1 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:28,400 Speaker 1: No man, oh man. Okay, So let's start today with 2 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:32,440 Speaker 1: very crass uh crass intro to the subject of our show. 3 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:36,160 Speaker 1: Let's set the towne all right, yeah, agreed. So, once 4 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:41,000 Speaker 1: upon a time, there's this guy who urinates on a 5 00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 1: secret service man who is shielding this guy from public 6 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:49,479 Speaker 1: view on. The secret service man is horrified because you know, 7 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:52,639 Speaker 1: he's in the Secret Service and therefore gonna go out 8 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:54,120 Speaker 1: on a limb and say he's not used to people 9 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:58,480 Speaker 1: peeing on him. The person the subject of today's podcast, 10 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:03,160 Speaker 1: when when he see he's the shocked expression of horror 11 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:06,640 Speaker 1: on this guy's face, he only says, that's all right, son, 12 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:12,840 Speaker 1: it's my prerogative. It's my prerogative. Hello everybody, thank you 13 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:15,559 Speaker 1: for tuning in. My name is Ben, my name is Noel. 14 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 1: And the shoe pisser in question, uh is none other 15 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 1: than Lyndon Baines Johnson, the thirty six president of these 16 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 1: fair United States and notorious shoop here. Yes, yes, out 17 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:36,560 Speaker 1: of all the presidents, he is the most notorious when 18 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:40,560 Speaker 1: it comes to the high crime of shooping, or at 19 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:43,840 Speaker 1: least the eccentric behavior. This is the president who took 20 00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 1: the oath of office on November, almost immediately following the 21 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 1: assassination of President Kennedy. It's true and on that day 22 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:58,720 Speaker 1: when he assumed his new job as president and took 23 00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:01,640 Speaker 1: residence in the White House, US, he immediately set to 24 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 1: overhauling the telephone system in the White House in a 25 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:09,640 Speaker 1: very very big and dare we say, ridiculous way? Oh 26 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 1: we dare we do? Dare my friend, because this was 27 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 1: just baffling. So the first thing he did was that 28 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 1: he had phones installed everywhere, beneath dining tables, coffee tables, 29 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:28,519 Speaker 1: in tables and bathrooms, on windows sills. And you can 30 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:32,679 Speaker 1: find in the oral history for the LBJ Presidential Library 31 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:36,360 Speaker 1: by James Jones, the argument that the president led the 32 00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 1: construction of a wired mobile phone network using phones as 33 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:43,640 Speaker 1: call relay points, just so wherever he went in the 34 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 1: building he would never have to get off the phone 35 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:49,680 Speaker 1: unless he wanted to. Yeah, he was a notorious multitasker. 36 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 1: He would often take several calls at the same time. 37 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:54,240 Speaker 1: I'm trying to picture that. It's like, did he have 38 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:57,119 Speaker 1: handlers that would pass him the phone and then say, 39 00:02:57,120 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 1: excuse me, the President needs a minute, And then he 40 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:00,320 Speaker 1: would get another one, and then he would have another 41 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:03,200 Speaker 1: one passed back to him. I'm confused. We do, however, 42 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:06,520 Speaker 1: know that he was a big fan of the power 43 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 1: move and he apparently liked to use the phone as 44 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 1: a tool. It was even said as a weapon, because 45 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 1: he could bully people very easily on the phone, Like 46 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:20,200 Speaker 1: he was so comfortable with that that he had it 47 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 1: down pat and could essentially get people to do what 48 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 1: he wanted by speaking to them in a certain way. 49 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:28,360 Speaker 1: And the beauty of this is you don't have to 50 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:32,040 Speaker 1: depend on our word for this. Because he also recorded 51 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 1: like every conversation that he had, which I think there 52 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 1: are nine thousand tapes around that you can actually get 53 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:40,960 Speaker 1: your hands on, and he had