ASSESSMENT OF J.F.K.

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30802, 14 July 1965, Page 15

ASSESSMENT OF J.F.K.

(N.Z. Prett Astociation —Copyright!

NEW YORK, July 13.

President Kennedy once described Mr Lyndon Johnson as “the riverboat gambler,” the Republican, Richard Nixon, as having “no taste,” and the former President, Mr Eisenhower, as a “terribly cold” man.

The facts came to light in a book to be published in November by an American historian, Arthur M. Schlesinger jun M called “A Thousand Days.” Mr Schlesinger also says that when the then Senator Kennedy offered the VicePresidential nomination to Mr Johnson, he was convinced Mr Johnson would not accept.

Excerpts from the book, dealing with President Kennedy’s drive to the Presidency and his' occupancy of the White House, appeared yesterday in the current issue of “Life” magazine. According to Professor Schlesinger Mr Kennedy offered Mr Johnson, then the Senate majority leader, the Vice-Presidential nomination a few hours after his own nomination at the head of the Democratic ticket. "He decided to do this,” the Professor writes, “because he thought it imperative to restore relations with the Senate leader.

“News of this offer, Kennedy hoped, would reunite the Democrats, please the older generation of professionals, improve the ticket’s chances in the South and lay the basis for future collaboration with Johnson. “He was certain that there was practically no chance that Johnson would accept.” According to Professor Schlesinger, Mr Kennedy who referred to Mr Johnson as “the riverboat gambler” in the days before the 1960

Democratic convention, then made the offer to Mr Johnson whose quick acceptance was greeted by President Kennedy with "astonishment'' and “considerable bafflement.”

Other high points of the book as published in “Life”: On Richard Nixon, President Kennedy's 1960 opponent: “Kennedy considered there was no-one he resembled less than Nixon. He scorned the way Nixon opened his speeches with the Pat and I greeting. “He has no taste, Kennedy said with contempt.” On the former President, Mr Dwight D. Eisenhower: “I could understand it if he played golf all the time with old Army friends, but ne man is less loyal to his old

friends than Eisenhower. Ho is a terribly cold man. All his golfing pals are rich men he has met since 1945,” Kennedy is quoted as saying. On Vice-President Hubert Humphrey, in the days when they were battling for the Democratic Presidential nomination: “Hubert is too intense for the present mood of the people. What they want today is a more boring, monotonous personality—like me.”