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Here's a project I might or might not continue in the future. Let me know what you think...
In Eclipse
RFK EDGES LBJ IN NEW HAMPSHIRE NASHUA, Mar. 10, 1964
“In a widely unexpected result, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy won 28,717 write-in votes for Vice President to President Lyndon B. Johnson’s 25,564 write-in votes for President in the New Hampshire primary. Despite Mr. Kennedy’s repeated denials of an interest in the Vice Presidential nomination, his supporters have handed him a major momentum boost in the contest. White House reaction has been muted, with the President refusing all comment at his weekly press conference. Kennedy, for his part, thanked his supporters for their “enthusiasm and loyalty” but emphasized that “no decision has been made on my part.”
WHITE HOUSE TAPES, 11/03/64
JOHNSON: “George, the press is absolutely going nuts with Bobby winning 3200 votes more than I did in New Hampshire. There’s pressure from everyone to put that little runt on the ticket.” GEORGE REEDY: “Let’s just wait and see what happens, Mr. President. This is only one primary.” JOHNSON: “Have you seen the polls? He’s leading Hubert 3-1, with Adlai back at 18% and no one else with a pulse.” REEDY: “I don’t see how you can mute the press. There’s simply nothing else to discuss.” JOHNSON: “You know who thinks Bobby would be a great Vice President? Dick Daley. He thinks that the kid would be the best to excite the base. Not as if I need that little runt when Goldwater is the Republicans’ nominee.” REEDY: “You might not need him, but you might want him. If you want to deny him the 1972 nomination…” JOHNSON: “You might have something there, George. I still cannot stomach the idea of the kid being my Vice President.” END OF RECORDING
“You can’t get along with him unless you kiss his behind all the time.”- Robert Kennedy, Mar. 19
WHITE HOUSE TAPES, 08/04/64 JOHNSON: “Did you see today’s Times? Bobby did it again in Wisconsin; he won nearly as many votes as Reynolds did, and Wallace won 266,000 votes- a third. This is embarrassing to me and the Democratic Party. Bobby won 430,000 votes: nearly 50% of the Democratic voters- double what Wallace got. This has to be shut down before it gets too serious.” REEDY: “He’s going to do well in every primary except Florida.” END OF RECORDING
“I think this vice-presidential thing could turn out better than I thought. I’m not going to announce my candidacy, but exercise your best judgement John.” Robert Kennedy to John Seigenthaler, Apr. 11
“New York Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller won a major primary victory in Illinois with 59% of the votes against Arizona Senator Barry M. Goldwater’s 40%. Gov. Rockefeller hailed “Illinois’ repudiation of extremism within the Republican Party.” While Rockefeller continues his string of primary victories, the biggest winner was Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, who won nearly 55% of the Democratic vote in Illinois. Some have taken this as an endorsement from Mayor Richard J. Daley, though the Mayor’s office has heatedly denied all such rumours.”
WHITE HOUSE TAPES, 16/04/64 JOHNSON: “Dick, did you organize Bobby’s landslide in Illinois? I can’t think of a soul other than you who’d have done that?” DALEY: “Lyndon, if they nominate Rockefeller, you might want this fellow on the ticket. He excites the Catholics, the North, young people and liberals. Those are the people who are still suspicious of you. If the Republicans nominate that Arizona kook, then you can forget this conversation, as will I.” JOHNSON: “If this was anyone else, I’d agree with you Dick. I don’t want that runt on my ticket, and I’m 99% sure he doesn’t want to be on my ticket either. Particularly if he thinks it’s going to get him the 1972 nomination.” DALEY: “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.” END OF RECORDING
“Well, after my victories in New Jersey and over 80% of the Mass vote, the momentum is building to a head. Lyndon can still say “no”, which I think he will. But like Jack did in ’56, I am still positioned as a potential future nominee regardless of whether I live in the Naval Observatory for the next eight years. So this is a win-win situation, my favourite kind. Lyndon has probably spent the past six months trying to devise a way to keep me off the ticket. I think he’s just sick at the prospects of having me.” RFK Diaries, May 2
W.H. TAPES, 25/05/64 JOHNSON: “George, this is reaching a critical stage. If Rockefeller wins in California next week, he’s their nominee. I might have no choice but to take that little snot-nosed kid for Vice President.” REEDY: “Have you seen the Post? They’ve written an article saying he’d be the best-qualified.” JOHNSON: “Hubert’s just as qualified as he is, and is much less offensive in the South.” REEDY: “If Rockefeller’s the nominee that becomes irrelevant.” JOHNSON: “Let’s just hope that Barry wins and I don’t need to take the man I hate more than anyone else. Whoever it is, I want his pecker in my pocket. My definition of loyalty is someone who will kiss my ass in Macy’s window and say it smells like roses. We both know he would never do anything of the sort.” END OF RECORDING
“There’s little to worry about in the meantime: we’ve swept all the primaries, but just awaiting news on California. If Rockefeller wins here, then there’s a much greater chance of me becoming VP and President in 1972. Ethel has finally agreed to support me, but I’m not going to declare my candidacy. I want Johnson to squirm and hate himself for taking me. Apparently Goldwater’s got the most fanatical supporters: they literally knock on doors until their hands bleed. That can’t be easily countered by the usual bromides about national and party unity.”
“In mid-1964, the Democrats were in effect allowing the Republicans to determine their ticket. If Goldwater won, Humphrey would likely be Johnson’s choice. If Rockefeller won the Republican nomination, then there would be enormous pressure on LBJ to pick Robert Kennedy for the Vice Presidency.” Campaign ’64 by Tom Wicker