TEXAS: Victory for Lyndon

Even for Texas, the fight was savage. Governor Allan Shivers, unbeaten and still packing a wallop after two decades in politics, was the official champ. Senator Lyndon Johnson, fast and clever, and seconded by implacable old House Speaker Sam Rayburn, was the challenger. The prize: control of the Texas Democratic Party, including its 56-vote delegation to the national convention. Last week, at more than 5,000 precinct meetings in 254 counties, Lyndon Johnson gave Allan Shivers a merciless drubbing, then added a couple of sharp kicks to make certain he would not get up.

Sam Rayburn had been setting Shivers up...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!