This seems to be history week on athingirl.com. since I feel the need to weigh in after seeing the film Jackie, that annoyed me on many levels, starting with Natalie Portman’s over the top performance, but what I’d like to add light to, are the Johnsons.
The world, if nothing else, knows he succeeded JFK after the assassination. They might even know how hated he was by the Kennedys and the Irish Mafia, as their loyal cronies were aptly called.
After JFK asked him to be vice-president, Bobby Kennedy, who may have loathed him the most, tried very hard to backpedal Jack’s offer, but Johnson held firm.
Here are some facts I’ll bet few people know…
LBJ refused to leave Dallas without Jackie when the secret service wanted him to. She wouldn’t leave without her husband’s body the Dallas coroner wouldn’t release. There was a law stating, anyone who died there had to have an autopsy before it was let go.
Still, Lyndon and Lady Bird, perhaps not a smart move safety wise, stayed, until strings were pulled, before they all went back to Washington.
It’s been written, he wanted Jackie by his side to make him look more presidential.
How about, he had two daughters of his own, and the man he was, was not about to leave a girl of 34, who just watched her husband die, all alone.
One of the first things he did, when he got back home, was write letters to John and Caroline, telling them what a special father they had.
He also told Jackie, to take all the time she needed to move.
He then said, the school Jackie had started in the White House for Caroline and her little peers, could continue till the year was up, so not to disturb their routine anymore than necessary.
These things are interesting to me, and should have all been in the film.
Why weren’t they?
Because goodness doesn’t sell tickets?
As for accuracy, who cares.
When Jackie died, 31 years later, Lady Bird, her husband long gone, attended her funeral. There she was, old yet sturdy, saying good bye to an old friend.
All politicians are ruthless, just look who’s about to take the helm, and LBJ was no exception…
but in November, 1963, he was a caring, noble, just man…to a very shaken, sad, young widow who never forgot it.
SB
