LBJ Saw 'Treason' in Candidate Nixon's Actions

By Gabriel Winant, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 5, 2008 11:42 AM CST

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LBJ Saw 'Treason' in Candidate Nixon's Actions — In this Saturday, Nov. 17, 1973 file photo, President Richard Nixon speaks near Orlando, Fla. It will be 35 years next week since President Richard Nixon, responding to an Arab oil embargo, vowed to make the United States energy independent- and do it in seven years. America is still waiting. (AP Photo)

As the tumultuous 1968 presidential campaign closed, Lyndon Johnson learned of attempts by Richard Nixon's aides to undermine peace efforts in Vietnam, actions he referred to as "treason," The final batch of audio recordings made during LBJ's administration, released yesterday by his presidential library, capture the frustration of his final days in office, reports the Austin American-Statesman.

Johnson’s abortive peace moves nearly salvaged the race for VP Hubert Humphrey. On October 31, LBJ stopped the bombing of North Vietnam, and Humphrey drew within 2 points of Nixon. When Johnson confronted Nixon on Nov. 3 about his alleged tampering, the Republican said, “My God. I would never do anything to encourage the South Vietnamese not to come to that conference table.”
(More Lyndon Johnson stories.)

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