"Those fascinated by Johnson's career, as well as by how American politics has and has not changed in the past half-century will welcome 'The Presidential Recordings.' . . . Over all, these volumes offer a tantalizing glimpse into the innerworkings of the presidency and Johnson's style of governing. They provide strong evidence of the range of issues that come before a president." Eric Foner, New York Times Book Review
"It remains the most extraordinary presidential transition in history, and now, with the release of new tape transcripts, it is almost certainly the best documented of the tragic transitions that have followed the deaths of US presidents. That is why the new presidential recordings in the remarkable series presented by the Miller Center of Public Affairs of the University of Virginia are so captivating. They lend history an ear." David M. Shribman, Boston Globe
"This is a riveting and very important contribution to the historical record of the consequential 1960s." - Jay Freeman, Booklist, American Library Association
Carefully, painstakingly, knowingly transcribed and annotated, here is the true story of one of the most fascinating periods in American history. There can be no better, more immediate way to understand the extraordinary character of Lyndon Johnson than to read his own words as he spoke them.”- Evan Thomas
“Here is the raw material of history as it shoul d be presented: with scrupulous concern for accuracy. What shines through the pages of these thick volumes is the integrity with which they are compiled: the determination to create transcripts that historians can rely on with confidence; the care that has gone into the introductions-to days and to the specific scenes-that put specific conversations into meaningful political and governmental context. Historians of the future will know they can depend on this material; the Presidential Recordings Program is creating an invaluable historical resource.” - Robert A. Caro
Click here to listen to samples
Click here to watch a C-Span recording of an event at the LBJ Library where the editors discuss the volumes in detail. [Requires RealPlayer] |