them transcribed and in 54 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 1: his evening reading materials for the day, his handlers would 55 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 1: slip him these transcripts so he could go over the 56 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:50,680 Speaker 1: day's business. And it wasn't all pure paranoia right then, 57 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:52,800 Speaker 1: I mean, it was to kind of show that he 58 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 1: had gotten things done. But also he could call people 59 00:03:55,760 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 1: out on things, couldn't he, right, Yeah, And he used 60 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 1: this method off if there was someone in the press 61 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 1: that he felt had misquoted him in an interview, he 62 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 1: would go back and check the transcripts if there were 63 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 1: another member of Congress or another politician who was waffling 64 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 1: or backing away from something they had agreed to on 65 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:18,520 Speaker 1: the interview, Johnson had no compunction whatsoever about going public 66 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:22,039 Speaker 1: with it. But there's another thing you can find here, 67 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 1: nine thousand tapes. That's a lot of tape. Uh. He 68 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:28,640 Speaker 1: would signal to his secretary with like a little wave 69 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 1: of his hands his finger in let's roll circle, uh 70 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:36,600 Speaker 1: to turn on the recorders. But his staff sometimes forgot 71 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 1: to turn them off. So you can also hear him 72 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:43,920 Speaker 1: having these very strange, mundane conversations. There's one where he's 73 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:45,840 Speaker 1: trying to get a guy to come cut his hair 74 00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:50,640 Speaker 1: for free as the president. And actually, can we can 75 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 1: we play a clip of this Casey and I now 76 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:58,280 Speaker 1: about getting in the paper and getting advertised. I'm a 77 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 1: poor manna, I don't make much money, but I got 78 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:02,599 Speaker 1: a wife and a couple of daughters and four or 79 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:04,680 Speaker 1: five people that run around. Woman. I like the way 80 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 1: you make them look. This is your country, and I 81 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:08,600 Speaker 1: want to see what you want to do about When 82 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:11,719 Speaker 1: do you want me to come? Well? Defends first on 83 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:15,960 Speaker 1: how my kid had cost me. Okay, so a notorious multitasker, 84 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:20,880 Speaker 1: shoop here and cheapscape. Well, he liked he liked a deal. 85 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 1: But it's interesting to us. In a time when phones 86 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:29,680 Speaker 1: were known thing, but they weren't as ubiquitous as they 87 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:33,200 Speaker 1: are today, it's strange to us that his mission was 88 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:36,279 Speaker 1: to make every place where he spent any sustained amount 89 00:05:36,279 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 1: of time essentially one big telephone office. And this didn't 90 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 1: stop at the White House, did it. Now he was 91 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:46,279 Speaker 1: a native Texan, as you could probably hear from his 92 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 1: drawl um. But he had a ranch house, like a 93 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:52,800 Speaker 1: really sweet, sprawling ranch house in Austin, Texas. So on 94 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 1: this property he had a giant oak tree wired with 95 00:05:56,720 --> 00:06:00,200 Speaker 1: a telephone jack and a thirty five ft cord. And 96 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 1: and that wasn't it. I mean he had I think 97 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 1: he was probably the first president or maybe human that 98 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 1: had a phone installed next to a hammock. So you know, 99 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:12,880 Speaker 1: he was getting his R and R. But if an 100 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:15,359 Speaker 1: important call came down, he was gonna take it. And 101 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:18,719 Speaker 1: you have to wonder was he a hammock swinger or 102 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:22,120 Speaker 1: was he just laid there because he'd wonder about the cord. 103 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 1: He He also had at least fifteen local and long 104 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 1: distance lines at this ranch, which became known as the 105 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:32,000 Speaker 1: Texas White House. Do we mentioned that part yet? No, 106 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:35,600 Speaker 1: the Texas White House, and he had seventy two handsets. 