The Administration: State's New Team

Having summoned newsmen to the White House Cabinet Room for a hastily arranged press conference, Lyndon Johnson blandly allowed that he had nothing to announce. After 17 minutes of aimless exchanges, Columnist Marquis Childs—who had been cued in advance by an Administration aide—asked the right question. "Mr. President, there are a number of vacancies in the State Department," said Childs. "Can you give any indication of when those will be filled?" With calculated casualness, Johnson replied: "Well, one became vacant yesterday—the Under Secretary, Mr. Ball—and that will be filled right now."...