Lyndon B. Johnson

School Library Journal

Gr 6 Up-This biography focuses on the statesman's public career and legacy. Some material is included about the subject's childhood, education, and family life, but most of the book details his rise to political power and his presidential administration. The text is objective and captures the complexities that were so much a part of Johnson's personality and actions. Schuman is admiring of the politician's commitment to civil rights and his vision of a prosperous Great Society, and is critical of his often cynical electoral manipulations and his duplicitous conduct during the conflict in Vietnam, which he calls "Johnson's War." Primary sources include Johnson's own words and excerpts from the recently released audio tapes made during his presidency. The final chapter examines the man's legacy, citing the views of both historians and those who worked in his administration and concluding that Johnson ranks in the top quarter of presidents. Black-and-white photos and reproduced "source documents" are of average quality and add little to the text. Dennis Eskow's Lyndon Baines Johnson (Watts, 1993) is a more personal account. Schuman's analysis reflects the ongoing historical reassessment of Johnson's administration. The book also includes enough detail to satisfy report writers, making it a good choice for libraries that need material on this president or the era he so influenced.-Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO