LBJ Page #7

and it's liable to turn into panic.

I think it would put

a lot of people at ease...

...if I was to take the oath right now.

What's the matter?

You afraid you'll arrive...

...and the White House won't be here?

I think it's important

that the world knows...

...that the American government is

functioning and someone's in charge.

Well, I don't know what the hurry is...

...but if you're so insistent

on taking the oath, take the oath.

Okay, Bobby, then I'll take the oath.

Fine, Lyndon.

Now, we have to be absolutely certain that...

...we do this the right way.

So I need you to get me the precise wording.

- Is that all?

- One last thing.

Who do we need to administer it?

Any judge can do it.

Okay, well, thank you, Bobby.

God bless.

Get me Sarah Hughes.

I do solemnly swear...

That I will faithfully execute...

The office of president

of the United States...

The office of president

of the United States...

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

- Preserve, protect...

- Preserve, protect...

- And defend...

- And defend...

The Constitution of the United States.

- The Constitution of the United States.

- So help me God.

So help me God.

At 3:
39 p.m., the machinery

of our government...

...conferred the unique powers

and awesome responsibilities...

...of the presidency

upon Lyndon Baines Johnson.

There is, in the urgent necessity

of this continuity of presidential power...

...a reassurance

that the government will function...

...the nation endure,

no matter how great the tragedy...

...no matter how grievous the shock.

Welcome back, sir.

- Mrs. Johnson.

- Glad you're safe, sir.

Early reports said you'd been shot

or that you'd had a heart attack.

Agent Youngblood took excellent care of us.

- Bird?

- Yes?

Can you get your good stationery? I'd like

to write letters to Caroline and John.

- Juanita.

- Yes, sir?

- Come with me. I need to make calls.

- Yes, sir.

Yes, it has been a shocking day.

Well, I...

You know, I feel inadequate to the task.

And I'm gonna be relying

on your good, sound judgment.

And...

I'll be calling on you...

...to get your advice.

You know how much

I've admired you over the years.

Well, please give my love to Mrs. Eisenhower.

No, no, no.

Anything Harry Truman has to say,

I'm all ears.

I'm gonna be calling on you real soon.

J. Edgar, you are not just

the head of the Federal Bureau...

...you're as close as "close" can be to me.

Now, let's just try to put

our country at close ranks...

...and pull ourselves out of this

terrible situation we find ourselves in.

Nellie, how's our boy?

Is he in a lot of pain?

Well, tell John I'm praying for him...

...and Bird and I are sending you both

a big hug and a kiss.

Pierre, it makes no sense

to be jumping ship now...

...when we're all on the same f***ing ocean.

I'm going to bed, dear.

Okay, baby.

Now, I need you now more than he ever did.

Lady Bird and I will remain

at the Elms for the foreseeable future.

And Jackie can stay at the White House

for as long as she likes.

Bundy said you and your staff should

move to the Oval Office tomorrow.

Fine.

Ted Sorensen?

It's Lyndon Johnson.

Hello, Mr. President.

I'm glad I tracked you down.

Sir, Senator Russell's

pulled up to the house.

Listen, I know how much

you loved President Kennedy.

And he loved you too.

You were a trusted servant, loyal to the end.

Ted, I need you now more than he ever did.

How many senators did Russell bring with him?

Looks like the entire Southern delegation.

Any idea what they want?

Russell said they just wanted

to wish you well.

No. They could've done that over the phone.

Mr. President.

Mr. President.

In this dark hour of our nation's history...

...we must remember

to give thanks for our blessings.

Because out of the despicable ashes

of a presidential assassination...

...a new leader has emerged.

And we're all here to offer our support.

Yes, sir.

After a century of persecution,

a century of being treated as inferior...

...after 100 long years...

...we finally have one of our own

leading this nation.

America has a Southern president.

And we could think

of no finer representative for our people.

Dear Lord...

...continue to watch over our president...

...and fill him with the strength...

...and wisdom as he works to do

the same for all your children.

- Amen.

- Amen.

Thank you, Dick. Gentlemen.

Good morning, gentlemen.

- Mr. President.

- Mr. President.

I'm pleased to see you back at work already.

The Constitution put me in the White House...

...but there's no law

to make you stay here with me.

Now, I know you loved President Kennedy...

...but I need you now more than he ever did.

Not that I loved Caesar less...

...but that I loved Rome more.

- I can't believe he quoted Shakespeare.

- Can't believe he quoted Brutus.

Good morning, Mrs. Lincoln.

Good morning.

Now, I have an 11:30 appointment.

Can I get my girls in the office by then?

I'll do the best I can.

I know you will.

Mrs. Kennedy had the new carpet installed...

...when everybody went to Texas.

Oh. Strange choice.

What's going on?

Mr. Johnson told me

to clear everything out immediately.

You don't waste any time, do you, Lyndon?

- Excuse me?

- It's going to take some doing to get...

...all of President Kennedy's

belongings packed and relocated.

I was told to use this office.

Just like you were told

to take the oath in Dallas?

Bobby...

...I'm not trying to shove myself anywhere.

In fact, I told Jackie she could stay

in the East Wing as long as she needs.

Well, that's not really the part of the

building that you're interested in, is it?

I'm just trying to do my job.

My brother's coffin is down the hall.

This is not where our attention should be.

We all mourn for your brother.

But somebody has to tend

to the business of the country.

Mourning for my brother is

the business of the country.

We can come back later

after my cabinet meeting.

Your cabinet...

Bobby...

...I know you've got a lot on your mind.

But I want you to stand with me

as attorney general.

You've already got one photograph

with a grieving Kennedy at your side.

Do you really need another?

I'd appreciate it if you kept me

apprised of any...

...change in plans you might have.

Okay.

Yeah, I know where to find you.

People gathered outside the grounds

of the White House today...

...watching the dignitaries

and government officials...

...and representatives

of foreign governments...

...come through the gates

and go to pay last respects...

...to President Kennedy, lying in

the East Room of the White House.

Our reporter, David Schumacher,

was outside the White House...

...and talked to some of those people.

Let's look at that film now.

Just words... Just... I just can't describe

just how I feel at this time.

It just seems empty.

It just doesn't seem like anybody else

could fill the place the way he did.

Sir, we need to discuss

your address to Congress.

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