generic Lyndon B. Johnson: ‘I’m not interested in the vice presidency’
On July 10, 1960, Lyndon B. Johnson joined “Meet the Press” as a presidential candidate along with other Democratic candidates, Stuart Symington and John F. Kennedy. In the 90-minute interview special, all three candidates were pressed by a panel of journalists in front of an audience. Johnson said he was “not interested in the vice presidency,” saying he “wouldn’t want to trade my vote for a gavel.” Despite that, Johnson agreed to join the Democratic ticket led by John F. Kennedy and became vice president in 1961. Following Kennedy’s assassination in 1963, Johnson became the 36th president.
