The legendary NBC news anchor Tom Brokaw wrote a best-selling book in 1998 that popularized the name “The Greatest Generation.” Brokaw’s thesis was that the generation of Americans raised in the Great Depression, and forged by the Second World War, was the “greatest generation any society has ever produced.” When Brokaw made the assertion the name would not have stuck if the American people did not agree. Twenty-five years ago, there was a great wave of national nostalgia, appreciation and awe over the achievements of this generation of Americans who were the older siblings of the silent generation, the parents of the baby boomers and the grand parents of Generation X. It was a moment where a great dam of silence was cracking and a reservoir of memories, stories and previously unknown accounts were shared by the men and women in their mid-70s who had returned from war and quietly went on with their lives. The brilliance of Steven Spielberg’s “Saving Private Ryan” and the 20 minutes of unprecedentedly vivid, realistic depiction of combat on the Dog Green Sector of Omaha Beach where elements of the 2nd Ranger Battalion fought, awed the nation.
Fantastic piece of history, Steve, and a very much warranted appreciation of LBJ and his colleagues who stood up for racial justice. And OMG, how some large swaths of our society and their malevolent "leaders" in recent decades (yes, Republicans, i'm staring at you) have deliberately, cruelly regressed back into racist prejudices in trying to keep people of color from voting, banning history books, and so on.
I'm up very late buried in researching details for my ancestral tree-- it's amazing to think of our hardy ancestors male and female, old and young and every age in between, striving and struggling to create prosperous, healthy families and peaceful, joyous communities.
And wars took so many of them to faraway places--during the Civil War, Spanish-American war, WWI, WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War....
This existence is so miraculous -- why can't far more people appreciate this and give back generously to their neighbors and communities, regardless of ethnicity, race, religion, and socio-economic background?
Excellent piece, Steve. LBJ’s shepherding of the ‘64 CRA was sheer brilliance. Caro’s books tell us so much about Johnson, and will be there for future politicians to admire and hopefully emulate. I believe Biden is in his image. I’ve taken to calling him Old Man, endearingly, among friends, bless him.
I look forward to your writing every morning. Often there is a history lesson - one I never was exposed to during my formal "public" education. Thank you for these gifts - they are truly a treasure.
Sometimes I finish with a "feel good" attitude - usually not.
Mostly I leave with questions, a curiosity, which extend into my thoughts that day, and after.
Today your offerings led me to wonder about the generation/s my husband and I are leaving behind: their dreams, their values, their challenges - and how we have (or not) taught them, prepared them to live their lives to their fullest potential - to leave this earthly domain a little better because they were here. I am feeling good about that (for the moment.) I don't see them (their characters) changing dramatically at this point.
Then I considered both our parents and their roles as mentors and models - and am so grateful we deviated from their example. True, they were products of their generation - greatest or not - but our mothers were racists, coming from families that were as well. Impoverished, not well educated. Certainly not what one would consider "thinkers." It is rumored one of our grandfathers (mine) was a member of the KKK. He died before I was born, but knowing my grandmother - who liberally used the "n" word - it's not impossible to believe. Most of my family still is. Not surprisingly I have been referred to as the "black sheep" in my family. I wear that designation with pride.
All this to say, we do lead by example. But it is possible to overcome "ingrained" hate, misogyny, racism, etc. Education, Education, Education.
I am the black sheep of our rural family too. I was the only one who went to college and finished it, living in other places. I wish my brothers had learned more. Now that I once again live where I grew up, I realize the potential of my brothers, how they are smart but still are racist, and how education would have helped them so much. They scoff at my going to college, instead of wanting to know something about me.
We lived near an Air Force Base, and a couple times, my second-oldest brother would bring an airman he had befriended while working as a civilian mechanic at the base. One was black. I was 10 years younger, and it surprised me. Yet, later in years, I’d ask if he would vote for Obama and he and my other brother would scoff and use the N-word laughing, even though they were moderate Democrats! What a further education and seeing the world would have taught them! I’m sad they are still the way they are, as now I can see the potential in them, which saddens me.
