LBJ: The Last Interview (1973) 

Because of LBJ's war (Vietnam) my dad was killed less than a year after I was born in Vietnam. I will never forget LBJ escalating the war and sending thousands of young men to their deaths one of which was my father.

Met him when I was about 6 years old. He was running to become the Vice President. One distinct memory, my Dad was taller than most men in our town, but LBJ, with his big white hat, towered over my Dad. He got down on his haunches and looked me right in the eye and shook my hand.

LBJ lived 10 more days, Walter Cronkite lived over 35 more years.

Watching him speak was like listening to my grandfather talk to me back in the 60’s and 70’s. 😊

Opening theme performed by four 6th grade trumpet players. Thanks for giving the kids a chance.

At 64 he looked like he was 84, and probably felt like 104.

The way he aged in ten years was unreal.

LBJ was worth $500 million at the time of his death (1973 dollars) .Politics really pays well.

I love the distortion that an old tape recording gives to the music LOL

LBJ looks 76, but it’s wild he passed at 64

64 years old there…….still smoking and died from his third heart attack. Can’t imagine the weight on his shoulders and what he carried even until the end of his life. Great interview and of course Walter Cronkite. 👍

In 1973 I worked at Opa Locka airport a general aviation airport in South Florida, one day we were told to help load luggage into a corporate jet on the tarmac, the tag's on the luggage said LBJ RANCH, a short time later a ambulance showed up and took him out on a stretcher (we couldn't believe our eye's) and loaded him on the jet. A short time later we heard he had died.

the trumpet music is the top10 funniest things Ive ever heard in my life, its perfect comedy.

This interview happened when Joe Biden was in the US Senate XD

Didn't this guy used to sit on his toilet with the door open, and give orders to his staff?

Being president really does age you… he’s 64 here - if you would have said he was 75, I would have believed you.

Thanks for showing this historic footage. He seemed in good health for someone who passed away 10 days after this interview.

I find his openness about the fact that he wasn't born having the understanding of the plight of black and brown citizens of this country. Yet, he explains that over the course of his life and career that what he saw and learned changed his views. Honestly I cannot imagine another person during that time who had the privilege and bullheaded even bullying ability to push the changes through that he was able to do. He definitely did more than ask the Congress, he cornered and maneuvered and forced through the changes that he wanted. Respect for a man who used his force of nature to try and do good in our country.

Why he escalated the USAs involvement in the Vietnam war in the manner he did is mind boggling. Complicated for sure, but mind boggling.

Tthank you for posting this interview on RU-vid!

Ten days later, at approximately 3:39 p.m. Central Time on January 22, 1973, Johnson suffered a massive heart attack in his bedroom. He managed to telephone the Secret Service agents on the ranch, who found him still holding the telephone receiver, unconscious and not breathing. Johnson was airlifted in one of his planes to San Antonio and taken to Brooke Army Medical Center, where cardiologist and Army colonel Dr. George McGranahan pronounced him dead on arrival. He was 64 years old

"Hey, what should the intro music be?" "Well, how about I just throw the brass section down the garbage disposal? That'd sound good, yeah?"

I think his presidency is an object lesson in history; no matter how many great things you do, war can bring down any leader.

Great interview. I just finished the 4-volume work by Robert Caro - The Years of Lyndon Johnson - and eagerly await his 5th - which he is still writing. Lyndon Johnson was a fascinating, complicated, imperfect man and his life story is so interesting - I learned SO MUCH and could not put these books down.

i thought i was having a stroke when that trumpet music came on. either that or the players had recently had strokes themselves, perhaps during recording.

When he announced that he wouldn't run for president again, everyone in my barracks day room cheered.

we take so many things for granted... This is the kind of stuff that separates us from the rest of the world. Our country is not perfect, but we never stop trying.

Not a huge fan of LBJ. Yet, I appreciate his forthrightness in answering the questions. Modern politicians would be advised to follow his example.

Never was a fan of Johnson, but being a native Texan I was always curious to know what made him tick. When he died I recall thinking he was so old and had lived a long life before he died. I’m now 4 yrs older than he was when he died, and I now realize he wasn’t old, but I believe his life he led and time as President took a toll on his life.

It would be 21 years before the next former President would die, Nixon 1994.

A lot of blood on that man’s hands,and it consumed him until his last breath.

And notice if you will, he never talked about the war he perpetrated on the American public. All the damage and scars he caused are not mentioned at all. Deceit was his game.

Why aren't things like this shown in high school.....

I will say, that despite his physical condition, he was still remarkably articulate when he went out. That, I believe, is the way to go.

He is now in a very warm place.

It was amazing that I just learned how bad he was and now I have learned how good he was. For the things he did help change were things that needed to change at that time.

He probably knew he could die at any moment as his heart was as fragile as an egg so he gave the interview.

I love these types of viewing because I am always seeking out knowledge of all kinds. This is one heck of an interview.

I’m a Japanese. I wonder whether I can express my opinion exactly. As I know L. Johnson only by the book “Personal History of Katharin Graham”, I’m so impressed to come across this interview and come to know his another side of his personality. Thank you very much.