107 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:39,719 Speaker 1: Here's one that I thought of when we earlier mentioned 108 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:43,680 Speaker 1: his notorious multitasking. One of these handsets was built to 109 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:47,160 Speaker 1: handle twenty four calls at once and it's a single handset. 110 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:50,920 Speaker 1: So was this conference calling? Was he switching back and forth? 111 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:54,640 Speaker 1: Was it just a cool gadget that he felt a 112 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 1: man of his station deserved. Well, he certainly was an innovator, 113 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:02,640 Speaker 1: at least in unreasonable requests lead to technological advancements, because 114 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:06,839 Speaker 1: before we had anything approaching cellular phone service, he had 115 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 1: phone operators go with him on Air Force one so 116 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 1: that he could stay in contact with the Texas Switchboard. 117 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:15,960 Speaker 1: And just to give you a sense of his daily 118 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:21,320 Speaker 1: telephone call uh workload. Um, it's estimated that he took 119 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:24,520 Speaker 1: somewhere in the neighborhood of between forty and one hundred 120 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 1: calls a day, and that includes like ones that he 121 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 1: took at the same time. Again, I'm picturing him with 122 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:31,840 Speaker 1: one phone on one ear and one on the other, 123 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:36,280 Speaker 1: like a cartoonish absurd thing. I don't know, but it 124 00:07:36,320 --> 00:07:39,360 Speaker 1: didn't stop on the phone. He he was a maximizer. 125 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 1: He liked to make the most of every single second, 126 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:44,560 Speaker 1: and he did not like to stop talking. There are tales, 127 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:48,760 Speaker 1: in addition to urinating on secret Serviceman, where he would 128 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:52,680 Speaker 1: force people to follow him into the bathroom while he 129 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 1: dropped trial and or adduce and continued talking to this 130 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:03,320 Speaker 1: reporter and or head of state even right, yeah, the 131 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 1: Johnson treatment. He would get in people's faces as well. 132 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:09,760 Speaker 1: He would follow them into the bathroom and harangue them 133 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:13,600 Speaker 1: while they were while they were peeting. But Nold absolutely right. 134 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 1: He was also fond of making people follow him into 135 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:20,520 Speaker 1: the bathroom and lecturing them, continuing his lecture rather while 136 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:24,040 Speaker 1: he was using the restroom, And if he were defecating, 137 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:26,200 Speaker 1: he would just leave the door open so he could 138 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:31,240 Speaker 1: still stare at them. That's uh, it was just cartoonish. 139 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:34,480 Speaker 1: What I mean, what kind of like Austin Powers Mike 140 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 1: Myers sort of joke is that, you know, that's a 141 00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:40,120 Speaker 1: little creepy if and he was you know, very much 142 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 1: a very much a creep and philanderer. He also you 143 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:47,439 Speaker 1: can find snippets of him. We didn't think he was 144 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:50,240 Speaker 1: being recorded talking about stuff like this on the phone. 145 00:08:50,320 --> 00:08:54,280 Speaker 1: He was notorious for cheating on his wife, Ladybird as 146 00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 1: she was popularly called, And we came to find that 147 00:08:58,360 --> 00:09:02,360 Speaker 1: his staff was also involved in this. Because again he's 148 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 1: always wired, right, He's always about about building these contraptions, 149 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:08,040 Speaker 1: these phone networks. He built something else. He's talking about 150 00:09:08,040 --> 00:09:10,960 Speaker 1: the buzzer. Oh, yeah, you know the one. What's what's 151 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:13,680 Speaker 1: happening with the buzzer? What's the buzz about the buzzer? No? Yeah, 152 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:16,240 Speaker 1: so it's you know, it was a button um that 153 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:22,840 Speaker 1: he had his staff uh installed in the oval office 154 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:28,440 Speaker 1: so that his handlers and secret service protectors could give 155 00:09:28,440 --> 00:09:30,120 Speaker 1: it a good buzz. It would be connected to his 156 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 1: office if his wife was cited, because he was notorious 157 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 1: for hiring pretty young things to work in and around 158 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 1: him in his office and uh, you know, more than 159 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:45,400 Speaker 1: a few rumors about him possibly getting a little attention 160 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 