It is sad. Every time I hear about ”parental rights” in education, it translates as, ”I want the right to raise my child to be ignorant.” There is simply no way this prepares anyone to work a meaningful job. How could these people work in a fast food restaurant, much less a multicultural office? Their job prospects become manual labor jobs that may or may not pay the bills.
I relate, and I’m sorry for the loss you have experienced at the rejection of your family. It is their loss as well Julie. Living a life of regret is a waste of the life we have been given. Choose joy. Choose to be with people who appreciate you for who you are. You do not need to apologize for that. Setting boundaries is very painful, but not setting any is even worse. I wish you peace and joy in your future path.
Thank you. I have chosen joy. I can’t get away from these people because we all have homes on the family farm. And, my brothers are technically my landlords (it’s complicated). I’m not willing to sacrifice my home, gardens and art studio because of them. Actually I feel sorry for both of them. I went to college on my own, with little help from my parents (car repairs, a bit of spending money sometimes). I lived in DC for 22 years, and eventually got a masters in landscape design. I do wish my one brother would listen to me about plants. He found in yard where my parents used to live a peony that probably had been there for over 50 years. I told him what to do if he wanted to transplant it to his yard how to do it. It needed to be divided--couldn’t gotten 5-6 plants off it--and to let me help when he wanted to move it. Instead, he dug it up and put the entire plant in a plastic pot. With our sub-zero winter temperatures. I may need to sneak over there one day when they are not home, take it out, divide it, and put it back in the pot. It will die if he leaves out in the winter. Those peonies have been in this farm since the 1920s. They are heirlooms and shouldn’t be stupidly killed because he didn’t listen to his younger sister who has a Masters degree in landscape design. Sigh. Otherwise, I’m great.
Steve, you have done it again! Thank you for this beautiful essay! The clips of President Johnson’s interview with Walter Cronkite, and the clip of his speech as Vice-president, literally brought me to tears. Thank you for showing us, once again, what greatness looks like and that greatness can be achieved! It’s hard to believe that this great man came from the same state, Texas, that has imposed upon the nation the likes of Greg Abbott, Rick Perry, Dan Patrick, Ken Paxton and Ted Cruz to name just a few!
My husband is a native Texan. He used to be proud of that fact. We are here fighting the fight. It's bewildering and astounding. But we work at every level in the fight. My parents were LBJ supporters. My grandparents were not. They broke the chain of racism in our family. My husband broke it in his.
Thank you for the feedback, Dee. I hope and pray that Texas produces more people like LBJ and your husband, and fewer people like Greg Abbott, Dan Patrick, Ken Paxton, and Ted Cruz. I invite you to read my posts on irmastuart.substack.com. I publish as Irma’s Newsletter, it is free to subscribe, and feedback is welcomed and greatly appreciated. Thank you again for taking the time.
Jun 4, 2023·edited Jun 5, 2023Liked by Steve Schmidt
Great piece of historical writing, Mr. Schmidt.
I can’t help but think that in today’s hyper partisan era, LBJ’s signature piece of legislation would have zero chance of being passed. What a sad commentary on our current times that is.
I find it very sad and revealing comparing President Johnson’s description of his personal evolution and actions he took to begin breaking down the systemic racism built into our local, state and federal government, to today’s hateful, rage-filled, white supremacy based, privileged political leaders such as Trump, DeSantis, Greg Abbott, Kristi Noem, Mark Meadows, Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, Paul Gosar, Andy Biggs, Tommy Tuberville, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz, etc etc. President Johnson is describing a lifetime of awakening to the injustices inherent to our system of government and then using the power given to him by the people to remove or minimize those injustices. Most of today’s GOP are working as hard or harder to not only stop the awakenings but turn back and tear down any of the improvements that were made by President Johnson, and the other Civil Rights leaders of his time that encouraged and helped him with his awakening. Men like Martin Luther King, John Lewis, Malcolm X, James Baldwin, etc. Today’s current GOP leadership and politicians’ goals are to push this country back to the time and attitudes of Johnson’s birth. I truly hope the current crop of America’s “Greatest Generation” can stop them. I worry that my generation has been asleep too long and allowed too much regression and made their task impossible. From systemic racism to killing and befouling the planet we live on, we’ve made the job so much more difficult than it needed to be.
