On this day in March 1965, President Johnson had a telephone conversation with Buford Ellington, former Governor of Tennessee and a Democratic leader.

[Listen to the entire telephone conversation by clicking here]

LBJ asked Ellington’s advice on the situation in Selma, Alabama, and asked him to meet with Governor George Wallace and Nicholas Katzenbach; Ellington agreed to a meeting; LBJ discussed ideas for alleviating the situation in Alabama; the talked about a possible court order; the two men discussed local mediation.

On this day in March 1965, President Johnson had a telephone conversation with Lister Hill, U. S. Senator from Alabama.

[Listen to the entire telephone conversation by clicking here]

LBJ asked Hill’s advice on the Selma, Alabama situation; they talked about Governor George Wallace’s action in University of Alabama desegregation; they discussed Katzenbach as a possible friend of court in Martin Luther King, Jr.’s suit; the two men talked about LBJ’s recent meeting with Martin Luther King, Jr.; public safety concerns were discussed; they mentioned LeRoy Collins as a possible mediator.

On this day in March 1968, President Johnson gave a statement on the Conservation Message. LBJ said, “This is the work of the new conservation. It can be the new strength of America. I sent Congress today an action program:
--An action program that will fight pollution that fouls the air we all breathe and blights our rivers and our streams.
--An action program to continue the great work which now enables 120 million Americans to reach a national park or lakeshore or camping area in just an afternoon's drive from the crowded city.
--An action program to make every community a place of pride for its people.

Now the question is for each of us: What kind of America do we really want to live in--and what kind of America do we want to leave to our children? So I call upon all Americans--every mother and father, every businessman and worker, every Governor and every mayor-to join us in this urgent task of conserving America the beautiful.” The statement that LBJ gave was also recorded for radio and television broadcasts.

On this day in March 1967, President Johnson wrote a letter concerning the progress report by the Federal Woman's Award Study Group. “As a Nation, we cannot continue to afford through outmoded custom or attitude the senseless waste of the capability potential of American women. It is my firm intent, and I have expressed this many times since I became President, to have the Federal service truly exemplify equal opportunity for all in employment and advancement regardless of race, color, creed, national origin or sex. I am confident that the work of the Study Group will continue to contribute to the attainment of this objective.”

On this day in March 1966, President Johnson wrote a memorandum on balance of payments and federal expenditures overseas. LBJ wrote, “Our balance of payments requires our continuing attention and concern. We achieved a substantial improvement in the overall deficit in 1965 and we look forward to further improvement this year.

On this day in March 1964, President Johnson signed Executive Order 11145 providing for a Curator of the White House and establishing a Committee for the Preservation of the White House.

“WHEREAS the White House, as the home of the highest elective officer of the United States
--symbolizes the American ideal of responsible self-government
--is emblematic of our democracy and our national purpose
--has been intimately associated with the personal and social life of the Presidents of the United States and many of their official acts
--occupies a particular place in the heart of every American citizen, and WHEREAS certain historic rooms and entranceways in the White House
--possess great human interest and historic significance
--traditionally have been open to visitors
--have provided pleasure and patriotic inspiration to millions of our citizens
--have come to be regarded as a public museum and the proud possession of all Americans.”

On this day in March 1965, President Johnson had a telephone conversation with Vice President Hubert Humphrey.

[Listen to the entire telephone conversation by clicking here]

In the conversation, LBJ emphasized the need to pass Education, Medicare, Appalachias bills; they discussed Protestant objections to the Education Bill; and the Vice President’s role as liaison to Congress; the “(Board of) Education”; LBJ’s meetings with business, labor, and Martin Luther King, Jr.; and literacy training for Negroes.

On this day in March 1965, President Johnson had a telephone conversation with Defense Secretary Robert McNamara.

The President and Secretary McNamara discussed the decision to send Marines to Danang. LBJ read part of a McGeorge Bundy memo on possible peace talks and the United Kingdom’s views on Vietnam; they talked about a New York Times story on possible negotiations based on Secretary of State Dean Rusk’s briefing. Other topics included the psychological impact of sending Marines and Senator Mike Mansfield.

On this day in March 1968, President Johnson gave a special message to the Congress on the problems of the American Indian: "The Forgotten American." LBJ said, “The American Indian, once proud and free, is torn now between white and tribal values; between the politics and language of the white man and his own historic culture. His problems, sharpened by years of defeat and exploitation, neglect and inadequate effort, will take many years to overcome.

But recent landmark laws--the Economic Opportunity Act, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the Manpower Development and Training Act--have given us an opportunity to deal with the persistent problems of the American Indian. The time has come to focus our efforts on the plight of the American Indian through these and the other laws passed in the last few years.

....

