The Making of the President 1964

The Making of the President 1964 chronicles the presidential campaign and election battle between Lyndon Johnson and Barry Goldwater. White follows both candidates through the primaries, conventions, and general election while documenting the strategies, personalities, and events that shaped the race. White provides direct access to the inner workings of both campaigns through extensive interviews and on-the-ground reporting. His coverage includes analysis of television's growing influence on presidential politics, the impact of Kennedy's assassination on the political landscape, and the emergence of conservative grassroots organizing. White examines how societal changes and major events of 1964 influenced the election, from civil rights legislation to escalating Cold War tensions. His reporting captures key moments on the campaign trail and in the war rooms where decisions were made. The book stands as both a historical record and an exploration of how American democracy functions during times of social upheaval and change. Through his detailed account, White reveals enduring patterns in American politics and campaign dynamics that remain relevant decades later.

Readers value this book as a detailed account of the 1964 Johnson-Goldwater campaign, though many find it less compelling than White's 1960 edition. The behind-the-scenes reporting and character insights into both candidates draw praise. Readers appreciate: - In-depth coverage of the Republican primaries - Analysis of the changing political landscape - White's access to key players and events - Clear explanation of campaign strategies Common criticisms: - Too favorable toward Johnson - Less dramatic than the 1960 election coverage - Some sections drag with excessive detail - Dated political assumptions Review Scores: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (156 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (31 ratings) Sample reader comment: "White captures the personalities and strategic choices that shaped this election, though his pro-Johnson bias shows through at times." (Goodreads) "The Republican convention coverage alone makes this worth reading" (Amazon reviewer)

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📚 The book won the 1965 Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction, making Theodore White one of the few authors to win multiple Pulitzers for his "Making of the President" series. 🗳️ White's coverage of Barry Goldwater's campaign revealed that the candidate was reading "Atlas Shrugged" during the campaign, which helped cement the public connection between Goldwater and Ayn Rand's philosophy. 📺 The book detailed how the Johnson campaign's infamous "Daisy" television ad, showing a little girl counting daisy petals followed by a nuclear explosion, ran only once but became one of the most influential political advertisements in history. 🔍 White had unprecedented access to President Johnson during the campaign, including private moments when LBJ would make late-night phone calls while lying in bed, conducting campaign business in his pajamas. 📝 The book's success helped establish a new genre of campaign journalism, combining insider access with near-real-time historical documentation, influencing how presidential campaigns would be covered for decades to come.