I think that may be Mr. Schmidt’s point: know the past, look at the present, and decide the future. Let’s not put all the work on the next generation for tolerance and saving the planet: we’re not dead yet. Vote.
Of course, voting is a given. At least for me it is anyway. However in many states the gerrymandering, voter suppression efforts and other regressive laws have become so entrenched even if every eligible voter showed up and voted, the MAGA extremists might still win. My point is I worry we have not only put all the work on the next generation, we’ve made it impossible for them to succeed.
If we admix genetic predisposition with environmental streasors as the primary forces that impact behaviors, accomplishments, decisions, we may well be nurturing the generation to which you allude.
Watch the fierce coalescing of our college-aged cohort, feel the vibrations of their emotive but measured and thoughtful productions; there exists a current, a wave of rising energy that is poised to convert fully from potential to super-active.
We may be witnessing the genesis of the most forceful generation to-date; they are needed, welcome and essential.
Mia I’ve been having the same thoughts about this Rising Generation! My dad, who died at 96, was part of the Greatest Generation, serving in the USN over a 30 year career that began in WW2 and ended after Vietnam, and continued into a peaceful productive life where he thought deeply about issues and voted in every election. He despised Trump, the MAGA mindset, and worried about the future of this country. But he also saw hope and he remained optimistic until he died in 2021.
I have so much hope for this Rising Generation; this boomer cannot wait to see how they (with my vote) carry this country into the future, bending always toward justice 🙏
Initial thoughts after reading your words, Steve, and crying - nostalgia? Missing my parents (z”l) - Dad who fought in Europe and survived so that I could exist; Mom who drove a jeep at Wright Pat AFB and shoulda been more had it not been the ‘50s? Missing a thoughtful politician and news analyst? Realizing what I’ve lived through and how little time is left to turn around the horror of stares’ laws of hate and ignorance?
I’ll watch LBJ (again - I did initially when they were new while protesting VietNam and the war) and wonder what will be.
Steve, thank you so much for this article and the historical videos. I was in tears, like many others who watched President Johnson. What a wise, good and kind man. Makes me wonder what has become of the great state of Texas, and how and why?
I am pinning my hopes on our youngest generation to address and tackle ongoing racism, inequality,climate change, gun safety, war and peace and safeguarding our democracy.
Every generation in America has had enormous problems to deal with. I think President Biden is right for this treacherous time in our country, which is fighting evil from within.
I remember like it was yesterday watching the LBJ national address where he shocked everyone with: ""With America's sons in the fields far away, with America's future under challenge right here at home, with our hopes and the world's hopes for peace in the balance every day, I do not believe that I should devote an hour or a day of my time to any personal partisan causes or to any duties other than the awesome duties of this office — the presidency of this country.... Accordingly, I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your president."
A great philosophy is for your comomentary and analysis. I have always believed Lyndon johnson was an underrated president, and I am grateful to see him recognized for his astonishing contributions. Kennedy's assassination put so much of the emphasis on his legacy and seemed to diminish Johnson's. We hear so little about him today and he gets so little credit that it does my heart good to see what a gift he was to America.
Can the schizophrenia at the heart of American Civil Society be more clearly represented than by the Americans in 1860-65 who fought other Americans to preserve the promise of the Declaration of Independence?
That schism has continued for the 153 years since the end of the Civil War. It is embedded in the constitution and has not been erased by the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments. The strength of the schism is evident in the perverse decisions of the Disgraced Roberts Court on voting rights which consistently attempt tom eviserate the voting rights of non-white Americans.
The schism is evident as well as obscene in the attempts of racist legislators to edit and use the words of Martin Luthor King to deny his dreams and pervert their meaning.
