Met him when I was about 6 years old. He was running to become the Vice President. One distinct memory, my Dad was taller than most men in our town, but LBJ, with his big white hat, towered over my Dad. He got down on his haunches and looked me right in the eye and shook my hand.

Because of LBJ's war (Vietnam) my dad was killed less than a year after I was born in Vietnam. I will never forget LBJ escalating the war and sending thousands of young men to their deaths one of which was my father.

LBJ lived 10 more days, Walter Cronkite lived over 35 more years.

The way he aged in ten years was unreal.

Opening theme performed by four 6th grade trumpet players. Thanks for giving the kids a chance.

At 64 he looked like he was 84, and probably felt like 104.

64 years old there…….still smoking and died from his third heart attack. Can’t imagine the weight on his shoulders and what he carried even until the end of his life. Great interview and of course Walter Cronkite. 👍

Watching him speak was like listening to my grandfather talk to me back in the 60’s and 70’s. 😊

This interview happened when Joe Biden was in the US Senate XD

LBJ looks 76, but it’s wild he passed at 64

LBJ was worth $500 million at the time of his death (1973 dollars) .Politics really pays well.

A lot of blood on that man’s hands,and it consumed him until his last breath.

Thanks for showing this historic footage. He seemed in good health for someone who passed away 10 days after this interview.

the trumpet music is the top10 funniest things Ive ever heard in my life, its perfect comedy.

Tthank you for posting this interview on KZfaq!

Why he escalated the USAs involvement in the Vietnam war in the manner he did is mind boggling. Complicated for sure, but mind boggling.

I love the distortion that an old tape recording gives to the music LOL

"Hey, what should the intro music be?" "Well, how about I just throw the brass section down the garbage disposal? That'd sound good, yeah?"

Not a huge fan of LBJ. Yet, I appreciate his forthrightness in answering the questions. Modern politicians would be advised to follow his example.

this dude killed kennedy

When he announced that he wouldn't run for president again, everyone in my barracks day room cheered.

Ten days later, at approximately 3:39 p.m. Central Time on January 22, 1973, Johnson suffered a massive heart attack in his bedroom. He managed to telephone the Secret Service agents on the ranch, who found him still holding the telephone receiver, unconscious and not breathing. Johnson was airlifted in one of his planes to San Antonio and taken to Brooke Army Medical Center, where cardiologist and Army colonel Dr. George McGranahan pronounced him dead on arrival. He was 64 years old

Great interview. I just finished the 4-volume work by Robert Caro - The Years of Lyndon Johnson - and eagerly await his 5th - which he is still writing. Lyndon Johnson was a fascinating, complicated, imperfect man and his life story is so interesting - I learned SO MUCH and could not put these books down.

Being president really does age you… he’s 64 here - if you would have said he was 75, I would have believed you.

I find his openness about the fact that he wasn't born having the understanding of the plight of black and brown citizens of this country. Yet, he explains that over the course of his life and career that what he saw and learned changed his views. Honestly I cannot imagine another person during that time who had the privilege and bullheaded even bullying ability to push the changes through that he was able to do. He definitely did more than ask the Congress, he cornered and maneuvered and forced through the changes that he wanted. Respect for a man who used his force of nature to try and do good in our country.

Seems like lbj took part in the 70s grow your hair trend

And notice if you will, he never talked about the war he perpetrated on the American public. All the damage and scars he caused are not mentioned at all. Deceit was his game.

He is now in a very warm place.

KZfaq is filled with useless - misinformation. The is a gem amongst the weeds. Thank you for posting.

Never was a fan of Johnson, but being a native Texan I was always curious to know what made him tick. When he died I recall thinking he was so old and had lived a long life before he died. I’m now 4 yrs older than he was when he died, and I now realize he wasn’t old, but I believe his life he led and time as President took a toll on his life.

I think his presidency is an object lesson in history; no matter how many great things you do, war can bring down any leader.

In 1973 I worked at Opa Locka airport a general aviation airport in South Florida, one day we were told to help load luggage into a corporate jet on the tarmac, the tag's on the luggage said LBJ RANCH, a short time later a ambulance showed up and took him out on a stretcher (we couldn't believe our eye's) and loaded him on the jet. A short time later we heard he had died.

Why aren't things like this shown in high school.....

It would be 21 years before the next former President would die, Nixon 1994.

I’m a Japanese. I wonder whether I can express my opinion exactly. As I know L. Johnson only by the book “Personal History of Katharin Graham”, I’m so impressed to come across this interview and come to know his another side of his personality. Thank you very much.

Great interview! Thanks for sharing ❤❤

i thought i was having a stroke when that trumpet music came on. either that or the players had recently had strokes themselves, perhaps during recording.

I will say, that despite his physical condition, he was still remarkably articulate when he went out. That, I believe, is the way to go.

we take so many things for granted... This is the kind of stuff that separates us from the rest of the world. Our country is not perfect, but we never stop trying.

I've always looked upon this final interview with LBJ as a man at total peace with himself. I don't know who were all the former colleagues and friends that stayed loyal and by his side right up to the end, but I'm sure Lady Bird was all he needed. If I had been one of his aids I'd simply have echoed what Horatio said over Hamlet; "Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet Prince. And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest".

