All the Way by Robert Schenkkan

by Robert Schenkkan

Winner of the 2014 Tony Award for Best Play, as well as Best Play awards from the New York Drama Critics’ Circle, the Outer Critics Circle, the Drama League, the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, and Boston’s Elliot Norton Award, All the Way is a masterful exploration of politics and power from Pulitzer winner Robert Schenkkan. Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston played the lead role in the play’s celebrated Broadway performance at the Neil Simon Theatre, for which he was awarded the Tony Award for Best Actor. In this volume, Cranston provides a never-before-published illuminating and personal introduction to the play.All The Way tells the story of the tumultuous first year of the presidency of Lyndon Baines Johnson, thrust into power following Kennedy’s assassination and struggling to hold onto the White House in an election that forces him to make concessions. In 1964, this pivotal year in American history, he passes a landmark civil rights bill, but begins his fateful descent into Vietnam. LBJ is fiercely determined to lift the country out of the ashes and rebuild it into The Great Society—by any means necessary.

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Politics, Drama, History, American History

Paperback Bunko

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[SARAH · Rating 5 out of 5]

"رئیس جمهور بودن چه ارزشی داره وقتی کاری که مطمئنی درسته رو انجامش ندی؟"
این نمایش نامه در یک کلمه بینظیره،وقتی میگم بینظیر یعنی بیادماندنی،قبلا نمایشنامه با شکوه‌چرخه کنتاکی رو‌از همین‌مترجم‌و‌نویسنده‌خوانده‌بودم،نمایش نامه در مورد لیندون بینز جانسون هست فردی که به محض ترور کندی به جای او بر تحت قدرت نشست،کسی که در زمانه ای پر اشوب بر مسند قدرت تکیه زد در حالیکه از یک طرف مارتین لوتر کینگ او را برای تصویب لایحه حقوق مدنی،و داشتن حق رای سیاه پوستان، تحت فشار گذاشته بود؛ از طرفی دیگه او نامزد رهبران جنوب و حزب دموکرات ها بود که به شدت با تمام وجودشان با این لایحه مخالف بودند ....مخالفان به رهبری سناتور راسل اهل جورجیا ؛تحت عنوان"دیکسو کرات "ها؛هر چیزی روله میکردند تا این لایحه تصویب نشه و از مجلس به سنا نرسه،و البته راسل به گونه ای مربی ،معلم... و پدر معنوی جانسون هم بود،و حالا جانسون باید انتخاب میکرد، در طی یازده ماه تا انتخابات دوره ی بعدی؛انتخاب میکرد تا بتواند نامزد دموکرات ها باقی بماند با لیبرال ها و کینگ به مصالحه برسد یا.... من عاشق ریتم پر شور نمایشنامه هستم،عاشق همه چیزش،جملات بینظیر جانسون،دیالوگ های توپی و اتشین... جایی حس کردم قلبم داره در دهانم می تپه،حس کردم اونجا گوشه کاخ سفید ایستادم و دارم تاریخ رو میبینم......شخصیت جانسون چنان پیچیده است که هر لحظه ،انتظار یه رفتار خارق عادت دیگه ای ازش داشتم تا شگفت زده بشم... من شیفته این نقل قول از جانسون شدم ؛عاشقِ پیشگفتار برایان کرانستون که نقش جانسون رو بعد ازبازی در سریال برکینگ بد ، برای این نمایش نامه در برادوی اجرا کرد.... من در تمام مدت ... در تمام مدتی که مشغول خواندن بودم... نگران مارتین لوتر کینگ... نگران شامورتی بازی هوور.و همه دیگر شخصیت ها بودم... و یه سوال پس ذهنم می جوشید،امیدوارم بخونید و‌لذت ببرید این روزها حس میکنم‌خواندن و فقط خواندن جان پناه منه....
تاریک ترین شب پاییزی

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

The play “All The Way '' by Robert Schenkkan, is a play that shows what happens behind closed doors at the Oval Office and a look of Lyndon B Johnson’s first year as president after the assasination of JFK. The play also shows how Johnson tries to pass a civil rights bill, which at the time was very difficult. This play overall was a frustrating play to read just because of how LBJ’s party was difficult to comply with considering how southerners thought back then. LBJ not only had to satisfy his party, but also try to satisfy MLK and his group while trying not to offend anyone. It was also interesting to read how the idea of a bill comes to play and the steps it takes to get it approved. This play definitely gives you a “behind the scene” experience with a lot of politics.

