Means of Ascent

The title Means of Ascent is perhaps the best title of any book I've read. The title perfectly captures the essence of the book: focusing on the means by which Lyndon Baines Johnson would rise to power.

The means that Johnson used were wide and sprawling; he would use any means necessary to achieve his goals. He went to war only as a means to use it to further his political career. He used a helicopter as a means to drive crowds to his rallies. He pulled every favor he could from the "Duke of Duval," George Parr, as a means to win his 1948 senatorial election.

Perhaps more interesting is that Johnson did not care about the means at all. He had no interest in the war aside from his ability to use in his career. Apparently he didn't care at all about the rickety helicopter he spent several weeks travelling in during his campaign. And he didn't care about the potential consequences of his deceit in stealing the 1948 election. All he cared about was advancing his career and thus his power.

Johnson's ascent itself was not without luck. It's amazing how many instances history has turned a knifepoint. Johnson was removed from a plane that was shot down hours later. Johnson's senatorial campaign was on its last legs while Johnson was in the hospital and was adamant that the campaign should be called off. Several times during the 1948 election and the subsequent investigations and trials, Johnson seemed sure to have lost his career altogether. And yet, time and time again, Landslide Lyndon was able to clamber to the next rung in his endless power struggle.

The means that Johnson was willing to employ to advance his career and power can be best described as "Everything but the kitchen sink". It paid off.