People aged like hell during these times, he was only 64.

He probably knew he could die at any moment as his heart was as fragile as an egg so he gave the interview.

Didn't this guy used to sit on his toilet with the door open, and give orders to his staff?

It was amazing that I just learned how bad he was and now I have learned how good he was. For the things he did help change were things that needed to change at that time.

As much as I want to dislike President Johnson, I cannot. His "war on property" provided my elderly grandparents (grandfather was blind).in Appalachia with an indoor bathroom and upgrades. A personal blessing. They had a picture of John L. Lewis on the wall.

I love these types of viewing because I am always seeking out knowledge of all kinds. This is one heck of an interview.

My grandma once said that she had the opportunity to meet LBJ and Jumbo.

And the beat goes on.

I was stationed in Korea in the US Army in 1966 when President Johnson was scheduled to visit the troops. I was assigned to a Signal Corp Unit in Yongsan Base. We were instructed by superiors to prepare for his visit by getting the motor pool readied for possible inspection. I don't recall if he actually visited our location, but it was both an honor & a nervous time for all of us. Little did we realize at the time that the Vietnam War would escalate to the degree that it did. It took a tremendous toll on Johnson, as this interview indicates.

I'm reading "Bearing the Cross," by David Garrow right now, and in it I recently learned that Johnson's "We shall overcome" speech was one of the only times anyone ever saw Dr. King shed tears.

He was 64 here - but looked and sounded 80.

Very vigorous for 10 days before his death.

That trumpet in the beginning makes me hurl🤣

So much of this interview remains as relevant today as it was then, the work that has been accomplished is much, but that with remain unfinished is much greater....

The guilt got him in the end

Young people today- I'm 56- was less that a year old when this man resigned. I always reviled him because of Vietnam. But I do have to say that I am crying silently watching this. He did horrible things- and I am NOT overlooking them- but yet somehow, someway, in some manner I DO feel that he was the right man who came in at the wrong time. Also, I honestly, truly feel that he changed when out of office, and became filled w/regret over the terrible policies he enacted, but did at least enjoy a small measure of pride over the good ones (and there WERE good ones). Seeing him just before he died humanized him in a way I had never imagined possible, as I'd never seen this Interview. People: this time piece is GOLD.

Horn section were out partying with the secret service at Jack Ruby's club the night before.

I think LBJ knew that death was just around the corner and thus he wanted the country to know his thoughts and feelings on certain topics before that happened...who better than with “Uncle Walter”...

18:31 "We hit while the iron was hot" profound statement that we need to remember to help get things done.

Attended my sister-in-laws PhD degree graduation ceremonies at University of Michigan, May 22, 1964. LBJ had agreed to give the graduation speech when he was vice-president, in 1963, and he did not cancel upon becoming president. His speech was memorable. It was the first introduction of The Great Society. My family was impressed and was certain it was the start of his running for president and his platform to move the U.S. forward for all citizens.

When you leave out a zero on the intro music budget

It's a shame Gene Hackman never played LBJ.

Interesting how he almost slipped and said " I want to control.."

Johnson got the US into an escalation of the Vietnam war. His wife profited from it. According to the Wall Street Journal in 1971, her holdings in COSCO were as a major stockholder and she received money for every item shipped to Vietnam. She also had major shares given to her in Bell Helicopter after an initial purchase.

Where can I get a copy of that trumpet music It cured My depression, I absolutely could not stop laughing... And then it made me vomit, and I need to lose weight so that's good thing.

This man appointed the first African American to the SCOTUS, and like Reagan with O'Connell, Biden with Jackson deserves huge credit for tearing down walls.

I think if everyone on earth had a change to give an interview 10 days before death, the world would be a better place.

I encourage you to visit that library. It has many sacred relics of the era. And it's much like a moseleum

Thanks for this. I was trying to discover his motivation for signing the Civil Rights Act.

This is an interesting interview. I’m on the latest published Robert Caro book on the years of Johnson, titled the passage of power. It’s also interesting to consider that in 1973 Robert Caro was writing the power broker book on Robert Moses.

No mention of what he said after signing the civil rights act. Shows the true character of the man, and the Gulf of Tonkin incident was a another beauty. This man was the cause of so much death and hardship, and it is not taught or the truth never spoken of him.

Incredible interview. Still relevant today.

I wonder why LBJ has not been celebrated more as a civil rights warrior. Is it merely because he was a Southerner? The man had a solid record of standing up for and enacting civil rights. What a shame he hasn't been more celebrated for it.

LBJ sure was a man ahead of his own time. How we could benefit from a leader like this. My favorite quote of his is "There is no Constitutional issue here" as there isn't a Constitutional issue when speaking of equal rights for people of color.

A really good president. He wanted to end poverty, a true Social Centrist. But he did the lethal mistake in Vietnam, that error destroyed everything.