1: on the side when old Ladybird was not around, right, right, 161 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 1: you know, buzz buzz buzz. We know Ladybird has been cited. Um, 162 00:09:55,120 --> 00:10:01,000 Speaker 1: you know, pants on, I guess which which fits? Unfortunately 163 00:10:01,080 --> 00:10:05,080 Speaker 1: with his character. While we're doing the crass Johnson facts, uh, 164 00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:09,640 Speaker 1: we should admit that he was probably out of I 165 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:11,280 Speaker 1: don't want to say he was the most likely out 166 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:13,839 Speaker 1: of all presidents, but he's definitely in the top five 167 00:10:13,920 --> 00:10:17,000 Speaker 1: presidents most likely to send someone a dick pick because 168 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:20,240 Speaker 1: he was fond of showing both men and women. His 169 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:24,600 Speaker 1: genitals is Johnson. He named it also, yeah, he apparently 170 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:28,439 Speaker 1: named it jumbo. Okay, yeah, so, at least by his 171 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:33,559 Speaker 1: own admission, well endowed fellow. I just why would this 172 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 1: guy be allowed in public restrooms? Why would he be 173 00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:44,360 Speaker 1: allowed in public He seems like a nightmare. And speaking 174 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:48,400 Speaker 1: of pants, yes, yes, yes, I'd love to hear another clip. Uh. 175 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:52,920 Speaker 1: This one is a conversation between President Johnson and his 176 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:57,520 Speaker 1: tailor where he describes to him the Taylor um some 177 00:10:57,720 --> 00:11:03,079 Speaker 1: particulars about the measurements for these custom slacks. He needs 178 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 1: some extra room in h in certain areas, shall we say, 179 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:13,160 Speaker 1: mist uh, Joe? Or is your father the one that 180 00:11:13,320 --> 00:11:18,400 Speaker 1: makes a closet there? We're all together? Uh? You all 181 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:24,000 Speaker 1: made me some real right weight slacks. Now, I need 182 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:27,559 Speaker 1: about six pairs for summer wear. I want him a 183 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:29,920 Speaker 1: half inch larger than the waist than they were before, 184 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:33,160 Speaker 1: except the two or three inches of stuff left back 185 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:35,000 Speaker 1: in there. So I can take them up. I very 186 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:40,360 Speaker 1: ten or fifteen pounds a month, So leave me at 187 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:43,240 Speaker 1: least your I have for inches the backgrod let him 188 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:47,240 Speaker 1: out to take them up. Yeah. Now another thing, that 189 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:50,680 Speaker 1: crutch down where your nuts hang is always a little 190 00:11:50,720 --> 00:11:53,120 Speaker 1: too tight. So when you make them up, give me 191 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 1: a each that I can let out there because they 192 00:11:56,840 --> 00:12:00,640 Speaker 1: cut me. It's just like riding a Why these are 193 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:03,600 Speaker 1: almost the best that I've had anywhere in the United States. 194 00:12:04,080 --> 00:12:07,560 Speaker 1: But uh, when I get a little late, they cut 195 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:10,319 Speaker 1: me unto there. You never do have much margin, that 196 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:12,600 Speaker 1: WI see. If you can't leave me about it an 197 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:16,920 Speaker 1: age from the part of the separate damn uh around 198 00:12:17,240 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 1: under my back of my bung hole. So I let 199 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:24,360 Speaker 1: it out there if I need to. Ah, Yes, the 200 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:28,920 Speaker 1: old Johnson bung hole. Yes, it's true. That is indeed 201 00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:32,640 Speaker 1: the thirty six president of these fine United States. Hey, 202 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 1: you know what we've got going on today? That's not 203 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:37,760 Speaker 1: too far off right. Oh my gosh, what if Johnson 204 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:41,079 Speaker 1: had Twitter? I can't imagine. My favorite part is where 205 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:43,560 Speaker 1: he says, you know, Dann will the nuts hang, And 206 00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:47,720 Speaker 1: he does have He does have a compelling accent. He 207 00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:54,679 Speaker 1: was known as a gifted vocal communicator despite the the aggression. 