Oral history transcript, Lawrence F. O'Brien, interview 4 (IV), 12/4/1985, by Michael L. Gillette

Title:

Oral history transcript, Lawrence F. O'Brien, interview 4 (IV), 12/4/1985, by Michael L. Gillette

Number of Pages:

78

Description:

O'Brien's discussion with Joseph Kennedy about the New Frontier program; leadership in the House of Representatives before and after Sam Rayburn's death; the Trade Expansion Act of 1962; a private-sector public-relations operation led by Howard Petersen to support the Trade Expansion Act of 1962; Mike Mansfield's request that Petersen and his staff use more discretion in their dealings with senators; Wilbur Mills' importance and efforts to keep him up to date; O'Brien's work with Orville Freeman on a failed farm bill; the influence of the Farm Bureau, liberal Democrats, and moderate Republicans on the farm bill vote; Otis Pike's response to frequent arm-twisting tactics; the administration's willingness to accept passage of legislation that didn't meet all their goals knowing that more progress would be made in the future; absenteeism in the House and Senate; analyzing mistakes that caused votes to be lost; passage of the conference report on the farm bill in the House; the importance of communication with conferees; the selection of conferees; lobbying by foreign governments and quotas involved in the 1962 Sugar Act; the Manpower Development and Training Act; the defeated Philippine War damage bill; opposition to, and invoking cloture on, the Communications Satellite Act; Mike Mansfield's and Wayne Morse's role in the Senate; U.S. involvement in the United Nations; a bill to ban literacy tests in federal election voting registration; early efforts toward addressing civil rights issues; the establishment of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); the effect of reapportionment on Carl Elliott's support for HUD/civil rights-related legislation; 1962 and 1963 tax revision proposal, including an investment tax credit provision; land conservation, the Highway Trust Fund, and the National Wilderness Preservation System; 1962 amendments to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act affecting government supervision of drug industries and drug labeling; John F. Kennedy's (JFK) reaction to the 1962 steel price increase; Roger Blough; comparing JFK's and Lyndon Johnson's (LBJ) temperaments; support for Medicare legislation from senior citizens and opposition from Wilbur Mills; failed Madison Square Garden rally for Medicare; the decision to add a Medicare rider to a welfare bill; American Medical Association (AMA) opposition to Medicare; Jennings Randolph's role in the defeat of the Medicare bill; a bill to provide aid for medical-school education; education aid and concerns over separation of church and state; O'Brien's work with the timing of votes before the congressional session ended; 1962 welfare reform bill; the appointments of Byron White and Arthur Goldberg to the Supreme Court; Thurgood Marshall's appointment to the Second Circuit Court; Matthew McCloskey's appointment as ambassador to Ireland; the Billie Sol Estes controversy and LBJ's possible connection to Estes; presidential signatures to constituents; O'Brien's and JFK's role in the 1962 congressional elections; Frank Burke's defeat; criteria for JFK not supporting an incumbent; the number of contested seats in the House and Senate during a typical election; JFK's request that O'Brien dissuade Ted Kennedy from seeking a senatorial seat; JFK's lack of involvement in Ted Kennedy's campaign; the importance of voter registration and voter turnout.

Contributor:

O'Brien, Lawrence F. (Lawrence Francis), 1917-1990

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 Lawrence F. O'Brien

Relation:

Go to Interviewee bio page

Rights:

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