My grandma once said that she had the opportunity to meet LBJ and Jumbo.

I was stationed in Korea in the US Army in 1966 when President Johnson was scheduled to visit the troops. I was assigned to a Signal Corp Unit in Yongsan Base. We were instructed by superiors to prepare for his visit by getting the motor pool readied for possible inspection. I don't recall if he actually visited our location, but it was both an honor & a nervous time for all of us. Little did we realize at the time that the Vietnam War would escalate to the degree that it did. It took a tremendous toll on Johnson, as this interview indicates.

People aged like hell during these times, he was only 64.

And the beat goes on.

I've always looked upon this final interview with LBJ as a man at total peace with himself. I don't know who were all the former colleagues and friends that stayed loyal and by his side right up to the end, but I'm sure Lady Bird was all he needed. If I had been one of his aids I'd simply have echoed what Horatio said over Hamlet; "Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet Prince. And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest".

So much of this interview remains as relevant today as it was then, the work that has been accomplished is much, but that with remain unfinished is much greater....

RU-vid is filled with useless - misinformation. The is a gem amongst the weeds. Thank you for posting.

Quite interesting and informative. His recounting conversations with future supreme court justice thurgood marshall was a golden nugget. He appeared resigned that we shall overcome was but a step in our nations history. I believe that if he had a crystal ball perspective of america in 2023, he would be morally and historically appalled at our regression. Yet the attempt to create a great society was a signature achievement, despite continuing determination to curtail its progress. Thank you for a candid look back.

18:31 "We hit while the iron was hot" profound statement that we need to remember to help get things done.

Seems like lbj took part in the 70s grow your hair trend

As much as I want to dislike President Johnson, I cannot. His "war on property" provided my elderly grandparents (grandfather was blind).in Appalachia with an indoor bathroom and upgrades. A personal blessing. They had a picture of John L. Lewis on the wall.

Interesting how he almost slipped and said " I want to control.."

He was 64 here - but looked and sounded 80.

I'm reading "Bearing the Cross," by David Garrow right now, and in it I recently learned that Johnson's "We shall overcome" speech was one of the only times anyone ever saw Dr. King shed tears.

Horn section were out partying with the secret service at Jack Ruby's club the night before.

I'm sorry, but his manipulation keeping us in Vietnam and assisting in the death of JFK is something I"d NEVER forgive him for. This just paints a picture as if he was some kind of saint. Far from it.

Very vigorous for 10 days before his death.

That trumpet in the beginning makes me hurl🤣

I think LBJ knew that death was just around the corner and thus he wanted the country to know his thoughts and feelings on certain topics before that happened...who better than with “Uncle Walter”...

this dude killed kennedy

I think if everyone on earth had a change to give an interview 10 days before death, the world would be a better place.

I encourage you to visit that library. It has many sacred relics of the era. And it's much like a moseleum

Ten days prior to his death and he spoke of the work left to be done to make humans equal in America.

This is an interesting interview. I’m on the latest published Robert Caro book on the years of Johnson, titled the passage of power. It’s also interesting to consider that in 1973 Robert Caro was writing the power broker book on Robert Moses.

Attended my sister-in-laws PhD degree graduation ceremonies at University of Michigan, May 22, 1964. LBJ had agreed to give the graduation speech when he was vice-president, in 1963, and he did not cancel upon becoming president. His speech was memorable. It was the first introduction of The Great Society. My family was impressed and was certain it was the start of his running for president and his platform to move the U.S. forward for all citizens.

When you leave out a zero on the intro music budget

Where can I get a copy of that trumpet music It cured My depression, I absolutely could not stop laughing... And then it made me vomit, and I need to lose weight so that's good thing.

Young people today- I'm 56- was less that a year old when this man resigned. I always reviled him because of Vietnam. But I do have to say that I am crying silently watching this. He did horrible things- and I am NOT overlooking them- but yet somehow, someway, in some manner I DO feel that he was the right man who came in at the wrong time. Also, I honestly, truly feel that he changed when out of office, and became filled w/regret over the terrible policies he enacted, but did at least enjoy a small measure of pride over the good ones (and there WERE good ones). Seeing him just before he died humanized him in a way I had never imagined possible, as I'd never seen this Interview. People: this time piece is GOLD.

I still remember watching this interview with LBJ. I was 2 years old. I was struck at the time, his appearance was modern when it was still not in fashion. Besides Nixon, this is a vivid memory..

Incredible interview. Still relevant today.

What an intro theme. Legendary.....

This man appointed the first African American to the SCOTUS, and like Reagan with O'Connell, Biden with Jackson deserves huge credit for tearing down walls.

By his own words; he was afraid he would die in office of his 2nd term. He saw a psychologist/psychiatrist and a priest weekly as well as on a list of prescribed medications due to his fears of going to hell when he passed away into death.

Thanks for this. I was trying to discover his motivation for signing the Civil Rights Act.

26:27 Huge moment, in my mind. With just about 200 hours left to live, he checks the time. Unaware how precious each hour would be. He was only 63 when he passed. Think about it...

Cranston as LBJ in the biopic ALL THE WAY does a terrific impersonation.