5:00 Ladies & gentlemen: Unconfirmed insipiration for the Yoshi's Island soundtrack

Yup, King shed tears during LBJs “We shall overcome speech”. While LBJ lied about The Gulf of Tonkin incident(Never happened) in August of 1964 which escalated the Vietnam war . Pulled the plug on the war against poverty to drop more bombs on North Vietnam.

My God...the devil was rubbing his tallons with glee...

Watching this I just learned more about LBJ than I ever learned in school. Until now I didn't realize that I was proud of many of his achievements. The job of President is unenviable at best and perhaps he could have done better. But he fought for racial equality and he did some good there. I'm pleased to see that he fought for minorities as much as he did. Reading between the lines he seems sad that he wasn't able to do more. I wonder what he would be fighting for in today's climate. We still have far to go but I'm grateful that he was able to help push forward the amount he did.

Ten days prior to his death and he spoke of the work left to be done to make humans equal in America.

By his own words; he was afraid he would die in office of his 2nd term. He saw a psychologist/psychiatrist and a priest weekly as well as on a list of prescribed medications due to his fears of going to hell when he passed away into death.

What in the world did he even say that was relevant? It amazes me at the unintelligible level of communication that comes from our politicians. Average to below in intelligence.

A timeless interview, relevant to our own day no less than the year of LBJ's death.

Quite interesting and informative. His recounting conversations with future supreme court justice thurgood marshall was a golden nugget. He appeared resigned that we shall overcome was but a step in our nations history. I believe that if he had a crystal ball perspective of america in 2023, he would be morally and historically appalled at our regression. Yet the attempt to create a great society was a signature achievement, despite continuing determination to curtail its progress. Thank you for a candid look back.

26:27 Huge moment, in my mind. With just about 200 hours left to live, he checks the time. Unaware how precious each hour would be. He was only 63 when he passed. Think about it...

Thank you for this. I'm British but deeply interested and fascinated by US politics. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Opening Theme Provided By - The 86th Asspiper Corps: Major John J. Methane Conducting "Requiem for An A-Hole In D-Minor - A Major 17th"

As someone who demonstrated against Johnson, I'm afraid I must say that he looks pretty good in retrospect.

I'm sorry, but his manipulation keeping us in Vietnam and assisting in the death of JFK is something I"d NEVER forgive him for. This just paints a picture as if he was some kind of saint. Far from it.

A very interesting and articulate interview, i'm glad i took the time to watch. LBJ always seemed so uneasy in front of a camera or crowd, his words were always clipped and so obvious he was reading his speech word by word. But this interview showed another side, unrehearsed answers to questions by America's foremost news commentator. Civil Rights was by far his swan song during his tenure, however his reluctance to stand up against his Generals in the armed forces and de-escalate the Vietnam debacle would be his downfall. Between his Generals, and the Defense Contractors, they pressured him to escalate the actions there rather than slowly retreat. It was a Catch 22 for LBJ i know, but if he had stood up to these people here as vehemently, as he fought for his Civil Rights program, he may not have failed in his efforts in the war. It will forever remain a stain on his entire political career and moreover, his Presidency. Listening to the brainiac McNamara was LBJ's biggest fault when it came to Vietnam. McNamara's book "In Retrospect" that he penned in the 1990s fully apologized for his actions during these turbulent 60s, he admitted he was 180 degrees wrong on the entire theme. He guided LBJ and was trusted to make the right decisions, and he failed miserably. McNamara's ice cold calculations, reducing human lives of our boys to mere numbers and statistics was his exact theme and modus operandii whilst he was at Ford. Henry II was very glad to rid himself of McNamara and pawned him off to the JFK administration just days after JFK won in Nov 1960. All in all i am glad i watched this interview, it gave me a new insight into a President that i always reviled, but now i come away with a bit more flexible views about him.

4:35 the most important moment in the clip

This was intended to be the first in a series of interviews with LBJ but he died before any other interviews could take place.

Cranston as LBJ in the biopic ALL THE WAY does a terrific impersonation.

One of the most complicated figures in American history.

It's amazing how hearing from LBJ, after he's retired with no political agenda, to learn he really accomplished the introduction and passage of significant legislation to right the wrongs of centuries of injustice.

Just think, there are people still out there who want to undo this man's work, out of bigotry, greed and selfishness. There is no rational reason to go backward, other than those three things.

I recall the announcement of his death over the major media. In each case, the speaker emphasized lauding LBJ for his outstanding social achievements and the enormous flurry of legislation which was passed during his Administration as opposed to commenting about anything negative such as his mishandling of the Vietnam War, etc. At the time I thought that was very telling of the way people generally felt about his political accomplishments as compared to the downsides.

I still remember watching this interview with LBJ. I was 2 years old. I was struck at the time, his appearance was modern when it was still not in fashion. Besides Nixon, this is a vivid memory..

As bad as President Johnson might have looked to some during this interview, he clearly does not seem like a person that is 10 days away from their death. His presidency was a perfect example of a presidency that both accomplished significant achievements, but also experienced significant failures. In researching his political career, I would like to say his heart was in the right place. Like so many politicians, politics far too often effect decisions they make.

Great interview but an awful man. I have met many people who knew him personally. The stories they told me about him were incredible..