LBJ Page #2

The reason I know is because I'm f***ing him!

No, I'm not f***ing him, I am him!

His victory today was bolstered, in part...

...by the large Catholic presence

in Wisconsin.

- Up next, will be Illinois, New Jersey...

- What?

Sir, I think it's time you announce.

The next real test for Mr. Kennedy

will be in West Virginia...

I haven't made up my mind yet.

Then tell me why I came all the way...

...from Texas to run a campaign

that doesn't have a candidate?

Well, John, I imagine, to bask

in the pleasure of my company.

Sir, I have been on the phone

all evening with delegates.

Every one of whom is for Kennedy today

and would be yours tomorrow...

- ...if you just announce you were running.

- A Catholic won in a Catholic state.

Big f***ing deal. You think

he could do that in West Virginia?

This country is not gonna elect

a Catholic president.

He's starting to run away from the pack.

Nominations are not won

on the campaign trail.

They are won on the convention floor.

Bird, get me a drink, will you?

All right.

He better decide if he wants this.

He's never wanted anything more

in his whole life.

- He'll run.

- It'd be too late.

He's the best Senate majority leader

this country's ever had.

He works harder

than the other 99 senators combined.

He doesn't understand

why he's not the party's favorite.

He doesn't understand

why they don't just hand it to him.

Nobody gets handed the presidency.

Why won't he commit?

- That's complicated.

- He's afraid.

Of what?

Hell, every politician's afraid

people won't vote for him.

He's afraid people won't love him.

All eyes are on West Virginia today...

...as voters cast their votes

in the state's primary election.

In a surprising upset...

...Senator John Kennedy has won

the West Virginia primary.

Many believed the issue

of his religion was insurmountable...

...but here is what Senator Kennedy

had to say about it:

I appreciate that question,

and I'll tell you when any man...

...stands on the steps of the Capitol

and takes the oath of office of president...

...he puts one hand on the Bible

and raises the other hand to God...

...as he takes his oath.

Now, if he... If he breaks his oath...

I've never seen

a politician look that good on TV.

Oh, angel, he's not that handsome.

- I, John Fitzgerald Kennedy...

- I've never seen a movie star...

- ...look that good on TV.

- Heh, heh.

...the office of president

of the United States...

...and will, to the best of my ability,

preserve, protect and defend...

...the Constitution of the United States,

so help me, God.

Jesus, he just swore himself in.

What's Jack got the rest haven't got?

The "matinee" face? The Kennedy name?

The Kennedy fortune...

Lyndon, honey.

Do you want this?

Do you know why I married you?

I had other offers, but I chose you.

- Do you know why?

- I have no earthly idea.

Because you asked.

On our first date, when other boys...

...would be thinking about

how to steal a kiss...

...you asked me to marry you.

You didn't answer right away, though.

Well, it hit me like a whammy.

I'd only known you for about 20 minutes.

Ample time to fall in love with me.

Mmm.

When father first met you, he said:

"Daughter, you brought home a lot of boys.

This time, you brought home a man."

At least he liked me right away.

Angel, my point is...

...you knew what you wanted...

...and you got it.

And I couldn't have said "yes"

if you hadn't asked.

Convention fever grips Los Angeles...

...where the Democrats convene.

Partisans of Senator Kennedy radiate

the cheer and confidence...

...of the powerful front-runner,

who is clearly the man to beat.

The only major threat to Kennedy's hopes

among the declared candidates...

...is Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson.

The convention of the Democratic

Party of the United States...

...is now called in session.

You need to go see the Wyoming delegates.

Why the hell are we still fighting

over Western states?

Their delegates are meeting

with Kennedy right now.

Jack or Bobby?

Teddy, sir.

Christ, this place is infested.

"I have zero intention

of running for president"?

I had a change of heart.

Can't believe you'd look another man

in the eye and lie.

Next one of you who says

a disparaging thing about Jack's health...

...I'll personally knock his teeth out.

You said he's never felt better.

That wouldn't be a lie now, would it?

Balloting starts in two hours.

You don't take me down

in the first two rounds...

- ...I'm gonna beat you.

- There won't be a second round.

You seem awful confident.

I can count.

They will receive the call

of the roll of state, of voting...

...for the nomination of president

of the United States.

Mr. Chairman, Wyoming's vote will make...

...a majority for Senator Kennedy.

Can we get the vote from Wyoming?

First-round knockout, boys.

Just like Rocky Marciano.

The Times wants a comment.

Tell them there's a new heavyweight

champion. His name is Kennedy.

- How's the acceptance speech coming?

- Easiest speech I've ever had to write.

Bobby, we're getting 20 calls a minute

about the VP. Everyone wants a name.

First, we have to pick a name.

Hello?

Lyndon.

Lyndon, honey, wake up.

- Wake up.

- What's the matter, Bird?

It's John Kennedy.

This is Lyndon Johnson.

Walter, order a fresh pot of coffee,

please. I have to get dressed.

Yes, ma'am.

Oh, yes. Yes, honey,

the red tie is so much better.

Thanks, sweetheart.

- Love... Yeah, just fix it now a little.

- Yep.

- Okay?

- Yep.

- Lyndon.

- Hi, Jack. Come on in.

Thank you.

Make sure Symington, Humphrey

and Stevenson are all near their phones.

We'll make our choice today.

What's wrong?

You're not gonna believe

where your brother is.

Lyndon, you have more experience

and more talent, more wisdom.

Unfortunately, this is politics,

and none of that matters.

The better man won.

I'm not better.

Better-looking, maybe.

Yeah, if I had some of those Kennedy genes...

...I might've got some

of the Kennedy delegates.

I think the press was too hard on you.

Well, I could walk

on the Potomac River, and next day...

...the headlines would read:

"Johnson can't swim."

You mind if I ask you a question, Lyndon?

You're out of your mind, Jack!

You couldn't have made a worse choice

if you tried.

- I spoke with Dad. He agreed.

- Spoke with Dad?

- If we wanna win, we need Johnson.

- Why didn't you consult with me?

We also agreed we'd never

convince you it was a good idea.

Maybe because it isn't.

Johnson and his men spent

the last 72 hours...

...trying to convince the entire delegation

you have Addison's disease.

I do have Addison's disease.

- That's not the point.

- Labor hates him.

Civil rights leaders hate him.

Liberals hate him.

Kenny, we will win the liberal vote anyway.

We need Southerners. We need Texas.

The only person Johnson will

ever be loyal to is Johnson.

Bobby, I'd rather him serve

under me as vice president...

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