It's a shame Gene Hackman never played LBJ.

Johnson got the US into an escalation of the Vietnam war. His wife profited from it. According to the Wall Street Journal in 1971, her holdings in COSCO were as a major stockholder and she received money for every item shipped to Vietnam. She also had major shares given to her in Bell Helicopter after an initial purchase.

I recall the announcement of his death over the major media. In each case, the speaker emphasized lauding LBJ for his outstanding social achievements and the enormous flurry of legislation which was passed during his Administration as opposed to commenting about anything negative such as his mishandling of the Vietnam War, etc. At the time I thought that was very telling of the way people generally felt about his political accomplishments as compared to the downsides.

Watching this I just learned more about LBJ than I ever learned in school. Until now I didn't realize that I was proud of many of his achievements. The job of President is unenviable at best and perhaps he could have done better. But he fought for racial equality and he did some good there. I'm pleased to see that he fought for minorities as much as he did. Reading between the lines he seems sad that he wasn't able to do more. I wonder what he would be fighting for in today's climate. We still have far to go but I'm grateful that he was able to help push forward the amount he did.

This important piece of history spirals into even greater importance today.

A very interesting and articulate interview, i'm glad i took the time to watch. LBJ always seemed so uneasy in front of a camera or crowd, his words were always clipped and so obvious he was reading his speech word by word. But this interview showed another side, unrehearsed answers to questions by America's foremost news commentator. Civil Rights was by far his swan song during his tenure, however his reluctance to stand up against his Generals in the armed forces and de-escalate the Vietnam debacle would be his downfall. Between his Generals, and the Defense Contractors, they pressured him to escalate the actions there rather than slowly retreat. It was a Catch 22 for LBJ i know, but if he had stood up to these people here as vehemently, as he fought for his Civil Rights program, he may not have failed in his efforts in the war. It will forever remain a stain on his entire political career and moreover, his Presidency. Listening to the brainiac McNamara was LBJ's biggest fault when it came to Vietnam. McNamara's book "In Retrospect" that he penned in the 1990s fully apologized for his actions during these turbulent 60s, he admitted he was 180 degrees wrong on the entire theme. He guided LBJ and was trusted to make the right decisions, and he failed miserably. McNamara's ice cold calculations, reducing human lives of our boys to mere numbers and statistics was his exact theme and modus operandii whilst he was at Ford. Henry II was very glad to rid himself of McNamara and pawned him off to the JFK administration just days after JFK won in Nov 1960. All in all i am glad i watched this interview, it gave me a new insight into a President that i always reviled, but now i come away with a bit more flexible views about him.

LBJ sure was a man ahead of his own time. How we could benefit from a leader like this. My favorite quote of his is "There is no Constitutional issue here" as there isn't a Constitutional issue when speaking of equal rights for people of color.

A timeless interview, relevant to our own day no less than the year of LBJ's death.

5:00 Ladies & gentlemen: Unconfirmed insipiration for the Yoshi's Island soundtrack

I can't get over that he was only 65 years old

The guilt got him in the end

This was intended to be the first in a series of interviews with LBJ but he died before any other interviews could take place.

Opening Theme Provided By - The 86th Asspiper Corps: Major John J. Methane Conducting "Requiem for An A-Hole In D-Minor - A Major 17th"

fascinating interview but holy shit the atonal trumpets at 4:34 have me in stitches

I was 12 years old and my aunt took me to The White House for a state ceremony with President Johnson welcoming Keith Holyoake, the Prime Minister of New Zealand. Beforehand we were given little U.S. and New Zealand flags to wave during the ceremony. The big moment came when LBJ and the Prime Minister passed by us as they reviewed the honor guards. This ceremony would be one of his last as LBJ declined to run for a second term and Richard Nixon would be sworn in January 1969.

4:35 the most important moment in the clip

I wonder why LBJ has not been celebrated more as a civil rights warrior. Is it merely because he was a Southerner? The man had a solid record of standing up for and enacting civil rights. What a shame he hasn't been more celebrated for it.

One of the most complicated figures in American history.

I've watched this several times. This deeply moved me. You can break down any POTUS and find things you agree and disagree with. I fell in love with his moral compass in this video.

Great watch with some great messages that still ring home today.

He died just 10 days after this interview. He may not look ill but he’s just 64 and looks much older than that.

How about the civil rights in Vietnam for our soldiers?

I read in Robert Carl's biography that LBJ was asked what changed him to advocate for Civil Rights legislation after his landslide victory in 1964. He had been at that point a master manipulator in politics, not known for taking principled stands about anything. After his victory, he said, "I'm free at last." Once in a position to do something , he seized the opportunity, no small victory. He went on to say the South would be lost to Democrats for a generation. He proved to be prescient.

As someone who demonstrated against Johnson, I'm afraid I must say that he looks pretty good in retrospect.

Yup, King shed tears during LBJs “We shall overcome speech”. While LBJ lied about The Gulf of Tonkin incident(Never happened) in August of 1964 which escalated the Vietnam war . Pulled the plug on the war against poverty to drop more bombs on North Vietnam.