JOHNSON, LYNDON BAINES, President . Typed letter signed (LyndonB Johnson") as President to Arthur Brandel, Washington, D.C., 6 December 1968. One page, 4to, on pale green White House stationery, almost imperceptible sun-darkenening along right-hand side, but otherwise in good condition with a dark signature, with original stamped and postmarked White House envelope. A BELEAGURED PRESIDENT CONSIDERS THE VERDICT OF HISTORY Brandel had written to Whitney Shoemaker of the President's staff to offer unstinting praise of Johnson's policies as President. Brandel's letter (a carbon typescript is present) states: "...Mr President, I think you're doing a gosh-darned terrific job under the most trying circumstances." Although "History may well charge Lyndon B. Johnson with over-acheivement," and "he may suffer as a leader who was too far ahead," Brandel writes, "historians are generally middle-aged. Journalists too. I'm afraid that the the middle-aged, middle-class do not respond with verve to change. Regardless, many of us look upon the record of this Administration, socially and economically, as unequaled in history." Brandel sees political implications in a remark of George Santayana, who observed that a typical American "'jumps into the train after it has started and jumps off before it has stopped.'" Apparently Brandel's thoughtful letter was shown to Johnson by Shoemaker and the President, grateful for an expression of support at a difficult and embattled point in his Presidency, replied at some length: "I have just read your letter to Whitney Shoemaker and want to express my deep appreciation for your very kind words. "Historians and journalists of the future will pass judgements on our aims and accomplishments. Whatever else, I hope they can decide that this was a time in which Americans recognized that change is constant -- and came to welcome the chance to replace outworn notions with a true idea of the responsibilities placed upon man by the gift of life on earth...." A remarkably full and detailed letter for Johnson's Presidential period; the vast majority of his White House letters are brief and of little significant content.
JOHNSON, LYNDON BAINES, President . Typed letter signed (LyndonB Johnson") as President to Arthur Brandel, Washington, D.C., 6 December 1968. One page, 4to, on pale green White House stationery, almost imperceptible sun-darkenening along right-hand side, but otherwise in good condition with a dark signature, with original stamped and postmarked White House envelope. A BELEAGURED PRESIDENT CONSIDERS THE VERDICT OF HISTORY Brandel had written to Whitney Shoemaker of the President's staff to offer unstinting praise of Johnson's policies as President. Brandel's letter (a carbon typescript is present) states: "...Mr President, I think you're doing a gosh-darned terrific job under the most trying circumstances." Although "History may well charge Lyndon B. Johnson with over-acheivement," and "he may suffer as a leader who was too far ahead," Brandel writes, "historians are generally middle-aged. Journalists too. I'm afraid that the the middle-aged, middle-class do not respond with verve to change. Regardless, many of us look upon the record of this Administration, socially and economically, as unequaled in history." Brandel sees political implications in a remark of George Santayana, who observed that a typical American "'jumps into the train after it has started and jumps off before it has stopped.'" Apparently Brandel's thoughtful letter was shown to Johnson by Shoemaker and the President, grateful for an expression of support at a difficult and embattled point in his Presidency, replied at some length: "I have just read your letter to Whitney Shoemaker and want to express my deep appreciation for your very kind words. "Historians and journalists of the future will pass judgements on our aims and accomplishments. Whatever else, I hope they can decide that this was a time in which Americans recognized that change is constant -- and came to welcome the chance to replace outworn notions with a true idea of the responsibilities placed upon man by the gift of life on earth...." A remarkably full and detailed letter for Johnson's Presidential period; the vast majority of his White House letters are brief and of little significant content.
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