One of the main themes of this play would be discrimination and how it affects people. Discrimination is one of the themes because the play reveals unfairness that African-American people went through which sparked the creation of the civil rights act. It was also infuriating to read how some groups didn’t want the civil rights bill to be passed because of their own beliefs. It definitely makes you appreciate the progress that the US has slowly done although there is still racism today, but the US has started somewhere to end discrimination. Another theme that I also noticed was redemption. At first LBJ was a bit rocky when he first became president, but then slowly towards the end he redeemed himself to be worthy as well as a good president. He was able to get the civil rights bill passed and also get people to be on his side. It definitely shows you the importance of not judging a person at first because everyone is able to change at some point.

[Sean Herrera]

Summary: Robert Schenkkan wrote a play called All the Way which depicts President Lyndon B.
Johnson and his successful efforts to persuade members of the 88th United States Congress to
enact the Civil Rights Act of 1964. With the support of Martin Luther King Jr. the law is put to
effect and a reference is seen in the play’s title to Johnson’s presidential campaign slogan “All
the Way”.The death of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 followed Johnson's swing into the
Presidency and win a year later in the 1964 Presidential election by a landslide victory. The play
was published in 2014.
Commentary: The play shows a big role in how the morality of politics and power has a hold on
the U.S. government. “All the Way” by Robert Schenkkan gives a behind-the-scenes picture of
what happens in the Oval Office. Take a look at President Johnson’s first year in office when he
fought members of his party to convert the Civil Rights Bill into law. As the Presidential election
drew near the President managed to pass the bill with heavy resistance from his party LBJ still
managed to enact bills and later went on to become The Great Society in American History. LBJ
bent Congress to his will and enacted a law that made monumental changes to American society
and changed the perspective of a generation of Americans.

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another day, another play.
All The Way is like an episode of The West Wing if it didn't have Martin Sheen and Rob Lowe. It tells the story of Lyndon B. Johnson's first year as "accidental" President of the United States, as he tries to pass the Civil Rights Act, while also trying to run a campaign for his first term as an elected president. The play highlights the dramatic vulgarity of LBJ's interactions with political and social figures, and does not shy away from framing him as an unpleasant individual. However, his faults are balanced with his strengths, and LBJ's unrivaled passion for getting things done keeps the play moving from one scene to another. It's a quick play, one that is filled with history and politics and struggles with morality. All The Way is for lovers of politics and plays and scenes filled with dramatic debates.

[Bt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. It has some interesting things to say, but the script is relatively boring because it is very, very expository. It's teaching you a history lesson, and the dialogue is written primarily to give you information rather than to establish an emotional connection. Though there are some scenes that feel like they were thrown in there because the author said, "Oh no, we have to make LBJ seem human! Quick! Let's have a scene in his bedroom about all his self doubts!" It's not a terrible script, but it's by no means a great one either. Just mediocre, I would say. Also, in the words of my directing teacher, "All of the suspense in a play cannot hinge on a known fact." This being the 21st century, we all KNOW LBJ is going to get reelected, so it's not exciting watching them build up to that. I think LBJ is a worthy subject and a fascinating guy to study, but honestly, I would have rather just read a book about him for 3 hours.

[Jody · Rating 3 out of 5]

HBO has the film rights. We'll see where that takes us.

[Jonathan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably far more compelling as a performance. As a text, it is overcrowded, both by people and information.

[Jon Hewelt · Rating 1 out of 5]

Probably plays better than it reads.

I liked reading Schenkkan's The Kentucky Cycle in college, but have since learned of criticisms of the play cycle and its reductive view of the Appalachian region and its people.

I get a similar sense from All the Way. In attempting to paint a complex portrait of LBJ, Schenkkan reduces all the other players to their parts in LBJ's struggle for civil rights, and there is not enough time to flesh out so many characters, even within the play's narrow historical scope.

Also, the writing's not very good. As has been noted in other reviews, this play, being historical, has a lot of information to impart to its audience, and this halts the flow in two key ways.