208 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 1: It's interesting because he came from a poverty stricken community 209 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:03,440 Speaker 1: and grew up impoverished with oral storytelling backgrounds. And he 210 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:08,360 Speaker 1: always knew that he wanted to be a politician, right 211 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:11,760 Speaker 1: because his after they lost the family farm, his father 212 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:18,040 Speaker 1: became a politician instead. But he never lost this focus, 213 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:23,280 Speaker 1: the central focus on the power of communication. And although 214 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:29,280 Speaker 1: he recorded so much of his phone correspondence, he still 215 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:33,720 Speaker 1: adhered to rules once articulated by Earl Long, who was 216 00:13:33,800 --> 00:13:37,800 Speaker 1: Louisiana's three time governor, and it reads the following, don't 217 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:40,880 Speaker 1: write anything you can phone. Don't phone anything you can 218 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:44,080 Speaker 1: talk face to face, don't talk anything you can smile, 219 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:50,360 Speaker 1: don't smile anything you can wink. Don't wink anything you cannot. So, 220 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:56,000 Speaker 1: because of his reliance on the telephone, despite the energy 221 00:13:56,080 --> 00:13:59,120 Speaker 1: he put into uh, you know, having face to face 222 00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:04,840 Speaker 1: communication over written correspondence, these recordings become better sources than 223 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:09,719 Speaker 1: documents for tracing what he actually did. And you can 224 00:14:09,760 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 1: see sort of the let's say, the edges of the 225 00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:17,720 Speaker 1: unrecorded conversations he had where he was dragging people into 226 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:20,320 Speaker 1: the bathroom. Oh no, it's a highly highly teachable moment 227 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 1: of being really able to see the way a very 228 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:26,800 Speaker 1: powerful man like this actually conducted business because apparently, uh, 229 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:28,920 Speaker 1: in a lot of his public addresses he was a 230 00:14:28,920 --> 00:14:32,840 Speaker 1: lot more stiff and more formal, and you know, we're 231 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:35,000 Speaker 1: we're we're dinging this guy for a lot of things 232 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:38,960 Speaker 1: that are very dingworthy. Rightly so, but you know, he 233 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:42,640 Speaker 1: also had some problematic policies. It wasn't he wasn't just 234 00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:45,720 Speaker 1: you know, not the best president because of you know, 235 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 1: his tendencies to to flash and urinate on people. Um, 236 00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:53,600 Speaker 1: he also that's no problematic attitudes towards uh, you know, 237 00:14:53,640 --> 00:14:56,240 Speaker 1: the US involvement in Vietnam, Isn't that right? Then? Yeah, 238 00:14:56,240 --> 00:15:01,200 Speaker 1: it's commonly seeing by historians as a which misstep for 239 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:04,920 Speaker 1: his administration, perhaps indeed the chief misstep, and that would 240 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:09,280 Speaker 1: be the escalation of the war in Vietnam. You can 241 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:12,800 Speaker 1: read an article about this on CNN, UH called how 242 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:15,640 Speaker 1: lb J Wrecked his presidency. That should just give you 243 00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:18,000 Speaker 1: a taste of where people are coming from here. By 244 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:21,040 Speaker 1: Julian Zelizer. I love that name. Those are two z's 245 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:25,400 Speaker 1: very strong name. Zelizer. It's interesting because again in these recordings, 246 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 1: we find that off stage when He wasn't grand standing 247 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:33,080 Speaker 1: to the public. He was conflicted and deeply so about 248 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:37,280 Speaker 1: what the hell they should do. He calls it a mess. 249 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 1: He can't see a way out of it. Sure, um, 250 00:15:39,640 --> 00:15:40,960 Speaker 1: And you know, and the guy was not without his 251 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:44,080 Speaker 1: strong points. He did sign the Civil Rights Act of 252 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:48,120 Speaker 1: nineteen sixty four, which was the US labor law that 253 00:15:48,400 --> 00:15:54,040 Speaker 1: outlaw discrimination based on religion, sexual orientation, origin of birth, 254 00:15:54,360 --> 00:15:57,320 Speaker 1: or race. So you know, that's a pretty big step. Um. 255 00:15:57,400 --> 00:16:00,000 Speaker 1: So I gotta give credit where credit is due, I guess. 256 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:03,880 Speaker 1: And you do hear some of his more tender side, 257 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:05,600 Speaker 1: I guess, and some of these phone calls as well. 258 00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:09,680 Speaker 1: Obviously was a very big caricature of a personality. But 259 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:13,680 Speaker 1: in this call where he's talking to Jacqueline Kennedy after 260 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:17,960 Speaker 1: the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Um, he's very kind 261 00:16:17,960 --> 00:16:21,800 Speaker 1: to her. In other words, the government would be represented 262 00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:27,880 Speaker 1: by Bobby and Teddy and Chief Justice and Rush. They're 263 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:30,120 Speaker 1: gonna be over there anyway that he wants to go with. 264 00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:32,640 Speaker 1: You would be whoever you want to take in your 265 00:16:32,640 --> 00:16:35,640 Speaker 1: own party. And if you'd like to do that, you 266 00:16:35,840 --> 00:16:39,160 Speaker 1: just let me know and I'll have it all set up. 267 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:42,600 Speaker 1: Are you and it'll be at your disposal whatever you 268 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:49,160 Speaker 1: want it for whatever time you want to. No, no, 269 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:52,240 Speaker 1: it's not at all. It's very important to us, very 270 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:58,080 Speaker 1: important to the country, and you you just let me 271 00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:04,439 Speaker 1: know how you feel if you have a chance to anything. 