April 26, 1967. LBJ flies home on Air Force One after attending former Chancellor Adenauer’s funeral. Sitting beside the President in the photo is Father Wunnibald Schneider, a priest in the the small town of Stonewall in the Texas Hill Country.  Father Schneider was not originally in the President’s party. The Daily Diary relates how LBJ had the idea during the flight to Germany, three days earlier, while speaking with Ambassador Knappstein:  “The President then asked the Ambassador if he were Catholic. The Ambassador replied in the affirmative, and the President told him the story of Father Schneider and the little Catholic church at Stonewall, Texas. The President explained that he even thought of sending a plane to Texas yesterday to pick up Father Schneider and bring him to Washington for the trip to Germany, but decided not to do it because he just couldn’t anticipate what would be required of him in Germany, and was sure that he would not personally be able to take the time to look after Father Schneider. The President went on to say that Stonewall and Fredericksburg were almost completely German areas and told the Ambassador that he went to a school where he spoke German for the three first years. “But all I know now,” said the President, “are the dirty words.”  Later that same night, after midnight, LBJ told aide Marvin Watson to see about having Father Schneider fly over and meet them there.  Father Schneider arrived at 8 a.m. April 25. The next day, LBJ sat with him on the return flight and this photo was taken. 
Zoom

April 26, 1967. LBJ flies home on Air Force One after attending former Chancellor Adenauer’s funeral. Sitting beside the President in the photo is Father Wunnibald Schneider, a priest in the the small town of Stonewall in the Texas Hill Country. 

Father Schneider was not originally in the President’s party. The Daily Diary relates how LBJ had the idea during the flight to Germany, three days earlier, while speaking with Ambassador Knappstein: 

“The President then asked the Ambassador if he were Catholic. The Ambassador replied in the affirmative, and the President told him the story of Father Schneider and the little Catholic church at Stonewall, Texas. The President explained that he even thought of sending a plane to Texas yesterday to pick up Father Schneider and bring him to Washington for the trip to Germany, but decided not to do it because he just couldn’t anticipate what would be required of him in Germany, and was sure that he would not personally be able to take the time to look after Father Schneider. The President went on to say that Stonewall and Fredericksburg were almost completely German areas and told the Ambassador that he went to a school where he spoke German for the three first years. “But all I know now,” said the President, “are the dirty words.” 

Later that same night, after midnight, LBJ told aide Marvin Watson to see about having Father Schneider fly over and meet them there. 

Father Schneider arrived at 8 a.m. April 25. The next day, LBJ sat with him on the return flight and this photo was taken. 

April 25, 1967. Lady Bird records in her diary:  “This evening we were having the reception for Mr. Justice Hugo Black, celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of his appointment to the court…. It was one of those times when you get caught up in a stream of listening and feeling and you think you are living your life over remembering events and people.” Photo:  Senator Hugo L. Black of Alabama speaks to the press on the day of his appointment to the Supreme Court, August 12, 1937. From the Library of Congress.  Lady Bird Johnson, A White House Diary, New York: Dell Books, 1971, pg 565.
Zoom

April 25, 1967. Lady Bird records in her diary: 

“This evening we were having the reception for Mr. Justice Hugo Black, celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of his appointment to the court…. It was one of those times when you get caught up in a stream of listening and feeling and you think you are living your life over remembering events and people.”

Photo:  Senator Hugo L. Black of Alabama speaks to the press on the day of his appointment to the Supreme Court, August 12, 1937. From the Library of Congress. 

Lady Bird Johnson, A White House Diary, New York: Dell Books, 1971, pg 565.

April 25, 1967. After the memorial service for Konrad Adenauer, President Johnson attends a luncheon at German President Luebke’s residence where he sits next to President DeGaulle of France. National Security Advisor Walt Rostow described the meeting for the Daily Diary: “The two were extremely courtly and courteous to each other. There was virtually nothing of substance except for some elegant fencing on who should invite whom to what country. The duel ended in a draw: no visit decided upon as of this moment. DeGaulle offered the President the biggest chateau outside of Paris, and the President countered by saying that he would always be glad to see him sometime, perhaps when DeGaulle comes through en route to Expo ‘67—in other words, no hits, no runs, and no errors—no ball game.” Top: LBJ Library photo A4047-7, public domain. President Luebke’s residence photo courtesy of the German Federal Archives via Wikimedia Commons.   LBJ Presidential Library photo A4047-8.
Zoom
April 25, 1967. After the memorial service for Konrad Adenauer, President Johnson attends a luncheon at German President Luebke’s residence where he sits next to President DeGaulle of France. National Security Advisor Walt Rostow described the meeting for the Daily Diary: “The two were extremely courtly and courteous to each other. There was virtually nothing of substance except for some elegant fencing on who should invite whom to what country. The duel ended in a draw: no visit decided upon as of this moment. DeGaulle offered the President the biggest chateau outside of Paris, and the President countered by saying that he would always be glad to see him sometime, perhaps when DeGaulle comes through en route to Expo ‘67—in other words, no hits, no runs, and no errors—no ball game.” Top: LBJ Library photo A4047-7, public domain. President Luebke’s residence photo courtesy of the German Federal Archives via Wikimedia Commons.   LBJ Presidential Library photo A4047-8.
Zoom

April 25, 1967. After the memorial service for Konrad Adenauer, President Johnson attends a luncheon at German President Luebke’s residence where he sits next to President DeGaulle of France.

