[JEC]

Was JFK told to have LBJ as his running mate or did he freely choose him?

JFK was told to take on Johnson as VP so that it would be assured he would win the Southern vote. This move obviously worked.

[ontap]

JFK offered LBJ the vice-presidency with the belief there was no way he would give up the tremendous power he had to become the holder of an office known as a bucket of warm spit. He miscalculated.