272 00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:13,240 Speaker 1: And additionally, under his administration, he passed one of the 273 00:17:13,280 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 1: most important and influential acts in recent history, and there's 274 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:22,400 Speaker 1: the Voting Rights Act in we have a clip there 275 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:27,320 Speaker 1: as well. There is no constitutional issue here. The command 276 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:33,840 Speaker 1: of the Constitution is playing. There is no moral issue. 277 00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:42,880 Speaker 1: It is wrong, deadly wrong to deny any of your 278 00:17:43,040 --> 00:17:50,520 Speaker 1: fellow Americas the right to vote in this country. And 279 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:54,600 Speaker 1: there you're kind of getting that slightly more stilted speechie 280 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:57,960 Speaker 1: written part of his personality. And it's really interesting to 281 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 1: have the opportunity to kind of weigh those two sides 282 00:18:01,040 --> 00:18:04,159 Speaker 1: with these candid recordings of his phone calls versus his 283 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:07,080 Speaker 1: public persona. Because as far as we know, other than 284 00:18:07,200 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 1: Nixon and I don't think anyone's getting their hands on 285 00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:13,600 Speaker 1: those tapes anytime soon. Um, not a lot of presidents 286 00:18:13,640 --> 00:18:16,639 Speaker 1: did this, and they certainly are not accessible to the 287 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:20,359 Speaker 1: public in this way. So good on Johnson. I do 288 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:25,119 Speaker 1: want to say there's a great quotation by Nixon which reads, 289 00:18:25,520 --> 00:18:28,760 Speaker 1: people said by language was bad, But Jesus you're sort 290 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:31,920 Speaker 1: of heard. I'll be jo you go. So I hope 291 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:35,800 Speaker 1: you like that Bootleg Nixon. That was good. You had 292 00:18:35,960 --> 00:18:41,640 Speaker 1: you had the mumble Josh rock barn. For some reason, 293 00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:43,159 Speaker 1: we should do it that. It revides me to the 294 00:18:43,160 --> 00:18:47,680 Speaker 1: old school, Uh, Tim Curry Pennywise when he's mainking, when 295 00:18:47,720 --> 00:18:50,200 Speaker 1: he's like scaring the kids. Don't you have Prince alberta 296 00:18:50,440 --> 00:18:56,760 Speaker 1: con rock rock Rock He's now. There's another thing that 297 00:18:56,840 --> 00:18:59,879 Speaker 1: you and I talked about off air that I've always 298 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:04,440 Speaker 1: seen as a very clear indication of Johnson's character, and 299 00:19:04,520 --> 00:19:07,840 Speaker 1: that's his favorite car prank. This is a good one. Uh. 300 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:10,840 Speaker 1: There's a fantastic article from our buddies over at Mental 301 00:19:10,840 --> 00:19:13,720 Speaker 1: Flaws called LBJ the President who marked his territory. I 302 00:19:13,720 --> 00:19:15,720 Speaker 1: think we know what that refers to. But yeah, he 303 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:17,679 Speaker 1: would do this thing where he would take visitors to 304 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:20,199 Speaker 1: his Texas ranch for a little car ride, and he'd 305 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:22,160 Speaker 1: drive him down a big old hill towards the lake 306 00:19:22,480 --> 00:19:24,160 Speaker 1: and act like he was losing control of the car 307 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:26,200 Speaker 1: and yell, the brakes are out, we're going in, We're 308 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:29,679 Speaker 1: going in and then what happened, And then they would 309 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:33,080 Speaker 1: indeed hit the water and they would float, and he 310 00:19:33,119 --> 00:19:36,040 Speaker 1: would continue steering the vehicle because you see, it was 311 00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:39,240 Speaker 1: not an ordinary car. It was a type of amphibious 312 00:19:39,359 --> 00:19:42,760 Speaker 1: vehicle called and and pip car, and it was apparently 313 00:19:42,800 --> 00:19:48,280 Speaker 1: the only one manufactured for uh civilian use ever. Um 314 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:50,000 Speaker 1: And it's funny. I actually a couple of weekends ago, 315 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:52,760 Speaker 1: I went with my daughter to a place here around 316 00:19:52,760 --> 00:19:55,359 Speaker 1: Atlanta called Stone Mountain, and they have this thing called 317 00:19:55,480 --> 00:19:58,320 Speaker 1: Ride the Ducks where you get to take a ride 318 00:19:58,359 --> 00:20:01,000 Speaker 1: in this thing called a duck boat, and it looks 319 00:20:01,040 --> 00:20:03,720 Speaker 1: like a van, but it's like a boat, and you 320 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:05,920 Speaker 1: you write it just like this. You