The 1960s represent a tumultuous period in American political history, marked by tensions over civil rights, the Vietnam War, and seismic cultural shifts across the nation. At the center of this decade’s chaos stood two towering figures that profoundly shaped the era: President Lyndon B. Johnson and Senator Robert F. Kennedy. However, far from a collaborative working relationship, LBJ and RFK harbored an intense, mutual hatred that influenced policy decisions and electoral strategies throughout their time in office.
The Bad Blood Begins
Relations between Johnson and Kennedy were strained from the outset. As JFK’s Attorney General, RFK was deeply skeptical of then-Vice President Johnson, while LBJ resented the Kennedy family’s glamor and East Coast elitism . JFK’s assassination propelled these tensions into all-out hatred. Consumed by grief, RFK irrationally blamed Johnson for his brother’s death, even openly decrying LBJ as “mean, bitter, and vicious” . Meanwhile, newly sworn-in President Johnson was intensely insecure, interpreting RFK’s grief as a threat to his power.
The Feud Turns Public
As Johnson rapidly enacted JFK’s stalled civil rights agenda, RFK grew increasingly critical despite having previously ignored these issues as Attorney General. LBJ began privately ranting about “Bobby Baker” and his efforts to undermine the administration despite maintaining a cooperative public facade .
Tensions boiled over publicly during Johnson’s 1964 re-election bid. LBJ frequently exploded in racist tirades due to frustration over RFK’s prominent role in the campaign, once exclaiming, “I’ll cut his throat if it’s the last thing I do!” Privately, LBJ obsessed over intercepting RFK’s phone calls and planted rumors that RFK was mentally ill. RFK himself refused to speak Johnson’s name, referring to him only as “that man.”
Battling Over Vietnam
As the Vietnam War escalated, it expanded the gulf between LBJ and RFK. Johnson interpreted RFK’s doveish stance on Vietnam as a personal attack, viewing every RFK speech criticizing the war as a betrayal . Meanwhile, RFK grew increasingly disillusioned with Johnson’s militaristic approach, setting himself up as the anti-war candidate for the 1968 election.
According to LBJ’s aide Harry McPherson, Vietnam “brought out all the strain of bitterness between them… at times it seemed to be the whole purpose of the war, from the President’s personal point of view, was to destroy Bobby” .
The Rivalry That Broke LBJ
As the disastrous Tet Offensive unfolded in early 1968, an embattled President Johnson surprisingly withdrew from the election race. While publicly citing a desire to focus on peace talks, privately LBJ confessed the true motivation was his weariness over combat with RFK . “I just can’t stand any more of this,” he admitted to an aide, tearfully lamenting Bobby’s attacks . LBJ even cited RFK’s assassination that June as divine retribution, musing “that’s justice.”
In the end, the legendary hatred between LBJ and RFK influenced momentous decisions shaping America’s policy, politics and cultural upheaval throughout the 1960s. Their bitter blood feud defined a decade.
Clashing Egos And Political Games
The intense personal rivalry between LBJ and RFK was fueled by clashing egos, political games, and a constant power struggle. Known for his crude bullying, LBJ relished humiliating Kennedy’s Harvard elite inner circle, whom he nicknamed “the Harvards” . He would intentionally exclude RFK allies from important White House meetings, while granting direct access to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover – RFK’s sworn enemy.
Johnson’s Power Plays
As President, LBJ leveraged his power to sideline RFK’s influence in government. He quickly replaced Kennedy loyalists with his own circle in a blunt display of political muscle . Meanwhile, LBJ sadistically dangled the prospect of being selected as his Vice President running mate in 1964, purely to torment RFK who regarded the offer with contempt.
Ultimately, the two titans’ clashing ambitions stemmed from a deeper desire to escape the shadow of JFK’s legacy that haunted them both. According to friend Richard Goodwin, LBJ was “tortured by the myth of Kennedy,” while RFK’s entire identity was consumed with being the heir to his brother’s legend . Their bitter war was deeply personal at its core.
The Final Act Of A Tragic American Feud
Ultimately, the storied hatred between Lyndon B. Johnson and Robert F. Kennedy played out like a Shakespearian tragedy, irrevocably shaped by legacy, ego, and a desperate desire for power. Its cost was monumental.
Johnson’s presidency collapsed under the weight of Vietnam, a war perpetuated by his obsession to crush RFK’s dovish stance. RFK met a violent end on the campaign trail just as the Democratic nomination finally arrived. Both men had their presidential ambitions thwarted by the other.
The bitter war between LBJ and RFK ultimately crippled the Democratic party, opening a path for Republican dominance in subsequent decades. Its fallout shifted the political landscape indelibly, severely wounding American liberalism in the process.
Above all, this feud between two titanic egos serves as a cautionary tale of ambition and hatred run amok, and the damage wrought when personal rivalry infects politics irrevocably. Its legacy shaped not only the figures themselves, but an entire generation in 1960s America.