It is reflected in the unified opposition to the equality of all Americans in the former confederacy. After 234 years, 6 angry, frightened, “justices” see their duty as preserving the power and privilege of Wealthy White Male Christian Nationalists. The facts are obvious
Fantastic piece of history, Steve, and a very much warranted appreciation of LBJ and his colleagues who stood up for racial justice. And OMG, how some large swaths of our society and their malevolent "leaders" in recent decades (yes, Republicans, i'm staring at you) have deliberately, cruelly regressed back into racist prejudices in trying to keep people of color from voting, banning history books, and so on.
I'm up very late buried in researching details for my ancestral tree-- it's amazing to think of our hardy ancestors male and female, old and young and every age in between, striving and struggling to create prosperous, healthy families and peaceful, joyous communities.
And wars took so many of them to faraway places--during the Civil War, Spanish-American war, WWI, WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War....
This existence is so miraculous -- why can't far more people appreciate this and give back generously to their neighbors and communities, regardless of ethnicity, race, religion, and socio-economic background?
Excellent piece, Steve. LBJ’s shepherding of the ‘64 CRA was sheer brilliance. Caro’s books tell us so much about Johnson, and will be there for future politicians to admire and hopefully emulate. I believe Biden is in his image. I’ve taken to calling him Old Man, endearingly, among friends, bless him.
I look forward to your writing every morning. Often there is a history lesson - one I never was exposed to during my formal "public" education. Thank you for these gifts - they are truly a treasure.
Sometimes I finish with a "feel good" attitude - usually not.
Mostly I leave with questions, a curiosity, which extend into my thoughts that day, and after.
Today your offerings led me to wonder about the generation/s my husband and I are leaving behind: their dreams, their values, their challenges - and how we have (or not) taught them, prepared them to live their lives to their fullest potential - to leave this earthly domain a little better because they were here. I am feeling good about that (for the moment.) I don't see them (their characters) changing dramatically at this point.
Then I considered both our parents and their roles as mentors and models - and am so grateful we deviated from their example. True, they were products of their generation - greatest or not - but our mothers were racists, coming from families that were as well. Impoverished, not well educated. Certainly not what one would consider "thinkers." It is rumored one of our grandfathers (mine) was a member of the KKK. He died before I was born, but knowing my grandmother - who liberally used the "n" word - it's not impossible to believe. Most of my family still is. Not surprisingly I have been referred to as the "black sheep" in my family. I wear that designation with pride.
All this to say, we do lead by example. But it is possible to overcome "ingrained" hate, misogyny, racism, etc. Education, Education, Education.
I am the black sheep of our rural family too. I was the only one who went to college and finished it, living in other places. I wish my brothers had learned more. Now that I once again live where I grew up, I realize the potential of my brothers, how they are smart but still are racist, and how education would have helped them so much. They scoff at my going to college, instead of wanting to know something about me.
We lived near an Air Force Base, and a couple times, my second-oldest brother would bring an airman he had befriended while working as a civilian mechanic at the base. One was black. I was 10 years younger, and it surprised me. Yet, later in years, I’d ask if he would vote for Obama and he and my other brother would scoff and use the N-word laughing, even though they were moderate Democrats! What a further education and seeing the world would have taught them! I’m sad they are still the way they are, as now I can see the potential in them, which saddens me.
It is sad. Every time I hear about ”parental rights” in education, it translates as, ”I want the right to raise my child to be ignorant.” There is simply no way this prepares anyone to work a meaningful job. How could these people work in a fast food restaurant, much less a multicultural office? Their job prospects become manual labor jobs that may or may not pay the bills.
I relate, and I’m sorry for the loss you have experienced at the rejection of your family. It is their loss as well Julie. Living a life of regret is a waste of the life we have been given. Choose joy. Choose to be with people who appreciate you for who you are. You do not need to apologize for that. Setting boundaries is very painful, but not setting any is even worse. I wish you peace and joy in your future path.
