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The Kennedy Assassination--24 Hours After: Lyndon B. Johnson s Pivotal First Day as President - Hardcover

Gillon, Steven M.

  • 3.99 out of 5 stars
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9780465018703: The Kennedy Assassination--24 Hours After: Lyndon B. Johnson s Pivotal First Day as President
Hardcover
ISBN 10: 046501870X ISBN 13: 9780465018703
Publisher: Basic Books, 2009

Synopsis

Riding in an open-topped convertible through Dallas on November 22, 1963, Lyndon B. Johnson heard a sudden explosive sound at 12:30 PM. The Secret Service sped him away to safety, but not until 1:20 PM did he learn that John F. Kennedy had been assassinated. Sworn in next to a bloodstained Jackie Kennedy at 2:40 PM, Johnson worked feverishly until 3:00 in the morning, agonizing about the future of both his nation and his party. Unbeknownst to him, his actions had already determined the tragic outcome of his presidency.

In November 22, 1963, historian Steven Gillon tells the story of how Johnson consolidated power in the twenty-four hours following the assassination. Based on scrupulous research and new archival sources, this gripping narrative sheds new and surprising light on one of the most written-about events of the twentieth century.

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About the Author

Steven M. Gillon earned his PhD at Brown University, and taught for several years at Yale University and then at Oxford. He is currently a professor of history at the University of Oklahoma and the resident historian for The History Channel. He is the author of numerous books and articles on modern American history and politics, including Ten Days that Unexpectedly Changed America. He lives in New York and Oklahoma.

Reviews

In this fresh take on John F. Kennedy's assassination, history professor Gillon probes the chaos that surrounded Vice President Johnson's ascension to power as he coped with both the trauma of Kennedy's murder and the enmity of Kennedy's inner circle. At Parkland Hospital in Dallas, a battle of wills between Johnson and JFK's inner circle-including appointments secretary Kenneth O'Donnell and military aide Brigadier General Godfrey McHugh-contributed to the confusion then (and now) over the timeline of Kennedy's death and Johnson's assuming the presidency. Leading the anti-Johnson contingent was the president's brother, Attorney General Robert Kennedy, who tussled with LBJ over the swearing-in details (both disagreed bitterly about the episode afterwards). Johnson faltered as he moved into the spotlight, trying in vain to adopt Camelot as his own by trying (unsuccessfully) to console Jackie and persuading (with varying degrees of success) Kennedy staffers to stay on. Gillon captures the two faces of Johnson-the insecure second-guesser and the brilliant politician-as well as the earliest signs of the Johnson presidency's eventual failure.
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Publisher
Basic Books
Publication date
2009
Language
English
ISBN 10 
046501870X
ISBN 13 
9780465018703
Binding
Hardcover
Edition number
1
Number of pages
320
Rating
  • 3.99 out of 5 stars
    383 ratings by Goodreads

Other Popular Editions of the Same Title

9780465020362: The Kennedy Assassination--24 Hours After: Lyndon B. Johnson's Pivotal First Day as President

Featured Edition

ISBN 10:  0465020364 ISBN 13:  9780465020362
Publisher: Basic Books, 2010
Softcover