1. Instead of finding organic ways to develop characters and relationships with each other, characters must spend a lot of time emphasizing what has happened and why it's important, making it clear what it going on amidst all the political back-alley dealings.

2. Maybe it's the nature of politics at the time, but the proceedings get very repetitive and dull after a while. Southern politician stands in the way of LBJ's immediate goal, gloats about his power, then LBJ makes a veiled threat, said gloating instantly turns to fear, then the news announces that Hurray! LBJ got his way. Yawn.

It's really odd, too, the way they set this up as a great character analysis of LBJ, because he's also incredibly one-note, but in a multi-faceted way. It's like . . . the main point is that he's self-conscious and wants validation, but can play hardball and make enemies. They say he never forgets his friend or his enemies, but he also thinks the whole world is against him. And then, every now and again, they throw in some rude, crude and lewd behavior for a little flavor. And it's all supposed to make him seem complex and unknowable, but it just feels so simplistic? Like, there are contradictions to his character, but it also feels like that's all there is to him?

It's frustrating, because instead of showing us this great range of human emotion, you mostly have characters talking ABOUT each other, and the action doesn't necessarily back it up. Hell, Ladybird gets reduced to a stereotypical "stand by your man" woman character, and that's really all we get to know about her? It feels really insulting to all these historical figures to reduce them in this way.

But like I said, maybe it plays better? But I guess that doesn't necessarily make it better. It might be a more dynamic theatrical experience, but at the end of the day, what is this play doing? What is it saying about us, then and now? We KNOW LBJ won the election. Doesn't that defang the suspense just a little?

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

All The Way, by Robert Schenkkan, is an important play. It chronicles a tumultuous time in the Presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson. Dramaturg, Tom Bryant, wrote an essay describing Schenkkan’s process, including the methodology used in determining which period of
Johnson’s presidency he should focus on for the play, and I feel that Schenkkan chose very wisely.
The play opens immediately after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. There are many characters introduced in rapid succession. This was a risky move for the playwright, as too many characters can often convolute a story and confuse an audience, but it was entirely necessary to tell this story. The writing is clear, and the characters are brought in when the context calls for them, so it is not hard to follow.
A device of dramaturgy we see often in plays which dramatize historical events is the use of flashing notes and announcements on a screen; in this play mostly used to show the countdown to the election (Johnson was thrown into the presidency about a year before Kennedy’s term was meant to be up for re-election.). This ticking clock, so to speak, is very effective in keeping the tension and drama high, and therefore keeping the reader engaged.
The real narrative begins to reveal itself quickly when discussion of passing the Civil Rights Act takes center stage. It is at this point we begin to see the negotiations, favors, bribes, surveilling, broken promises, lies, infidelities, and betrayals involved in major political actions.
Nearing the time of the Democratic Convention, three civil rights workers are killed during Freedom Summer. War with Vietnam becomes imminent. The Civil Rights Act passes. Coretta King discovers her husband’s infidelities, and King is blackmailed by the FBI.
As a result, what this play does superbly is to shine a light on the underbelly of our political system that, as Americans, we don’t want to believe exists, yet we know all too well that it does.
My only main critique of the play is its length. However engaging and well-acted it may be, it’s too long of a read, and I know that as a theatre-goer, I would not be comfortable sitting for three hours.

[Angelina G · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this play, Robert Schenkkan takes the audience though the the intense political dynamics that Lyndon B. Johnson faced when implementing the Civil Right Act. The play takes us though the balancing act that one must participate in, in modern day politics. All of the important figures involved in the Civil Rights Act make an appearance here, including MLK, FBI director J. Edgar Hoover and with each trying to have their own agendas successful. The play moves quickly from one conversation to another with little rest in between which adds tension to its importance. It an engaging and worthwhile read to see the politics of trying to pass policy within our government.

