Chief of Staff: Lyndon Johnson and His Presidency

by W. Marvin Watson, Sherwin Markman

Chief of Staff to the President is perhaps the most important political appointment in our nation's government. Aside from handling the myriad of day to day details that keep the White House running, the Chief of Staff is often the President's closest confidante and gatekeeper--anyone who wants access to the Oval Office goes through the Chief of Staff.

President Lyndon Johnson bestrode the American political scene as a colossus of energy, ambition, and purpose. He attempted to achieve no less then the total eradication of poverty and expended every last ounce of his political capitol with Congress to pass Civil Rights legislation. And, throughout, he was--as he knew better than anyone else--being destroyed by a war he inherited, detested, and could do nothing to stop.

With Marvin Watson, his Chief of Staff and most intimate adviser, finally revealing what he knows about this extraordinary figure, readers are taken, firsthand, inside the presidential life and times of Lyndon Johnson.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Presidents

368 pages, Hardcover

First published September 15, 2004

Reviews

[Mark Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very informative perspective view from LBJ's chief of staff during the years 1965-1968. W.Marvin Watson gives the reader insight as to LBJ's brilliant abilities as a politician in passing more legislation through Congress during his first 2 years as president than most presidents did during their entire presidency. The reader will also learn that the war in Vietnam became a source of anguish and haunted LBJ during the final 2 years of his term.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of a man who became one of the most powerful men in the White House. And, his name is not Bush, Johnson, Rayburn, Baker or Houston. In 1964 LBJ called Marvin Watson to come to the White House to be his Chief of Staff. This is Watson’s story. From a humble youth as a music major in the Baylor Golden Wave Band to the side of LBJ, Marvin Watson served with character and integrity. After the White House years, Watson served in a variety of roles, including as President of Dallas Baptist University. This is the story of a life well-led. JIM

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much because it was about a person in history whom I knew very little about, Lyndon Johnson.
This book is about President Johnson from the viewpoint of his chief of staff, W. Marvin Watson. It is not an unbiased opinion. He is a strong supporter and good friend of President Johnson, so much so that he worked on his staff. His loyalty is undiminishing as the book goes along and even defends some of the points that other people have seen as weaknesses in Johnson's presidency.

To that point I don't recommend this book if you want to see the strengths and flaws of President Johnson from a neutral point of view. Mr. Watson was very involved for most of President Johnson's second term in office of the daily happenings as the chief of staff, and was a very good, loyal friend to the President. I am glad that the President had a chief of staff like him, but it is a very pro-Johnson book.
I did enjoy this book in that I learned a little more about the inner working of the White House and how much work they have to do. Every night Mr. Watson would bring home reading that he would do before the President was allowed to see it and then the next morning he would give it to the President to view.
In short, I learned there is a lot of work that is done on a White House staff, and I learned a lot about Lyndon Johnson. I appreciate that he had a good and loyal friend like W. Marvin Watson who was on his chief of staff