Reply #37: He was a fascinating character.

[H2O Man]

My father always said that but for the war, LBJ would be remembered as one of the three greatest US Presidents, with Lincoln and FDR. The stress from the war weighed heavy on him -- unlike Bush2 and Cheney, who appear to have no concerns for the pain, suffering and death they cause.

I think that LBJ had a very good side, and a very bad side. I've got a good collection of books about him. People should read, for example, Michael Beschloss's "Taking Charge," which is the White House tapes from 1963-1964, for a interesting view of President Johnson. Robert Caro's series on LBJ is the best. "The Years of Lyndon Johnson" is a 4-book series. The first three are available (The Path to Power (1982); Means of Ascent (1990); and Master of the Senate (2002). The last book,The Presidency, is being completed. Caro also plans to publish an edited version that combines the four books.