Oral history transcript, Dr. Ralph K. Huitt, interview 1 (I), 7/12/1972, by Joe B. Frantz

Title:

Oral history transcript, Dr. Ralph K. Huitt, interview 1 (I), 7/12/1972, by Joe B. Frantz

Number of Pages:

42

Description:

Biographical information; how Huitt came to know LBJ in 1954; Huitt working under George Reedy; LBJ's work as Senate Minority Leader and effort to pull the Democratic Party together; argument between Senator William Knowland and LBJ regarding who spoke for greater periods of time; LBJ's interest in the Joseph McCarthy issue; George Reedy's understanding of Huitt's desire to work under LBJ; the difference between being a politician and observing politics; LBJ's relationship with the Democratic Policy Committee: going to work for Senator William Proxmire in 1958 as a liaison between Proxmire and LBJ; Proxmire's and LBJ's different political styles; Senator John F. Kennedy gearing up for a national political role in 1958; Proxmire's committee assignments and those of other freshmen senators; Huitt joining LBJ's speech-writing staff in 1960; LBJ's vice-presidential campaign train trip; topics LBJ discussed in his southern campaign speeches; how Huitt came to work for LBJ in 1965 under the Department of Health, Education and Welfare; Huitt's work with the Appropriations Committee(s) to fund legislation; weekly legislative staff meetings; the importance of committee staffers; LBJ's understanding of the legislative process; Huitt's interaction with Barefoot Sanders; Huitt delegating responsibility among his staff members; John Gardner as Secretary of HEW.

Contributor:

Huitt, Ralph K.

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 Dr. Ralph K. Huitt

Relation:

Go to Interviewee bio page

Rights:

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