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Lyndon B. Johnson: Portrait of a President
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Plot Summary of Lyndon B. Johnson: Portrait of a President
"

Oxford University Press, Nov 2003, 30.00, 396 pp.
ISBN: 0195159209

Professor provides an incredible biography of one of the most complex presidents of the twentieth century, LBJ. Readers obtain insight into a compassionate yet deceitful individual who believed in his populist social reforms; Professor Dallek believes LBJ was motivated by an impoverish childhood. Of most interest is how LBJ anguished over the Nam War that just seemed to get worse everyday and he finding no way out of the quicksand. Also interesting is the self comparison to JFK and RFK.

Well written and easy to read, LYNDON B. JOHNSON: PORTRAIT OF A PRESIDENT is a fantastic bio of an individual who wielded power like an emperor yet had a fragile ego. His legacy includes Medicare, environmental protection, and noteworthy improvements in civil rights but is often overshadowed by Viet Nam. Many of LBJ's accomplishments still impact Americans today thirty-five years after he left office. Professor Dallek provides the complete picture of the man in a fascinating biography that paints an interesting picture (pros and cons), not the anecdotal generalizing spin that is seen too often today. This is a great bio worth reading by everyone especially historical and political science fans.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Lyndon B. Johnson: Portrait of a President
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
job/profession: - politician
Job/profession/poverty story Yes
Politician story? - Left wing pol fighting right wing
Period of greatest activity? - 1950+

Subject of Biography
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - politician/elected ruler
Ethnicity - White
Nationality - American (!)
How sensitive is this person? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other people
Physique - very athletic

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - Southeast - Texas
Century: - 1960's-1970's

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - no torture/death
Writer's slant towards subject: - favorable
Story of entire life, or part? - story of nearly entire life
How much dialogue in bio? - significantly more descript than dialog
How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life? - 51%-75% of book
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Robert Dallek Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Susan D. Minkalis  

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