Thank you. I have chosen joy. I can’t get away from these people because we all have homes on the family farm. And, my brothers are technically my landlords (it’s complicated). I’m not willing to sacrifice my home, gardens and art studio because of them. Actually I feel sorry for both of them. I went to college on my own, with little help from my parents (car repairs, a bit of spending money sometimes). I lived in DC for 22 years, and eventually got a masters in landscape design. I do wish my one brother would listen to me about plants. He found in yard where my parents used to live a peony that probably had been there for over 50 years. I told him what to do if he wanted to transplant it to his yard how to do it. It needed to be divided--couldn’t gotten 5-6 plants off it--and to let me help when he wanted to move it. Instead, he dug it up and put the entire plant in a plastic pot. With our sub-zero winter temperatures. I may need to sneak over there one day when they are not home, take it out, divide it, and put it back in the pot. It will die if he leaves out in the winter. Those peonies have been in this farm since the 1920s. They are heirlooms and shouldn’t be stupidly killed because he didn’t listen to his younger sister who has a Masters degree in landscape design. Sigh. Otherwise, I’m great.
:)
Steve, you have done it again! Thank you for this beautiful essay! The clips of President Johnson’s interview with Walter Cronkite, and the clip of his speech as Vice-president, literally brought me to tears. Thank you for showing us, once again, what greatness looks like and that greatness can be achieved! It’s hard to believe that this great man came from the same state, Texas, that has imposed upon the nation the likes of Greg Abbott, Rick Perry, Dan Patrick, Ken Paxton and Ted Cruz to name just a few!
My husband is a native Texan. He used to be proud of that fact. We are here fighting the fight. It's bewildering and astounding. But we work at every level in the fight. My parents were LBJ supporters. My grandparents were not. They broke the chain of racism in our family. My husband broke it in his.
Thank you for the feedback, Dee. I hope and pray that Texas produces more people like LBJ and your husband, and fewer people like Greg Abbott, Dan Patrick, Ken Paxton, and Ted Cruz. I invite you to read my posts on irmastuart.substack.com. I publish as Irma’s Newsletter, it is free to subscribe, and feedback is welcomed and greatly appreciated. Thank you again for taking the time.
My parents being the "the they" in that unclear statement.
Three cheers for your parents! The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step! And good for your husband too!
Great piece of historical writing, Mr. Schmidt.
I can’t help but think that in today’s hyper partisan era, LBJ’s signature piece of legislation would have zero chance of being passed. What a sad commentary on our current times that is.
Outstanding essay. LBJ had some outsize accomplishments, always glad when they are recognized.
I find it very sad and revealing comparing President Johnson’s description of his personal evolution and actions he took to begin breaking down the systemic racism built into our local, state and federal government, to today’s hateful, rage-filled, white supremacy based, privileged political leaders such as Trump, DeSantis, Greg Abbott, Kristi Noem, Mark Meadows, Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, Paul Gosar, Andy Biggs, Tommy Tuberville, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz, etc etc. President Johnson is describing a lifetime of awakening to the injustices inherent to our system of government and then using the power given to him by the people to remove or minimize those injustices. Most of today’s GOP are working as hard or harder to not only stop the awakenings but turn back and tear down any of the improvements that were made by President Johnson, and the other Civil Rights leaders of his time that encouraged and helped him with his awakening. Men like Martin Luther King, John Lewis, Malcolm X, James Baldwin, etc. Today’s current GOP leadership and politicians’ goals are to push this country back to the time and attitudes of Johnson’s birth. I truly hope the current crop of America’s “Greatest Generation” can stop them. I worry that my generation has been asleep too long and allowed too much regression and made their task impossible. From systemic racism to killing and befouling the planet we live on, we’ve made the job so much more difficult than it needed to be.
I think that may be Mr. Schmidt’s point: know the past, look at the present, and decide the future. Let’s not put all the work on the next generation for tolerance and saving the planet: we’re not dead yet. Vote.
Of course, voting is a given. At least for me it is anyway. However in many states the gerrymandering, voter suppression efforts and other regressive laws have become so entrenched even if every eligible voter showed up and voted, the MAGA extremists might still win. My point is I worry we have not only put all the work on the next generation, we’ve made it impossible for them to succeed.
