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At a press conference in the marble-walled auditorium of the new Senate Of fice Building, Johnson formally declared himself a candidate for the Democratic nomination. Setting a personal Democratic standard that would still be fluttering up to election time, Johnson said he would not "chew on" President Eisenhower, "just as I have not and I will not spend my time now trying to destroy any in my party or in other parties who might come to this high office. Mistakes have been made—and inexcusable ones. But my interest—and I believe the interest of most of my fellow Americans—is in curing those mistakes, in avoiding those mistakes, not in exploiting them for political partisan gains."
Johnson showed particular moderation toward Jack Kennedy, never mentioned him by name in his 2,000-word statement announcing his candidacy. Later on, replying to questions, Johnson undercut the charge, leveled by his backers, that Kennedy is a sick man, suffering from Addison's disease. "Senator Kennedy," said Johnson, "has established beyond the peradventure of a doubt by traveling in every state of this union that he doesn't have any health problem."
But Johnson's renowned political cunning showed forth, too. A greying 51, veteran of 23 years in Congress, he pointed up boyish-looking, 43-year-old Jack Kennedy's comparative youth and inexperience by warning that the "forces of evil," meaning international Communism, "will have no mercy for innocence, no gallantry toward inexperience." With another sly jab, Johnson hit at the Kennedy drive to corral convention delegates: "I would not presume to tell my fellow Democrats that I am the only man they should consider for this job or to demand that any delegate or delegation vote for me. I am not going to go elbowing through 179 million Americans—pushing aside other Senators and Governors and Congressmen —to shout, 'Look at me, and nobody else!' I only want my fellow Democrats and my fellow Americans to look long, to look hard, and to look wisely to find the right man."'
Edge of Bitterness. He had waited until late to announce his candidacy, Johnson explained, because he had "a post of duty and of responsibility here in Washington as the majority leader of the U.S. Senate, selected unanimously by all of my Democratic colleagues. Because of that duty, a duty to all the people, I cannot be absent when there is public business at stake. Those who have engaged in active campaigns since January"—he unmistakably meant Jack Kennedy in particular—"have missed hundreds of votes. This I could not do ... Some one has to tend the store." Offstage, Johnson put it more bluntly: "Jack was out kissing babies while I was passing bills." His voice had an edge of bitterness in it, betraying his sense of grievance, his not-so-secret dislike for "young Jack," and his awareness that the dislike is mutual. (Kennedy had let it be known that, if elected President, he would try to knock Johnson off his majority leader perch.)