literally he does 321 00:20:05,960 --> 00:20:07,760 Speaker 1: the same thing. Even the driver he was his name 322 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:11,920 Speaker 1: was Professor Hollywood, and he was within these real cookie 323 00:20:12,119 --> 00:20:14,560 Speaker 1: star glasses and telling us all these great tales about 324 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:16,800 Speaker 1: movies that were shot around Stone Mountain and stuff. And 325 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:18,600 Speaker 1: about the time he and a group of school kids 326 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:21,080 Speaker 1: encountered Dwayne the Rock Johnson who came out of his 327 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:24,000 Speaker 1: Hey and a different Johnson, but yeah, he hauls asked 328 00:20:24,280 --> 00:20:26,439 Speaker 1: for this lake and you just go right in, make 329 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 1: a big old splash, and them before you know it. 330 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:31,480 Speaker 1: You're floating along, you know, the lazy river. Its pretty cool. 331 00:20:31,720 --> 00:20:33,600 Speaker 1: But we we knew what was We knew we knew 332 00:20:33,600 --> 00:20:35,919 Speaker 1: it was coming though, so not not not mean spirit 333 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:38,159 Speaker 1: in the way that that Johnson was Hollywood. Didn't pull 334 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:41,280 Speaker 1: a fast food on you, Professor Hollywood, Professor Hollywood. He 335 00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:46,280 Speaker 1: didn't go to Hollywood Academy for nothing. Hollywood University, Yes, yes, 336 00:20:46,359 --> 00:20:49,920 Speaker 1: they're in Hollywood, California, or one of the many other 337 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:59,280 Speaker 1: towns in the United States named Hollywood. Indeed, so we're 338 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:05,920 Speaker 1: giving a brief overview of a contradictory character. And it's 339 00:21:05,920 --> 00:21:11,959 Speaker 1: clear that his administration enacted some incredibly profound, important, and 340 00:21:12,160 --> 00:21:17,560 Speaker 1: beneficial legislation for the American public. But also it's clear 341 00:21:17,680 --> 00:21:22,280 Speaker 1: that most historians agree there were numerous missteps along the way, 342 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:27,359 Speaker 1: both in his political and in his private life. Uh. 343 00:21:28,200 --> 00:21:32,800 Speaker 1: One thing that we found interesting here is that a 344 00:21:32,840 --> 00:21:36,639 Speaker 1: lot of people don't talk about the emphasis he had 345 00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:40,239 Speaker 1: on technology as an early adopter. I mean, what he 346 00:21:40,320 --> 00:21:44,760 Speaker 1: was doing really was a pioneering work for sure, like 347 00:21:44,840 --> 00:21:49,560 Speaker 1: I said, all based on some sort of outlandish requests. 348 00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:52,399 Speaker 1: But what is technology if not trying to fill a 349 00:21:52,520 --> 00:21:55,320 Speaker 1: need that may seem outlandage at the time, but will 350 00:21:55,359 --> 00:21:58,119 Speaker 1: ultimately become the law of the land when people realize, 351 00:21:58,320 --> 00:22:00,080 Speaker 1: you know, how could we ever have done without this? 352 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:01,960 Speaker 1: You know, I mean not to say that I have 353 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:05,439 Speaker 1: fifty telephones installed in my house, but um, you know 354 00:22:05,840 --> 00:22:08,159 Speaker 1: the fact that you can be untethered. He was essentially 355 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:11,480 Speaker 1: trying to create the circumstances that we have with a 356 00:22:11,800 --> 00:22:15,720 Speaker 1: cell phone, but with the limitations of being wired in. 357 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:19,160 Speaker 1: He wanted to never be any less than arms reach 358 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:20,720 Speaker 1: away from the phone. And it makes me think of 359 00:22:21,040 --> 00:22:24,760 Speaker 1: our old office been in Buckhead used to be the 360 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:28,080 Speaker 1: former headquarters of La Face Records. Story. You know about 361 00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:31,280 Speaker 1: a baby Face more known as a producer and songwriter 362 00:22:31,320 --> 00:22:33,040 Speaker 1: for like Madonna and stuff. I think he had a 363 00:22:33,040 --> 00:22:35,359 Speaker 1: couple of hits on his own. But there was this 364 00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:37,680 Speaker 1: weird bathroom. I'll let you tell it, Ben, it's your story, 365 00:22:37,680 --> 00:22:39,480 Speaker 1: but this is weird bathroom that always kind of struck 366 00:22:39,520 --> 00:22:43,080 Speaker 1: us a little odd, right, Yes, yes, So in the 367 00:22:43,160 --> 00:22:46,879 Speaker 1: old office that our company used to dwell in had 368 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:52,040 Speaker 1: a strange executive suite all its own. A little bit 369 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:54,879 Speaker 1: less than half of the entire office space was taken 370 00:22:54,960 --> 00:22:58,840 Speaker 1: up by what we believe was the Baby Faces office 371 00:22:58,920 --> 00:23:03,840 Speaker 1: himself and had an executive washroom. This washroom had a 372 00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:09,040 Speaker 1: very very low commode that was directly opposite a full 373 00:23:09,119 --> 00:23:13,240 Speaker 1: length wall mirror, so that it was unavoidable too if 374 00:23:13,280 --> 00:23:15,520 Speaker 1: you were sitting on the commode, it was unavoidable to 375 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:19,760 Speaker 1: not see yourself. And directly to the right of this commode, 376 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:22,000 Speaker 1: if you picture yourself sitting here again very low to 377 00:23:22,040 --> 00:23:25,400 Speaker 1: