A tax cut had become the Democrats' biggest political issue in the 84th Congress. In the House, Speaker Sam Rayburn managed to push through a $20-a-person cut, despite opposition by the Eisenhower Administration. Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson knew that he could not get the flat $20 cut through the Senate, so he designed a tax bill that was a politician's dream: it seemed to help the little fellow, to hurt the bigger fellow, and to help balance the budget. Nevertheless, the Senate last week voted down Johnson's dream.
Byrd on the Floor. Most Democrats had flocked to Johnson's...
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