The New York Times: Reports on the row between those that are critical of a film version of LBJ and his role in the Civil Rights Agenda, the article notes the following, " But it has also drawn some sharp criticism for its depiction of Johnson as a laggard on black voting rights who opposed the marches and even unleashed the Federal Bureau of Investigation in an effort to stop Dr. King’s campaign. "
Lets Get Real:
A film and the reality of a historical events are no going to match up most of the time, if your looking for truth of events in film then your looking in the wrong place, moder viewrs want to know who is the bad guy and who you should they be supporting. President Johnson due to Vietnam War does not get high grades from historians, but when it comes to the Great Society and Civil Rights this blog has a lot of respect for LBJ, he was willing to lose 1964 Presidential Election before giving up Civil Rights, one a quick reading of the history that the film covers one finds that LBJ was concerned about getting another bill through the Congress that dealt with this issue, also that the Democrats would lose the South to the Republicans, it can could be argued that LBJ needed the political pressure on his back to get something done, but the idea that LBJ was a block on Civil Rights is not true. As LBJ noted Kennedy could get nothing through the Congress when it came to Civil Rights and thus LBJ would make it part of his record. LBJ was a master of Congress, he got two civil rights bills passed in two years, yes it helped that the African American leaders and supporters were on the streets in peaceful marches, and the over reaction of the State police. It was a partnership between LBJ and Dr King, they might not have wanted it, but it worked. Politics is like making a grand meal, making it is not great, but the eating makes up for any bad memories.
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