“The country needs and, unless I mistake its temper, the country demands bold, persistent experimentation. It is common sense to take a method and try it: If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.”
–President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1932
“We remember his signature admonition: ‘Do it now. Not next week. Not tomorrow. Not later today. Now.’”
–Joseph A. Califano, Jr., Chief Domestic Adviser to President Johnson
Multimedia Resources
Califano, Joseph A. “Seeing is Believing.” The Centennial Celebration for President Lyndon Baines Johnson, Kaiser Family Foundation, Washington, D.C. May 19, 2008. Address.
—Joseph A. Califano, Jr., LBJ’s chief domestic adviser, discusses the lasting impact of President Johnson at his centennial celebration. The text of the speech also contains a sidebar of all the acts passed under President Johnson during his tenure.
Dallek, Robert. “Character Above All: An Exploration of Presidential Leadership.”
Public Broadcasting Service.
—Robert Dallek, presidential biographer and professor of history and public policy, uses accounts of LBJ’s personality to describe his leadership style and political dealings throughout his political career and his presidency.
The Lyndon Baines Johnson Foundation. Lyndon B. Johnson Centennial Celebration: Celebrating His Can-Do Spirit. 2008.
—The LBJ Foundation compiles archival materials and speeches about President Johnson to commemorate his centennial.
“President Obama’s Leadership Style.” The Diane Rehm Show. Diane Rehm. National Public Radio. April 21, 2010.
—A panel of experts analyzes President Obama’s leadership style and his effectiveness in Washington.
George McGovern appearance on Good Day New York, March 15, 2012.
—Former Democratic Presidential Candidate and U.S. Senator George McGovern Speaks about his book, “What It Means to Be a Democrat.”
Books and Articles by Speakers
Califano, Joseph A. The Triumph and Tragedy of Lyndon Johnson: The White House Years. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1991.
Dallek, Robert. Flawed Giant: Lyndon Johnson and His Times, 1961-1973.
New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.
Duggan, Ervin S., & Wattenberg, Ben J. Against All Enemies. New York: Avon Books, 1982.
Goodwin, Doris Kearns. Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1976.
McGovern, George. The Essential America: Our Founders and the Liberal Tradition. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2004.
McGovern, George. What It Means to Be a Democrat. New York: Blue Rider Press, 2011.
Mondale, Walter. The Good Fight: A Life in Liberal Politics. New York: Scribner, 2010.
Moyers, Bill. Moyers on America: A Journalist and His Times. New York: Anchor Books, 2005.
Moyers, Bill. Moyers on Democracy. New York: Anchor Books, 2008.
Images from the panel
14-Mar-2012 15:31, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 7.1, 26.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800
Mark Updegrove (left) and Bob Schieffer (center)14-Mar-2012 15:52, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 7.1, 17.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800
Bob Schieffer, George McGovern and Walter Mondale14-Mar-2012 15:54, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 7.1, 17.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800
Joseph A. Califano, Walter Mondale, Bob Schieffer, George McGovern and Jonathan Fanton14-Mar-2012 15:55, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 7.1, 26.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800
George McGovern, former Democratic Presidential Candidate, US Senator, and US Ambassador to UN Mission in Rome14-Mar-2012 15:56, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 7.1, 17.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800
Ervin Duggan (center) and Mark Updegrove (right)14-Mar-2012 15:57, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 7.1, 17.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800
Mark Updegrove, Director, Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library and Museum14-Mar-2012 17:17, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 4.5, 70.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 1600
Joseph A. Califano, LBJ's Chief Domestic Advisor; former US Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare (1977-1979)14-Mar-2012 17:20, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 4.5, 70.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 1600
Joseph A. Califano, LBJ's Chief Domestic Advisor; former US Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare (1977-1979)14-Mar-2012 17:20, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 4.5, 75.0mm, 0.013 sec, ISO 2000
Robert Caro, Author of The Years of Lyndon Johnson14-Mar-2012 17:24, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 4.5, 100.0mm, 0.013 sec, ISO 2000
Joseph A. Califano, Ervin Duggan, Bill Moyers, Walter Mondale and George McGovern in conversation with Bob Schieffer on LBJ's Great Society14-Mar-2012 17:24, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 4.0, 35.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 2000
Joseph A. Califano, Ervin Duggan, Bill Moyers, Walter Mondale and George McGovern in conversation with Bob Schieffer on LBJ's Great Society14-Mar-2012 17:37, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 4.0, 35.0mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 2000
Robert Caro, Author of The Years of Lyndon Johnson14-Mar-2012 17:47, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 5.0, 170.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 2000
Joseph A. Califano and Ervin Duggan14-Mar-2012 17:59, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 5.0, 70.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 2000