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I personally found this to be a really engaging play and I appreciate that it created such a fast paced atmosphere. I think that Robert Schenkkan dives into the give and take that is a necessary evil in American politics. The inclusion of the internal dialogue that Lyndon B. Johnson has, offers a lot of insight as to why this is important for him and helps the audience understand that. Within the play we are able to see how each important character struggles with the political dynamics and how each individual needed to make concessions in order to reach the ultimate goal, something that we can recognize in todays political atmosphere. This play also brings to light the ways in which success in policy is achieved. As good as someone’s intention as may be, there are times when it might become necessary to play dirty in order to achieve the end goal. We see this in LBJ’s handling of his own party members when trying to pass the civil rights act. We are also given glimpses of this by J. Edgar Hoover, who when told that he might be forced into retirement, uses his own unpleasant tactics by reminding LBJ that he is in possession of damaging “information”. Overall, I think that this is a worthwhile read in order to understand the political dynamics within the civil rights movement.

[Jacqueline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert Schenkkan’s “All the Way” is based on the life of President Lyndon B. Johnson in the year post the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The play takes us through a dramatic and biographical point of view through President Johnson’s standpoint as well as glimpses into those who were major figures at the time, including his political relationship with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The play begins immediately after the assassination, President Johnson had to step into the role right away while also checking in with those close to his predecessor. As his first year in office continues, it takes us through one of the most important times in American history, the passing of the Civil Rights act of 1964. President Kennedy had been a major supporter for civil rights, which left President Johnson to fill those shoes and continue the work for freedom for all. He faced these challenges while also going into his reelection to office.

Personally, I enjoyed the play. I have always been intrigued by the history of this era. I was named after Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. My mother made it a point to talk about her history so that I was aware of my namesake. This made me a little familiar with the back story of President Johnson being thrown into office.

I found the play to be an interesting take on how he handled the situation. At the time he did come off as manipulative to help his political efforts. He also made remarks that could be seen as very controversial. However, when we know how history ended up, his proclamations were very accurate. I found the play to be intriguing with how it detailed the opposition of the passing for the Civil Rights act. I also enjoy the glimpses of the relationship he built with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Overall, I found it to be an interesting read. I likely would not want to read it again or view it. Mainly because I can only handle so much politics at a time. The play does come off as very pro-democratic which some may not appreciate.

[David Anzaldo · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the Way is a play written by Robert Schenekkan that follows Lyndon Baines Johnson's propulsion to the head of the nation as a result of Kennedy's death. LBJ is thrown into a the political arena where he is pulled by both sides of the aisle in terms of what they want done with Kennedy's civil rights bill. The southern democrats want the bill modified to the point of being useless or for it to be thrown out while MLK and the MFDP rally to support it. The span of the play covers and discusses those that lost their lives attempting to register to vote and other tragedies that occurred at the time. The play is interesting in that it uses those tragedies as inspiration for LBJ to support civil rights even harder to prevent his party from being divided. By far the most interesting part is LBJ'S character; to call him Machiavellian almost feels like an understatement. In fact my favorite line from this play is when he describes being a politician as having a need for control and to plan for every contingency. Through this play you are allowed to witness the experience of a president's conflict of having to balance many groups and their wants. LBJ will balance the anger of his party and make deals while doing the same with MLK and his group in a delicate balance to slowly push out reform while trying not to offend too many southerners. The play was full of powerful dialogue and language that brought that characters to life. It was very interesting to read the civil rights movement from the unique perspective of the president and the politicians behind the scenes and their thoughts/interactions with MLK and his supporters. This taught me a new perspective on how social movements are handled or seen by politicians and if you are also curious I would recommend giving it a read as well.

[Arely Calderon · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the Way by Robert Schenkkan and Bryan Cranston tells an interesting narrative of Lyndon B. Johnson, a president who wants to end racial injustice and inequality in The United States of America. Throughout this play, we keep an eye on LBJ’s initial presidential term after the assassination of John F. Kennedy. We also witness the attempts made to pass an essential civil rights bill. Without giving too much away, this narrative provides an extensive and detailed overview of how Lyndon B. Johnson shifted the perspectives of Congress according to his will, as well as his connection to Martin Luther King Jr. Personally, I really enjoyed the historical framework used in the writing of this play. It depicts the inner workings of presidential politics. But, returning to the historical background, it was fascinating to learn about this president, whom I was unfamiliar with. It was phenomenal to learn that this man appointed 36th president following John F. Kennedy’s brutal assassination. Also learnt about the promises that this president made to the country, such as a new civil rights bill and a tax cut that he was able to enact. I believe these were historical initiatives that John F. Kennedy wanted to complete before his death, and Lyndon B. Johnson simply just carried them out. This play also allowed me, as an observer, to understand and evaluate Lyndon B. Johnson’s connection with Martin Luther King Jr. Both of the individuals in question share similar
aspirations with the civil rights act, which Johnson signed in King’s memory. Upon further examination about their connection, Lyndon B. Johnson also happened to declare a national day of mourning after Martin Luther King Jr.’s death.

