Launching LBJ by Helen O'Donnell

Author:Helen O'Donnell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Published: 2018-10-01T16:00:00+00:00

“He has no choice, he has to make the presidency his own,” Kenny said to Bobby over lunch at their favorite haunt, Duke Zeibert’s, a restaurant much loved by the political powers that be in Washington. The place was owned by Jewish immigrant Duke Zeibert, who had become a good friend to Kenny as the place was just walking distance from the White House. The walls were covered with photos from the Kennedy years. With its deep red leather booths, the place provided some privacy and was a special favorite and haven of sorts for Kenny and Bobby—Jack’s “Irish Mafia” in exile.

“Why?” Bobby asked, his voice soft, still heavy with grief. He swirled his milk around in his glass as he spoke. For his part, Kenny downed a beer, teasing Bobby for being such a heavy hitter. Bobby smiled sadly.

“Look, Bobby, your brother did the same thing. Each president must make it their own,” Kenny explained, though he knew Bobby already knew that.

Bobby heaved a heavy sigh. “Yeah, I guess. So why are we still here?”

“You know why,” Kenny answered, nodding a thank you as the white-gloved waiter brought him another beer and Bobby another milk.

“Remind me,” Bobby said, as he stared almost blankly at his glass of milk, almost as if the glass itself held the answers to his pain.

“Because it is your brother’s agenda—civil rights, the tax cut among other things,” Kenny said. Kenny’s coal-black eyes were watching Bobby closely. Bobby sat up and leaned back.

“Yeah, I know. That stuff has been bottled up in Congress. How the hell is going to get it through? His track record was pretty unimpressive so far. I mean, Jack wasn’t too happy. You know that. What’s changed?”

Kenny nodded. “I agree, but he wasn’t president then.”

The words hung in the air between them. They said little for a long time, their food largely untouched between them. Just then Duke brought the telephone over to the table. Putting his hand over the receiver, he whispered, “It is the president for you, Kenny.”

Kenny shuddered for a moment and picked up the phone, listening as the operator brought on the president. The Texas drawl and loud voice cut through the air. Bobby could hear him plainly. Bobby shook his head, indicating he would rather not have Lyndon know he was there, but of course that was not Kenny’s style.

“I still cannot get used to it,” Kenny mouthed to Bobby as he informed the president he was sitting with the attorney general, lest Johnson say something that pissed Bobby off. Kenny was determined to see Jack’s agenda, at least civil rights, through, and help Johnson and other Democrats win in 1964 before he left. To do that successfully he, Larry O’Brien, and the other Kennedy men knew they needed to keep Bobby and Lyndon on the same page and getting along, at least for the moment. Although only back for a short time, Kenny was beginning to see the balancing act would not work for long and that such a political tightrope might require someone more adept than Kenny.

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