LBJ: The Early Years
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Peter Werner
Joan Welles
Tim Ware
Angela Skinner
Duncan Mcleod
Rudy Challenger
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
A television movie about the political career of Lyndon Johnson from 1934 until his ascension to the Presidency in 1963. The story begins in 1934 when Johnson is a secretary to a Texas congressman and while he's courting Ladybird Taylor, with whom he later eloped. Johnson returns to Washington in 1937 as a congressman from Texas. In 1955 he gains control of the Senate as Majority Leader, and suffers a near-fatal heart attack. After a long recovery, he returns to the Senate.
In 1960, his dream of making a bid for the presidency is thwarted when his rival, John F. Kennedy, wins the Democratic nomination. That doesn't deter Johnson, however, as he uses his political clout to become the Vice Presidential nominee, almost out of spite. He continues to have clashes with the Kennedy clan, especially with Robert Kennedy, who uses his influence with his brother Jack to humiliate Johnson whenever he can. The drama concludes with Johnson's swearing-in as President following the assassination of John Kennedy on November 22, 1963.
Director
Peter Werner
Cast
Joan Welles
Tim Ware
Angela Skinner
Duncan Mcleod
Rudy Challenger
Dave Adams
Tony Frank
Jack Garner
William Fair
Suzanne Cupito
Ron Hayes
Sandy Ward
Maggie Blye
Jennifer Lynn Bigonger
Jim Boeke
Royal Dano
Jerry Potter
Al Hansen
Tom Maier
Frances Conroy
Buddy Quaid
Merritt Olsen
Linda Hoy
Walter Sylvest
Don Moss
Ian Wolfe
Celeste Simpson-boyd
Kevin Mccarthy
Bob Wills
Kenny Marsten
Jerry Hardin
Joan Prather
Robin Curtis
Kate Finlayson
James F Kelly
Terrence Evans
Bob Aaron
Jack Blessing
Ted Hayden
Pat Hingle
Gary Bayer
Tamara Taylor
Dan Priest
Royce Wallace
Randy Quaid
Barry Corbin
Sonja Svenson
Michael Greene
Leslie P Morris
Bruce Gray
Ken Mcgee
Tommy Bush
Burr Middleton
Bill Smillie
Michael Dan Wagner
George Christy
David Carlile
Lesley Woods
Anne Haney
Charles Frank
Woody Eney
Patti Lupone
Crew
John Brice
Sandra Saxon Brice
Michele Burke
Steven Cohen
John Lindley
Brad R Loman
Johnny Mandel
Jane Musky
Linda Peterson
Louis Rudolph
Don Summers
Harold Thrasher
Ken Trevey
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
The telefilm won a 1987 George Foster Peabody Award.
Aired in United States February 1, 1987
Released in United States on Video November 22, 1988
Original title: "L.B.J."
