Oral history transcript, Kenneth E. BeLieu, interview 1 (I), 10/11/1984, by Michael L. Gillette

Title:

Oral history transcript, Kenneth E. BeLieu, interview 1 (I), 10/11/1984, by Michael L. Gillette

Number of Pages:

29

Description:

Belieu's work with the Armed Services Committee in the mid-1950s; a bill LBJ requested to transfer the San Jacinto Army Ordnance Arsenal from the federal government to the state of Texas; how Belieu came to lead both the Senate Space Committee and the Preparedness Investigating Subcommittee; the power structure within the Senate in the 1950s; Senator Richard Russell's relationship with LBJ; Belieu's work as LBJ's chief of staff; LBJ's reluctance to fire staff members; LBJ's presidential aspirations; LBJ wearing contact lenses; LBJ becoming vice president and Belieu going to work for John Connally; Belieu's reaction to LBJ's temper; LBJ's attempts to manipulate Sarah McLendon through Belieu; Sam Houston Johnson's relationship with LBJ; the influence of LBJ and other senators on which military bases would close; Belieu's involvement with natural gas and Francis Case; problems relating to the Suez Canal; Ralph Zwicker's promotion and the Army-McCarthy hearings; U.S. interest in space prior to Sputnik in 1957; concerns about Russian scientific advances.

Contributor:

BeLieu, Kenneth E., d. 2001

Collection:

LBJ Library Oral Histories

Collection Description:

Go to List of Holdings

Series:

Transcripts of LBJ Library Oral Histories

See Also:

See all online interviews with Kenneth E. BeLieu

Relation:

Go to Interviewee bio page

Rights:

Possibly copyright restricted: see deed at end of transcript for details