The Kennedy Assassination - 24 Hours After by Steven M. Gillon

Author:Steven M. Gillon
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Basic Books
Published: 2013-01-31T04:10:52+00:00

After O’Donnell left, LBJ asked for the three Texas congressmen who had been with him all day—Albert Thomas, Homer Thornberry, and Jack Brooks—to join him in the stateroom. He also invited staff members Jack Valenti, Cliff Carter, Liz Carpenter, and Bill Moyers.

The first order of business was to set up meetings in Washington. LBJ wanted to send a clear message to the public that the govern ment was consolidating around his leadership. “He was concerned about the American people; they had responded before to crisis; how would they respond now? He knew they would be watching him—he must show them leadership and purpose, but he must also show compassion and understanding,” recalled Bill Moyers. “He knew, too, that eyes were watching from the Kremlin. They would be watching to detect any weakness—any hesitancy—any sign of indecision which might be exploited,” Moyers observed. “Above all, he said, there must be continuity—continuity without confusion. That was to be his objective.”7

As soon as they arrived at Andrews Air Force Base, Johnson demanded that the Kennedy foreign policy team be assembled. He told Moyers that he wanted Defense Secretary Robert McNamara, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, and National Security Adviser McGeorge Bundy to join on the helicopter flight from Andrews to the White House. Johnson did not realize that Secretary of State Rusk, and most of the cabinet, had been en route to Japan at the time of the assassination. The plane had been ordered back to Washington, but it would not arrive until late that night. In place of Rusk, it was agreed that Under Secretary George Ball would be there to greet him.

It is likely that Johnson wanted to meet with the foreign policy team because he was still concerned about the international implications of the assassination. Were the Soviets trying to take advantage of the death of the president? Although he felt comfortable, even confident, in his ability to handle most domestic legislation, and to push Kennedy’s stalled agenda through Congress, he was less sure-footed in his handling of foreign affairs. He also needed to make certain that all key members of the president’s team stayed on in his administration. Meeting with the Kennedy team face-to-face would allow him to deliver the message of continuity clearly and forcefully.

Mac Kilduff and General Chester Clifton were enlisted to relay LBJ’s wishes to Washington using the communications equipment on Air Force One. They had their hands full—innumerable messages were going back and forth: friends and family members in Washington trying to contact Mrs. Kennedy, government officials hoping to reach the new president. Some of the passengers were trying to send private messages to family, to alert them of their whereabouts. Many of the people accompanying Johnson back to Washington were based in Texas and had planned to be home that night for dinner. Now they were speeding to Washington without even a change of clothes. Congressman Thomas asked Clifton to contact his secretary and tell her to leave the key to his apartment under the mat.

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