New series continues tonight
This week: Don't forget to tune in tonight to the final episodes of LBJ: Triumph & Tragedy. Plus, an exclusive Keep Watching sweepstakes. Listen to LBJ's secretly recorded conversations with his inner circle President Lyndon B. Johnson had one of the most consequential presidencies in US history. He passed major civil rights legislation while also escalating the Vietnam War, leaving behind a complex and polarizing legacy that is still debated to this day.
But who was the man behind the presidential seal? Johnson secretly recorded his phone calls, leaving behind interesting insight into his presidency. Take a listen at some of his secretly recorded calls:
The President and the first lady Johnson's tapes capture affectionate moments between him and his wife, Lady Bird. In 1964, the first lady called minutes after a press conference to critique his performance and give him a B+ grade. Here's what she said: Escalating foreign affairs In another tape, President Johnson reveals his concerns about the Vietnam War to national security adviser McGeorge Bundy. "It just worries the hell out of me. I don't see what we can ever hope to get out of there with once we're committed ... I don't think it is worth fighting for, and I don't think we can get out. And it's just the biggest damn mess I ever saw." Listen to more below: Doing the 'job Lincoln started' The tapes also revealed the President's carefully laid out plan to groom Thurgood Marshall to become the first Black man on the US Supreme Court. You can read more about these moments and hear other recordings from Johnson's presidency here.
Don't miss it, LBJ: Triumph & Tragedy continues tonight with back-to-back episodes at 9 and 10 p.m. ET.
It's sweepstakes time You may be an LBJ expert after watching LBJ: Triumph & Tragedy, but how well do you know all the US presidents? Test your knowledge in this Presidents Day quiz for a chance to win a prize.
If you get a perfect score of 100%, respond to this email with a screen grab of your result. The first five (5) people to send us their 100% score results will win a Keep Watching swag bag. Click here to take our quiz.
Please see the Official Rules before participating in the sweepstakes quiz. No purchase is necessary. Void where prohibited.
Here's what you missed at last week's exclusive event Last week, CNN's Abby Phillip moderated an exclusive Keep Watching event with LBJ experts to discuss the new series and LBJ's presidency. The panel included:
Here are a few of highlights from the discussion:
Q: Which has a bigger impact on Johnson's legacy: Vietnam or civil rights?
A: Melody Barnes: That's such an interesting question. What I find is that are Johnson's greatest triumphs are often attributed to other people, like President Kennedy, but his greatest failure, Vietnam, he's enveloped in it. I think Vietnam shaped the way America saw President Johnson for many, many years.
Progressives, like Martin Luther King Jr, backed away from him and challenged his posture on the Vietnam War. At the same time, conservatives are saying that he is not being tough enough and he doesn't know how to get America out of this successfully. Meanwhile, young men are going to Vietnam and they're not coming home.
All that has clung to the Johnson legacy, and led some progressives not to claim him and his important legacy. Conservatives look at him and say, he's the president of Vietnam and the president of big government. They had everything to benefit from characterizing his policies as not being successful, and I think that's led people not to study or engage Johnson in a complete way — to really understand what happened during those years, how significant they were and how they continue to touch all of our lives.
Q: What are your thoughts on Lady Bird's contribution and impact on Johnson's Great Society?
A: Bill Moyers: She had courage that was sometimes hidden because she allowed LBJ to be front. Every one of you should read the book based on the diaries she recorded almost every day. They are remarkable for revelations about a woman of wit and wisdom. A woman of strength and frailty, as well. They will tell you that her role was to be the maypole that kept Lyndon Johnson moving in the right direction.
A: Mark Updegrove: I would quote Johnson, who use to evoke his favorite passage from Isaiah, "come let us reason together." We don't see a lot of togetherness in America today, and we don't see a lot of reason. I think, we need to start by listening to one another. Whether the person on the other side has an outrageous view on something or not, we have to listen to each other. We have to come together and hopefully in doing so find some reason that we can all rally around. That's the only way I think we're going to be able to bridge the divisions that characterize our country in the present moment. You can watch the full event here.
Do you love crime shows? Then we have good news Forensic Files II, the highest-rated HLN Original Series in the network's history, is back with eight new episodes. Season three premieres on HLN Sunday, February 27, at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
"These are some of toughest crimes to solve, but no matter how long it takes, investigators and scientists using cutting edge forensics eventually uncover the truth. In the end, you cannot escape the science," said Nancy Duffy, executive producer of the series.
You can watch the trailer here.
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