I propose a new goal for our Indian programs: A goal that ends the old debate about ‘termination’ of Indian programs and stresses self-determination; a goal that erases old attitudes of paternalism and promotes partnership self-help.

Our goal must be:

--A standard of living for the Indians equal to that of the country as a whole.

--Freedom of Choice: An opportunity to remain in their homelands, if they choose, without surrendering their dignity; an opportunity to move to the towns and cities of America, if they choose, equipped with the skills to live in equality and dignity.

--Full participation in the life of modern America, with a full share of economic opportunity and social justice.”

On this day in March 1966, President Johnson made a statement upon announcing the selection of a task force on the health and education needs of the people of South Vietnam. LBJ said, “The United States has a twofold objective in Vietnam--not only to help the Republic of Vietnam win its war against aggression but also to lay the groundwork for meaningful and durable peace.

The members of this mission will bring professional competence to the work of the health and education task force. This can only be the beginning of what must be a continuing effort on the part of both governments to give new promise and new purpose to the lives of the Vietnamese people.”

On this day in March 1966, President Johnson’s memorandum establishing a task force on Summer Domestic Programs was released. LBJ wrote, “I would expect this task force to: (a) identify and describe problems that are likely to arise next summer, (b) indicate appropriate action which should be taken to alleviate such problems, and (c) indicate how such action might best be implemented. In this connection, I would expect the task force to consider not only the most efficient use of Federal resources in combating such problems, but also how best to enlist the support of other public and private organizations. The potential problems to be considered by the task force should embrace the full range of domestic social concern, including employment, education, recreation, health, community relations, etc.”

On this day in March 1967, President Johnson’s memorandum "Economic Planning for the End of Vietnam Hostilities" was released. LBJ wrote, “As I indicated in my Economic Report, I am directing the relevant agencies in the Executive Branch to begin at once a major and coordinated effort to review our readiness to make the economic adjustments which a termination of hostilities in Vietnam might require.”

On this day in March 1965, President Johnson proclaimed the month of April 1965 as Cancer Control Month.

On this day in March 1966, President Johnson signed the “Cold War GI Bill, called the "Veterans Readjustment Benefits Act of 1966." This G.I. Bill provided a permanent program of educational assistance, home and farm loans, hospitalization and medical care, job counseling and placement services, federal job preference and other benefits to veterans who served after January 31, 1955.

On this day in March 1967, President Johnson spoke on the phone with Senator Richard Russell.

[Listen to the entire telephone conversation by clicking here]

They discussed Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s Senate speech proposing a bombing halt to bring about Vietnam peace negotiations; past U. S. bombing pauses, peace efforts; LBJ’s messages to Ho Chi Minh; Harold Wilson-Alexsei Kosygin peace effort; background of the 37-day bombing pause.

On this day in March 1967, President Johnson spoke at a ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of Howard University in Washington, D. C.

“For the work that lies ahead is demanding, and it involves far too many lives in urgent need of help, to be parceled out by race. Tomorrow's problems, which will be placed squarely in your hands, will not be divided into ‘Negro problems’ and ’white problems.’ There will be only human problems, and there will be more than enough to go around.

I said at the beginning that this day is for prayers of thanksgiving, for remembrance, and wonder.

Our prayers are to the God who has strengthened the will of a grateful people. Our remembrance is of those who created and sustained this great university, and brought here thousands of young men and women from all over the world, and gave them the power to serve their fellow man.

Our wonder--our very great wonder--is for the human spirit, that having endured infinite wrongs, can yet hold to its faith in the dignity of life.

For one hundred years, that spirit has prevailed here at Howard University. May it always prevail.”

On this day in March 1968, President Johnson made remarks as he visited the NASA Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, Texas. LBJ said, “This new institute is a center of research that is designed specifically for the age of space. Here will come the scientists--and their students--from all corners of the world.

….

This new Houston Lunar Science Institute will provide new means of communication and research for the world's entire scientific community. It will help unite the nations for the great challenge of space.”

On this day in March 1965, President Johnson had a telephone conversation with Congressman Adam Clayton Powell. Presidential Aide Jack Valenti also participated in the conversation.

[Listen to the entire telephone conversation by clicking here]

In the conversation, Powell objected to an Appalachia Bill provision allowing the Commerce Department to change education programs; the two men discussed the Supreme Court decision on de facto school segregation; LBJ chastised Powell for delays on the Elementary and Secondary Education Bill.

On this day in March 1965, President Johnson spoke to the National Conference on Educational Legislation regarding current legislation before Congress.

“Nothing matters more to the future of our country. Not our military preparedness—we spend over 50 billion a year for that; armed power is worthless if we lack the brain power to build a world of peace. Not our productive economy, for we cannot sustain growth without trained manpower. Not our democratic system of government, for freedom is fragile if citizens are ignorant.”