[Trinity]

“All The Way” by Robert Schenkkan is a play that was written in inspiration by Lyndon B. Johnson being sworn into presidency after John F. Kennedy’s assassination. Throughout this play, we see the struggle that civil rights groups, led by Martin Luther King Jr., as well as President Lyndon’s efforts to convince the senate to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964. We see the twist and turns of politicians and how two faced they are to gain good standing with supporters on civil rights. Politicians would not stop buttering up the supporters of civil rights to gain popularity and in turn hopefully win the presidency.
I did enjoy reading “All The Way” by Robert Schenkkan. The wording and some of the stories President Lyndon Johnson uses to persuade some can be quite inappropriate, however it seems to fit perfectly into the play and adds another element to the storytelling. I would recommend reading this play as a school assignment when learning about United States history. Definitely for a highschool class because any age longer would probably be a little too inappropriate in language. Obviously this play is not a word for word play, but it does a good job in laying out the events that took place after President Kennedy’s assassination. The playwright wrote “All The Way” in a very readable way; it’s very easy to read and follow along. I sometimes find that plays can have a little difficult of a layout to follow, which ultimately makes it a little lackluster to read. So that’s a personal favorite of mine. Overall, I would be interested in reading more works by Robert Schenkkan or even plays that are inspired by historical events.

[Madison Oliver]

All the Way, a historical play by Robert Schenkkan tells the story of Lyndon B. Johnson after becoming the 36th President of the United States. It shows his journey after being thrust into office following Kennedy’s assassination and the struggle he goes through to hold on to the White House in the following election. With a strong determination to end racial injustice in the United States, President Johnson advocates for the Civil Rights Bill which is not only yearned for by many, but is also faced with equally as much detestment. He works with the 88th U.S. Congress, as well as other powerful historical figures, such as Martin Luther King Jr. to reach his goal.
I found that it was interesting in the way that LBJ was presented throughout this entire play. The characterization, in my opinion, was well done and was very effective in the sense that it showed what many political figures are like behind closed doors. What I mean by this is that when in front of the public, the president usually seems put together and very professional, uses formal language and speaks eloquently. In this play, we got to see the rougher side of LBJ, where his alliances were, and the act that he could put on just to boost his chance of gaining power. Overall, I found this to be a more challenging read that I really had to dive into and focus on to make sure I grasped everything that was occurring. The playwright also does a good job of pacing the historical events that take place throughout the play, incorporating them into LBJ’s presidency and election campaign, and how they make an impact on his goals.

[Mia Costa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The playwright, “All the Way,” written by Robert Schenkkan is a drama, historical, and biographical story about the first year of the presidency of Lyndon Baines Johnson in 1964. Over the power of Kennnedy’s assassination and struggling to hold onto the White House in an election that forces him to make concessions. The play is also about a president who is determined to end racial injustice. Johnson stepped up after the assassination of JFK and successfully ran for re-election after pushing through the controversial Civil Rights Act. All the Way really documents the relationship between Johnson and Martin Luther King. The influential political peers offer an intricate and intimate portrayal of how Johnson bent congress to his own will.

The play was very interesting to read because it has a lot of emotion towards the Republicans. I understand that Johnson was trying his best with Civil Rights towards his first year as a president but it was a whole scene towards this. Also from reading this play I am not a fan of listening to politics. It gets too heavy for me to fully understand the situation and I don’t like how the playwright was long. I do like learning and understanding history, especially about ex-presidents. But learning about this kind of stuff I hate learning about democrat parties. I don’t care about what they want or they think what’s “right” for this country. If we learned more about stuff dealing with republicans I will be all ears for it. Again the play was interesting but I wouldn’t read it again or watch the movies based on it.