Bill Moyers, LBJ's Special Assistant, Press Secretary; President, Schumann Media Company14-Mar-2012 18:06, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 5.0, 200.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 2000
Walter Mondale, George McGovern and Bob Schieffer14-Mar-2012 18:06, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 4.5, 70.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 2000
George McGovern, former Democratic Presidential Candidate, US Senator, and US Ambassador to UN Mission in Rome14-Mar-2012 18:11, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 4.5, 200.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 2000
George McGovern, former Democratic Presidential Candidate, US Senator, and US Ambassador to UN Mission in Rome14-Mar-2012 18:14, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 4.5, 200.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 2000
Joseph A. Califano, Ervin Duggan, Bill Moyers, Walter Mondale, George McGovern and Bob Schieffer discuss LBJ's Great Society14-Mar-2012 18:16, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 3.5, 125.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 1600
Joseph A. Califano, Ervin Duggan and Bill Moyers14-Mar-2012 18:18, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 3.5, 92.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 1600
Walter Mondale, 42nd Vice President of the United States and former US Senator14-Mar-2012 18:25, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 3.2, 200.0mm, 0.013 sec, ISO 1250
Joseph A. Califano, Ervin Duggan and Bill Moyers14-Mar-2012 18:31, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 3.2, 180.0mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 1250
Walter Mondale, George McGovern and Bob Schieffer14-Mar-2012 18:31, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 3.2, 180.0mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 1250
14-Mar-2012 18:34, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 4.0, 26.0mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 800
14-Mar-2012 18:35, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 4.0, 26.0mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 800
Walter Mondale, George McGovern and Bob Schieffer14-Mar-2012 18:36, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 3.2, 200.0mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 1250
Bill Moyers, Walter Mondale and George McGovern14-Mar-2012 18:37, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 3.2, 200.0mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 1250
George McGovern, former Democratic Presidential Candidate, US Senator, and US Ambassador to UN Mission in Rome14-Mar-2012 18:38, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 4.0, 35.0mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 800
Bill Moyers, LBJ's Special Assistant, Press Secretary; President, Schumann Media Company14-Mar-2012 18:40, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 4.0, 32.0mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 800
Robert Caro, Author of The Years of Lyndon Johnson14-Mar-2012 18:40, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 4.0, 35.0mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 800
14-Mar-2012 18:47, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 4.0, 17.0mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 800
Robert Caro, Author of The Years of Lyndon Johnson14-Mar-2012 18:49, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 4.0, 17.0mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 800
14-Mar-2012 18:52, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 4.0, 32.0mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 800
Jennifer J. Raab, President of Hunter College, and Walter Mondale, 42nd Vice President of the United States and former US Senator14-Mar-2012 18:54, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 4.0, 30.0mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 800
14-Mar-2012 18:54, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 4.0, 24.0mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 800
Ervin Duggan, LBJ's Staff Assistant; former President of PBS14-Mar-2012 18:59, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 3.2, 200.0mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 1250
Bob Schieffer, CBS News Chief Washington Correspondent and Moderator of Face the Nation14-Mar-2012 19:03, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 3.2, 200.0mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 1250
Joseph A. Califano, Ervin Duggan, Bill Moyers, Walter Mondale, George McGovern and Bob Schieffer discuss LBJ's Great Society14-Mar-2012 19:05, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 3.2, 125.0mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 1250
Bob Schieffer, CBS News Chief Washington Correspondent and Moderator of Face the Nation14-Mar-2012 19:11, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 4.0, 35.0mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 800
14-Mar-2012 19:17, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 4.0, 17.0mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 800
14-Mar-2012 19:30, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 4.0, 17.0mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 800
Luci Baines Johnson, Daughter of LBJ, and Hunter College President Jennifer J. Raab14-Mar-2012 19:43, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 7.1, 30.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800
14-Mar-2012 20:26, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 2.8, 17.0mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 4000
Walter Mondale, 42nd Vice President of the United States and former US Senator14-Mar-2012 20:32, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D3, 10.0, 25.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 4000
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