the ground. There was a red telephone, a red landline 378 00:23:25,440 --> 00:23:27,960 Speaker 1: telephone like Batman style, like would it would it? Would 379 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:30,840 Speaker 1: it glow? Do you think you know? I hope? So 380 00:23:31,080 --> 00:23:33,840 Speaker 1: it rang once and I never answered it. No way. Yeah, 381 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:35,800 Speaker 1: I was outside of the restroom. I didn't like to 382 00:23:35,800 --> 00:23:37,239 Speaker 1: hang out in there. It was kind of creepy. Are 383 00:23:37,240 --> 00:23:40,640 Speaker 1: you messing with me? No? It rang, So we have 384 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:45,800 Speaker 1: to wonder who has the phone number to uh the 385 00:23:46,080 --> 00:23:48,840 Speaker 1: face bathroom. Let us know. You can write to us 386 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:51,040 Speaker 1: a ridiculous at how Stuff Works dot com. You can 387 00:23:51,119 --> 00:23:53,800 Speaker 1: check out our new Facebook group, the Ridiculous Historians. You 388 00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:56,000 Speaker 1: want to be a moderator, you like that kind of stuff, 389 00:23:56,040 --> 00:23:59,320 Speaker 1: shoot us an email at that aforementioned address and we 390 00:23:59,359 --> 00:24:02,200 Speaker 1: will look at your credentials and see if you've got 391 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:05,520 Speaker 1: the stuff we will. We will go through your transcripts. 392 00:24:05,520 --> 00:24:09,000 Speaker 1: You do you probably just the desire is enough. Well, 393 00:24:09,040 --> 00:24:11,520 Speaker 1: if you're listening to this show, you have impeccable taste, 394 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:17,080 Speaker 1: and thank you so much for listening. It's pretty clear 395 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:21,840 Speaker 1: that the three of us find President Johnson fascinating character. 396 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:24,320 Speaker 1: We'd like to hear some of your Johnson uh, President 397 00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:28,399 Speaker 1: Johnson trivia as well. We'd also like to thank Julia Layton, 398 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:32,080 Speaker 1: our regular contributor, who wrote an article about lb j's 399 00:24:32,119 --> 00:24:35,600 Speaker 1: phone usage for how stuff works. And of course we 400 00:24:35,680 --> 00:24:40,760 Speaker 1: can't say it enough. Super Producer Casey Pegram, I'm gonna 401 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:42,640 Speaker 1: hang out. I'm gonna lean back and make eye contact 402 00:24:42,720 --> 00:24:47,240 Speaker 1: with him. Thank you. You're great. That was a really 403 00:24:47,240 --> 00:24:49,760 Speaker 1: tender moment you just had with super Producer Casey. And 404 00:24:49,920 --> 00:24:51,320 Speaker 1: just just to throw out there too, we we call 405 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:54,400 Speaker 1: him super producer Casey. What that entails is he edits 406 00:24:54,440 --> 00:24:56,959 Speaker 1: the show. He also does all the cool sound design, 407 00:24:57,200 --> 00:24:59,160 Speaker 1: any of the little bumpers and all that stuff. That's 408 00:24:59,240 --> 00:25:02,399 Speaker 1: him and and of course he's a contributor vocally. Uh, 409 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:04,280 Speaker 1: we're gonna try to twist his arm and him do 410 00:25:04,280 --> 00:25:06,199 Speaker 1: that a little more often. What we'll see what we 411 00:25:06,240 --> 00:25:08,440 Speaker 1: have that shapes up. Yeah, it's a footnot door, a 412 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:11,960 Speaker 1: little bit at a time. He also gives us great 413 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:14,840 Speaker 1: life advice. He's like sort of a life coach slash 414 00:25:14,840 --> 00:25:17,880 Speaker 1: super producer. We also like to thank our composer Alex Williams, 415 00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:21,399 Speaker 1: who wrote our theme and uh I thank you again, 416 00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:23,879 Speaker 1: Ben for just being you and such a handsome devil 417 00:25:24,040 --> 00:25:26,119 Speaker 1: you Hey, thank you know, you know what, Thanks to 418 00:25:26,240 --> 00:25:29,399 Speaker 1: both of us, You're not going around peeing on people. 419 00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:33,280 Speaker 1: Neither of us are perfect, but we'll we'll always have that, 420 00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:36,520 Speaker 1: I think so. So you can find us on Facebook. 421 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:38,719 Speaker 1: You can find us on Instagram. You can find us 422 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:42,280 Speaker 1: on Twitter. My trusted co host is disclosed. The email address. 423 00:25:42,520 --> 00:25:45,600 Speaker 1: You can visit our website, Ridiculous History Show dot com 424 00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:48,240 Speaker 1: and check out every episode we have ever done. Hey, 425 00:25:48,280 --> 00:25:49,920 Speaker 1: if you haven't already done it, do us to solid. 426 00:25:49,920 --> 00:25:51,520 Speaker 1: If you like the show, grant us a review on 427 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:54,560 Speaker 1: Apple podcast something really nice and spiffy to make us 428 00:25:54,560 --> 00:25:57,119 Speaker 1: feel good about ourselves and help that algorithm so people 429 00:25:57,119 --> 00:25:58,919 Speaker 1: discover the show. Because if we like doing it and 430 00:25:58,920 --> 00:26:01,320 Speaker 1: we want to keep doing it, stay tuned next time. 431 00:26:01,320 --> 00:26:04,879 Speaker 1: When Nolan I get into an eggnog Riot like a 432 00:26:04,960 --> 00:26:07,120 Speaker 1: zoot suit riot. You know the back beats a little 433 00:26:07,119 --> 00:26:09,320 Speaker 1: bit different. Where should I say a whisk we use 434 00:26:09,400 --> 00:26:11,840 Speaker 1: whisp with diagnog, I have a gnogged a little less 435 00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:22,600 Speaker 1: saxophone maybe, oh yeah, yeah yeah, Okay, goodbye everyone,