BOOK MARK : The Day LBJ Looked Industry in the Eye--and Stared Them Down

Lyndon B. Johnson had set the government off on a determined search for a program that would provide “real jobs, not make-work stuff,”so these unemployed, largely black youths from single- or no-parent families could gain self-respect.

Evidence was accumulating that training by employers was the most likely technique to get and keep someone working--far outstripping vocational training programs and the Job Corps. This led to creation of JOBS (Job Opportunities in the Business Sector) and NAB (National Alliance of Businessmen).

The first NAB executive committee was a blue-ribbon group of businessmen, personally selected by the President. He had them to lunch in the living quarters of the White House on Saturday, Jan. 27. A superb meal was served--special New York-cut steak, wine, ice cream. We had prepared some talking points, which were released to the press, but the presentation was pure Johnson. Jabbing and gesturing with his hands and arms, his face expressive of grit and excitement, Johnson challenged these 15 titans of industry--including Henry Ford II, Paul Austin of Coca-Cola Co. and the chief executives of Mobil Oil, Safeway Stores, International Telephone & Telegraph and Aluminum Company of America.

“We’ve looked at every kind of job program--government manpower training programs, the Job Corps, vocational training and retraining programs. And we’ve found the one that works best. What works best is what you do best: on-the-job training. We’re faced with the hard-core unemployed. You all are going to have to teach them how to wash and stay clean, how to read, how to write. All the things everyone around this table got from their mommies and daddies. Only these people don’t have mommies and daddies who give a damn about them. Or if they do, those mommies and daddies can’t read or don’t know how to help.

“So you’re going to have to wake them up in the morning, because they’ve never had anything worth getting up for before. Then you’re going to have to scrub them. Then you’re going to put them to work in your factories and stores and offices.”

Johnson looked around the table.

“This is no bullshit meeting. We’re going to have assignments and commitments for you to deliver on. Henry Ford has committed to chair this program. Paul Austin has committed to be vice chairman. They’ve committed to provide executives from their companies to help out.”

As the President paused, one of the executives said, “This is a tough job, Mr. President.”

Johnson turned to him and said, “I didn’t invite you here to tell me how tough a job this is. I invited you here to get the job done.” Then, turning again to the entire group around the table, Johnson continued:

“This economy has been so good to you that you can afford to give a little back. You can put these people to work and you won’t have a revolution because they’ve been left out. If they’re working, they won’t be throwing bombs in your homes and plants. Keep them busy and they won’t have time to burn your cars. And you’ll be doing something as important for your country as the platoons of Marines are doing in Vietnam.

“I need your commitment to make taxpayers out of these tax-eaters.”

At this point, James S. McDonnell, chairman of the aerospace corporation McDonnell-Douglas, excitedly blurted out, “I commit! Mr. President, I commit!”

Johnson looked down the table at him, leaned on his elbow, stared at McDonnell, and in a penetrating Texas whisper, said, “Mr. McDonnell, you committed when you ate the first bite of my steak.”

BOOK REVIEW: “The Triumph and Tragedy of Lyndon Johnson,” by Joseph A. Califano Jr., is reviewed on Page 1 of the Book Review section.

1991 by Joseph A. Califano Jr. Reprinted with permission from Simon & Schuster Inc.