Customs: The Long Summer Commute

Noting that King Bhumibol of Thailand had visited Massachusetts' Martha's Vineyard as a child, Lyndon Johnson allowed to the monarch during his recent visit to the White House that "some members of my Cabinet—some members of my staff—have been known to disappear into the fogs of the Vineyard for long stretches of time. Some of them even claim that the fog obscures not only land and sea but also the sound of the White House telephone." Added L.B.J.: "Secretary Katzenbach, I am carefully observing your reaction."

Johnson was presumably remembering the time of...

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