Thank you Steve it's always good to learn and be reminded of important parts of the past on a Sunday morning.
I dunno.
If we admix genetic predisposition with environmental streasors as the primary forces that impact behaviors, accomplishments, decisions, we may well be nurturing the generation to which you allude.
Watch the fierce coalescing of our college-aged cohort, feel the vibrations of their emotive but measured and thoughtful productions; there exists a current, a wave of rising energy that is poised to convert fully from potential to super-active.
We may be witnessing the genesis of the most forceful generation to-date; they are needed, welcome and essential.
Mia I’ve been having the same thoughts about this Rising Generation! My dad, who died at 96, was part of the Greatest Generation, serving in the USN over a 30 year career that began in WW2 and ended after Vietnam, and continued into a peaceful productive life where he thought deeply about issues and voted in every election. He despised Trump, the MAGA mindset, and worried about the future of this country. But he also saw hope and he remained optimistic until he died in 2021.
I have so much hope for this Rising Generation; this boomer cannot wait to see how they (with my vote) carry this country into the future, bending always toward justice 🙏
Amen to that, and here's to your father's enduring memory....!
Initial thoughts after reading your words, Steve, and crying - nostalgia? Missing my parents (z”l) - Dad who fought in Europe and survived so that I could exist; Mom who drove a jeep at Wright Pat AFB and shoulda been more had it not been the ‘50s? Missing a thoughtful politician and news analyst? Realizing what I’ve lived through and how little time is left to turn around the horror of stares’ laws of hate and ignorance?
I’ll watch LBJ (again - I did initially when they were new while protesting VietNam and the war) and wonder what will be.
Thank you for this.
Steve, thank you so much for this article and the historical videos. I was in tears, like many others who watched President Johnson. What a wise, good and kind man. Makes me wonder what has become of the great state of Texas, and how and why?
I am pinning my hopes on our youngest generation to address and tackle ongoing racism, inequality,climate change, gun safety, war and peace and safeguarding our democracy.
Every generation in America has had enormous problems to deal with. I think President Biden is right for this treacherous time in our country, which is fighting evil from within.
I remember like it was yesterday watching the LBJ national address where he shocked everyone with: ""With America's sons in the fields far away, with America's future under challenge right here at home, with our hopes and the world's hopes for peace in the balance every day, I do not believe that I should devote an hour or a day of my time to any personal partisan causes or to any duties other than the awesome duties of this office — the presidency of this country.... Accordingly, I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your president."
In addition to my comment, this just pushed from WaPo and Ruth Marcus mentioning LBJ:
Roberts should use the LBJ model on Clarence Thomas
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/06/02/supreme-court-clarence-thomas-roberts-ethics/
A great philosophy is for your comomentary and analysis. I have always believed Lyndon johnson was an underrated president, and I am grateful to see him recognized for his astonishing contributions. Kennedy's assassination put so much of the emphasis on his legacy and seemed to diminish Johnson's. We hear so little about him today and he gets so little credit that it does my heart good to see what a gift he was to America.
Apologies for the word salad in that first sentence! I was speaking and failed to proof read.
Can the schizophrenia at the heart of American Civil Society be more clearly represented than by the Americans in 1860-65 who fought other Americans to preserve the promise of the Declaration of Independence?
That schism has continued for the 153 years since the end of the Civil War. It is embedded in the constitution and has not been erased by the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments. The strength of the schism is evident in the perverse decisions of the Disgraced Roberts Court on voting rights which consistently attempt tom eviserate the voting rights of non-white Americans.
The schism is evident as well as obscene in the attempts of racist legislators to edit and use the words of Martin Luthor King to deny his dreams and pervert their meaning.
It is reflected in the unified opposition to the equality of all Americans in the former confederacy. After 234 years, 6 angry, frightened, “justices” see their duty as preserving the power and privilege of Wealthy White Male Christian Nationalists. The facts are obvious
Excellent presentation thank you. Every soul in this nation should be privy to it!