[Pia · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the Way is a brilliant play, by playwright Robert Schenkkan, as it tells the story of Lyndon B. Johnson's first year as an "accidental president" as he blatantly tries to pass the Civil Rights Act, while still try to keep the country together. One aspect I love about the play is the dialogue. The dialogue and lines are probably the best part of the play, as when you are reading it feels more real and you actually believe that these exact words came out of the concrete, historical figures that are featured in this story. Another aspect, I liked about it was the characters and I know these are actually physical, factual people that really existed but the way Schenkkan wrote them made them seem more personable and mortal because they're not just another bunch of historical mystery's from a long time ago but actual people who believe in what they are fighting for. The only aspect I didn't whole heartedly like was probably the story, as they're many abrupt scene changes that are sprayed throughout the play and they can get distracting as some can be rigid to follow. Although, they are needed to keep the story afloat and going, without them it would have been stale. In the end, I honestly loved the play and even if you are not a big history fan you will love this play, as its a great adaptation to the historical events that unfolded at the most crucial time of American History.

[Pauline Butcher Bird · Rating 4 out of 5]

No one can doubt the brilliance of All The Way.

Thrust into the role of president after John F. Kennedy's assassination, Johnson wastes no time in forcing the Civil Rights Bill through congress against formidable opposition (something that Donald Trump could learn from). The second half, which I found very difficult to follow because of the complexity of groups haggling against Johnson's campaign for the presidency, is less satisfying.

I doubt many theatres could afford to stage this play with a cast of 41 and more than 20 others walking on and off so I am unlikely to see it live. I saw the film which follows this script almost to the word. There is a nice introduction by Brian Cranston who is dynamic as Johnson in both the play and film. A must for any would-be playwrights.
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[Vanessa]

I think Robert Schenkkan did a good job illustrating LBJ's first moments in the presidency seat after abruptly taking charge after JFK's assassination. It better allowed readers to understand American History and especially the civil rights movement. This play caused me to feel for those in the 1960s who had struggled being bullied and harassed, Schenkkan did an amazing job writing this play as he accurately showed the struggled and all the effort put into ending racism in the 1960s. The play was a very tense read as I felt overcrowded with the characters and information. Although Schenkkan has stated he had been fascinated by president Johnson I do not believe his writing is biased, after reading and viewing movies and articles on president johnson I feel Schenkkan accurately depicted and presented johnson correctly. demonstrating his character is essential as it allowed viewers to accurately view how cutthroat LBJ was during his presidency.

[Allison Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

“All the Way” is a historical play, the story revolves around President Lyndon B. Johnson and his first year in office as President of the United States of America. He became president after Kennedy was assassinated. This play highlights the challenges faced as well as Political doings that Johnson faced during this time of chaos. This play efficiently portrays the historical events how we have known them to be. The Character development and thematic focus with the power dynamics in this play is intricately woven into the narrative and with morality. I thought the language was chosen carefully and evocatively, capturing the time era effectively. The unease between African Americans, MLK, the government and Society were eye-opening for sure... Johnson’s leadership was complex, but he held his own, it was great seeing it from this point of view. The play kept me in suspense for the entirety of my reading. The play was insightful, to say the least and I enjoyed reading it as well.

[Ivan Diaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

In all honesty, Robert Schenkkan’s “All the Way” is one of the hardest plays I have ever read, at least in recent memory. Despite this, it doesn’t detract from the message it delivers, the theme of power that is present throughout it, and the moral complexities that are brought up time and time again. It is truly astonishing, history practically unfolds itself as Schenkkan’s piece progresses, shedding light on the unknown and placing the well-known beneath a microscope. I can say, with absolute certainty, that those interested in history, politics, and/or racial ethics will have a pleasant time in reading the play or viewing the film adaptation. In fact, I’d say that the experience would be greatly enhanced with some prior knowledge!

[valeria chiquito]

ll the way is about President Lyndon B. Johnson’s efforts to maneuver members of the 88th United States congress to enact the landmark civil rights act, following JFK’s assassination.

