Texas became unlikely centers of power and influence after they were purchased by two of the richest men in the country. This first installment of a three-part series examines President Franklin Roosevelt’s 1937 visit that would affect the lives of future island guests Dwight Eisenhower and Lyndon Johnson.


When the big tankers leave Corpus Christi bound for open water, they thread the jetties of Aransas Pass, where dolphins breach ahead of their bows. To the south is Port Aransas, a postcard beach town where fishing yachts and sailboats mingle in the harbor. To the north is the nearly empty barrier island of San Jose, which rolls out for more than 20 miles to a brackish bayou. On the opposite bank, under the deep salt grass, Matagorda begins.

Of Texas’ five major barrier islands, San Jose and Matagorda are the last true islands. No causeways extend from the mainland. No power lines connect them to the grid. Ancient dunes are unmarred by condos, and spring break is a distant thunder.

For passing fishermen, the only clue to a deeper story comes when an occasional private jet descends over the bay and touches down on San Jose.

Before the jets, there were yachts. On one of the yachts was President Franklin Roosevelt.

Read more: http://res.dallasnews.com/interactives/oilkings/part1/

[LeftInTX]

1. A good read and a good fine - Thanks for posting