Reviews
A sparkling memoir…Califano's riveting accounts of Johnson's willingness to take the lead on difficult issues…could well serve as a guide today's timid politicians., What makes this memoir...stand out is its vividness. Johnson leaps out of the pages in all his raw and earthy glory., Anyone who wishes to feel what it was really like to be in the trenches with Johnson must read this account....The author's details are graphic, intimate, sometimes scatological. They bring the Johnson manner alive and glowing....Nobody who loves our system of government should fail to turn to Califano for instruction and inspiration., As personal a picture as has yet emerged of Lyndon Johnson the man….[A] fascinating behind-the-scenes report., Future LBJ biographers will be combing this account.... One of the better White House 'palace guard' memoirs of late. A compassionate, blessedly self-effacing tribute to a President., One of the great pleasures of my research into Lyndon Johnson was getting to know Joe, Johnson's top domestic advisor from 1965 - 69. His highly entertaining, thoughtful memoir is the best description of the Johnson White House I've ever read. LBJ comes alive, and we're given a ringside seat for his amazing success and dizzying descent., As close as we'll ever come to seeing Johnson in action with our mind's eye, thanks to Califano's descriptions and care.... The view is worth the price of admission. Not many will give you a better tour of political Washington, or such an intimate look., As close as we'll ever come to seeing Johnson in action with our mind's eye, thanks to Califano's descriptions and care… Not many will give you a better tour of political Washington or such an intimate look at the big, flawed man who was Lyndon B. Johnson., Few books radically change my opinion, but Joseph A. Califano, Jr.'s The Triumph and Tragedy of Lyndon Johnson has....Anyone reading Mr. Califano will realize, wow, how he got things done....Johnson's legislative program was dazzling, with its historic measures in civil rights, Medicare, Medicaid and Federal Aid to education...., A joy to read. A walk through the [most tumultuous] half-decade from 1964 to 1969 ... Oh what anecdotes. Johnson leaves you breathless, disbelieving, aghast…recommended without reservation., Few books radically change my opinion, but Joseph A. Califano, Jr.'s The Triumph and Tragedy of Lyndon Johnson has....Anyone reading Mr. Califano will realize, wow, how he got things done....Johnson's legislative program was dazzling, with its historic measures in civil rights, Medicare, Medicaid and Federal Aid to education., An insider's view of the inside, [this] memoir spares no aspect of its complex subject....Readable, forthcoming, and shrewd., Wonderful book...What makes this memoir of... his Presidency stand out is its vividness. Johnson leaps out of the pages in all his raw and earthy glory., Rich with Johnson anecdotes... The Triumph and Tragedy of Lyndon Johnson reminds us all of what it was like to have a president who tried to do something., The man who, next to the President, has contributed more than any other individual in our country to the conception, formulation, and implementation of the program for The Great Society., Joe Califano's gripping memoir of life with LBJ is one of my favorite books. No aide to this Texas President was closer to him than the Brooklyn-born Califano, who saw almost everything and ardently shared his domestic purposes, yet--and this is so rare among White House memoirs--writes about the boss he served, after decades of hindsight, with surprising detachment and analytical brilliance. Triumph and Tragedy is funny, poignant and unforgettable. Future generations who wish to know what it was really like to work, day to day, alongside this towering, incomparable President during some of the most consequential moments in American history would be well advised to start here., Taking on a character like LBJ was as daunting asone might imagine. This book helped me shape the role in a way that onlysomeone who actually knew the 36th president could. The book containsinsightful and honest details of this larger-than-life character, and allowedme to see the greatness of his impassioned hope, and the minutia of histroubled soul. He was indeed a Triumph and a Tragedy. Thank you Joe, forbringing him to life for me and millions of others., Just watching Johnson wheel and deal through Califano's eyes makes a rousing good story. Johnson's successors in the White House must still salivate at the kind of arm-twisting, ball-busting tactics that permitted the President to sweep through his legislative package., Joe Califano's gripping memoir of life with LBJ is one of my favorite books. No aide to this Texas President was closer to him than the Brooklyn-born Califano, who saw almost everything and ardently shared his domestic purposes, yet-and this is so rare among White House memoirs-writes about the boss he served, after decades of hindsight, with surprising detachment and analytical brilliance. Triumph and Tragedy is funny, poignant and unforgettable. Future generations who wish to know what it was really like to work, day to day, alongside this towering, incomparable President during some of the most consequential moments in American history would be well advised to start here., An insider's view of the inside, [this] memoir spares no aspect of its complex subject.…Readable, forthcoming, and shrewd., Joe Califano...had a ringside seat for LBJ's amazing success and dizzying descent. His highly entertaining and thoughtful memoir is the best description of the inner workings of the Johnson White House I have ever read and LBJ--inspiring, terrifying, funny and tragic--comes alive in a way no other writer has managed., As personal a picture as has yet emerged of Lyndon Johnson the man....[A] fascinating behind-the-scenes report., A hugely entertaining narrative-by turns exhilarating, somber, hilarious, touching...[has] an immediacy and intimacy that no other biography has captured., Superbly written and riveting reading. It is an enormously significant contribution to the public record., A sparkling memoir...Califano's riveting accounts of Johnson's willingness to take the lead on difficult issues...could well serve as a guide today's timid politicians., Oh what anecdotes...A walk through the half-decade from 1964 to 1969 that was the most tumultuous in the lives of every American over 30 years of age., Anyone who wishes to feel what it was really like to be in the trenches with Johnson must read this account….The author's details are graphic, intimate, sometimes scatological. They bring the Johnson manner alive and glowing….Nobody who loves our system of government should fail to turn to Califano for instruction and inspiration., Wonderful book...What makes this memoir of… his Presidency stand out is its vividness. Johnson leaps out of the pages in all his raw and earthy glory., A hugely entertaining narrative--by turns exhilarating, somber, hilarious, touching...[has] an immediacy and intimacy that no other biography has captured., A joy to read. A walk through the [most tumultuous] half-decade from 1964 to 1969 ... Oh what anecdotes. Johnson leaves you breathless, disbelieving, aghast...recommended without reservation., Few books radically change my opinion, but Joseph A. Califano, Jr.'s The Triumph and Tragedy of Lyndon Johnson has….Anyone reading Mr. Califano will realize, wow, how he got things done….Johnson's legislative program was dazzling, with its historic measures in civil rights, Medicare, Medicaid and Federal Aid to education...., As close as we'll ever come to seeing Johnson in action with our mind's eye, thanks to Califano's descriptions and care... Not many will give you a better tour of political Washington or such an intimate look at the big, flawed man who was Lyndon B. Johnson., Rich with Johnson anecdotes… The Triumph and Tragedy of Lyndon Johnson reminds us all of what it was like to have a president who tried to do something., A hugely entertaining narrative-by turns exhilarating, somber, hilarious, touching…[has] an immediacy and intimacy that no other biography has captured.