As controversial as it would sound, I didn’t really like this play much, mostly because I don’t know too much about politics in itself, I don’t really involve or read too much about it either so I don’t really like this play, but I found it interesting as Johnson wants to have the act passed although there are some troubles because Strom Thurmond and James Eastland apposed the act which manipulates and causes the act to have troubles being passed and off the senate floor, although it gets passed eventually, it ends with bringing future problems when it comes to people who appose the act.

[Friends! · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the Way, the paperback, is a play that tells the story of Lyndon B. Johnson. LBJ, being the president following President Kennedy, is in the works to pass the Civil Rights Act, hoping to end racial discrimination. Aside from politics, we get much of the drama from discovering LBJ's background information, that being a human of complexity, kind and mean.

In reading, LBJ felt like a completely fleshed out character. The pacing felt nice as I read it much like how I read my fantasy novels. I can imagine seeing this played out to be something amazing, as I lean heavily into political affairs and find it as a good source of entertainment. There were good lessons for leadership roles as well as the power that comes with. In the end, it's an engaging story and was a pleasant read.

[Shawn Aebi · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing and frenetic play - moves around quite a bit between circles; not a play about touching prose but rather the actions that are either taken or not taken to pursue the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Mostly centered around LBJ, the work also brings in MLK and SCLC members, McNamara, Hubert Humphrey, J. Edgar Hoover and to a minor extent, Lady Bird. The play does quite well at explaining how the Dixiecrats split away from the Democratic party due to their racial attitudes, an artifact we are still struggling with today and a toxic element which I personally witnessed first hand in the 1970s.

[Justine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The play All the Way was an amazing portrayal of American history. The play allows the reader to see different aspects of politics not shown to the public at the time. It is a great play that shows several different struggles in all characters with powerful emotions and feelings of realness to it all. This would be a good film to show in a history class where students can understand everything happening through history pretty clearly. Both acts of the play focus on the timeline from the assassination to the new election and several things in between. I would recommend the play to someone interested in politics or history.

[Larysa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would compare a person's life path with the universe, which is unpredictable, unknown, and keeping many secrets. And this story is about Lyndon B. Jonson, who accepted the challenge to be a president after John F. Kennedy's assassination and dared to continue the dangerous fight for civil rights, particularly the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Reading the play, I observed the feelings of the person who was responsible not only for himself and his family but for Millions Of People. This play is about the strength of human nature, the ability to convince and go all the way to the end and Not give up. And the title “All the Way” is very voluminous and reflects the context.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this play a lot. It was not my favorite play, but I think it was very good. I had some trouble getting invested in the play, but I did find it very entertaining by the end of the play.

I also found the themes surrounding politics and corruption to be very interesting, especially the question of whether good intentions excuse certain actions. I think that exploring those themes is incredibly important, especially in today’s political climate.

It would be very interesting to see how modern audiences react to the play compared to audiences from 2012 because of how much politics have changed in the United States.

[Lehi Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lyndon Johnson, the 36th President of the United States. He took the role after the assassination of John F Kennedy. I very much liked the play! It took me multiple times to read it. I think that it was more my setting of reading compared to the actual text. Wasn’t the play fault. I do recommend this play! It really shows how much strength and power play in this role. I do appreciate that many programs that were passed during his presidency are currently around today. It really does show the huge affect he gave during his time! Very interesting. 5 stars for sure! Please note that this okay is regarding a time where things were acceptable. So keep an open mind.

[Fernando Preciado · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful dramatization of the more accurate side of the political world. The structure of the play was new to me as far as the cut scenes but it works with what the play hopes to go for. I liked how it dived into the inner-workings of Washington in a way that shows the true side of the leaders in charge of the country, which truth be told, made me question our democracy. The times the play broke the third wall was a genius way to allow the audience to get into the minds of the characters and see their true reasoning behind the things they did. All in all, terrific play of a turbulent time in American history.

[Alexzandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt that this play was well written. I liked how it showed LBJ’s relationship with Martin Luther King and his other political peers. One quote that was my favorite is “Any jackass can kick a barn down, it takes a carpenter to build one”. There were a lot of messages like this throughout the play that I enjoyed reading. However I was not a big fan of the play only because I am just not a big fan of movies/plays/stories that deal with the presidency overall. This is the main reason as to why I am giving this play a rating of four stars. But other than this I think that it is a good read and would recommend it.