National Security Advisor Walt Rostow described the meeting for the Daily Diary:

“The two were extremely courtly and courteous to each other. There was virtually nothing of substance except for some elegant fencing on who should invite whom to what country. The duel ended in a draw: no visit decided upon as of this moment. DeGaulle offered the President the biggest chateau outside of Paris, and the President countered by saying that he would always be glad to see him sometime, perhaps when DeGaulle comes through en route to Expo ‘67—in other words, no hits, no runs, and no errors—no ball game.”

Top: LBJ Library photo A4047-7, public domain. President Luebke’s residence photo courtesy of the German Federal Archives via Wikimedia Commons.

 

LBJ Presidential Library photo A4047-8.

April 21, 1967, 6:30 pm. President Johnson receives updated information about the military coup in Greece. In this new memo, National Security Advisor Walt Rostow explains that rather than being involved in the coup, King Constantine had the new leadership forced upon him. There are initial rumors of a possible counter-coup, but over the next several days and weeks, the new regime establishes power in Greece. Memo, Rostow to the President, 4/21/67, #118, “Greece, Volume 2,” Country File, NSF, Box 126, LBJ Library.
Zoom

April 21, 1967, 6:30 pm. President Johnson receives updated information about the military coup in Greece. In this new memo, National Security Advisor Walt Rostow explains that rather than being involved in the coup, King Constantine had the new leadership forced upon him. There are initial rumors of a possible counter-coup, but over the next several days and weeks, the new regime establishes power in Greece.

Memo, Rostow to the President, 4/21/67, #118, “Greece, Volume 2,” Country File, NSF, Box 126, LBJ Library.

April 21, 1967, 12:30 am. The Situation Room informs the President about the early morning military coup in Greece. Details emerge throughout the day about the overthrow of the Greek Government. While the Prime Minister as well as other political leaders are arrested, King Constantine seems to remain in power. This leads some to question whether the King was involved in the coup. Memo, Situation Room to the President, 4/21/67, #122, “Greece, Volume 2,” Country File, NSF, Box 126, LBJ Library.
Zoom

April 21, 1967, 12:30 am. The Situation Room informs the President about the early morning military coup in Greece. Details emerge throughout the day about the overthrow of the Greek Government. While the Prime Minister as well as other political leaders are arrested, King Constantine seems to remain in power. This leads some to question whether the King was involved in the coup.

Memo, Situation Room to the President, 4/21/67, #122, “Greece, Volume 2,” Country File, NSF, Box 126, LBJ Library.

I have always believed that we make our decisions around here on the basis of merit and merit alone, but when I observe that the Teacher of the Year whom we honor is from Minnesota and has some direct associates in the crowd called Humphrey, I do know what they would say if the situation should be reversed and the teacher came from Texas and his name were Johnson—someone would think there’s been some wheeling and dealing somewhere!

President Johnson’s Remarks Upon Presenting the National Teacher of the Year Award, April 19, 1967. 

April 18, 1967. LBJ, Luci, and Lady Bird greet visitors the Ranch, including Mr. Robert Kleberg, nephew of Richard M. Kleberg--who was LBJ’s boss in Washington all those years ago.  “The President asked Luci Nugent when she was born - she replied 1947. The President then mentioned having worked for Mr. Robert Kleberg [sic] 14 years before Luci was even born.”    - The President’s Daily Diary, April 18, 1967. LBJ Presidential Library photo #C5093-7, public domain. 
Zoom

April 18, 1967. LBJ, Luci, and Lady Bird greet visitors the Ranch, including Mr. Robert Kleberg, nephew of Richard M. Kleberg--who was LBJ’s boss in Washington all those years ago. 

“The President asked Luci Nugent when she was born - she replied 1947. The President then mentioned having worked for Mr. Robert Kleberg [sic] 14 years before Luci was even born.” 

  - The President’s Daily Diary, April 18, 1967. LBJ Presidential Library photo #C5093-7, public domain. 

April 1967. Al DeMailo, a Huey gunship pilot with the 1st Cavalry Division, arrives in Vietnam for the first time.

Q: In terms of your understanding of Vietnam and what the United States was trying to do in Vietnam, before you left, what did you understand was going on? 

A: Very naïve. Thought it was good against bad. We were there to stop the red hordes and Communism. Of course we had no plan as I found out later. That’s what I thought. We were there to do something good. My second two tours I found out that maybe it just wasn’t that way. 

Interview with Alfred DeMailo by Stephen Maxner, Jan 24-28, 2003, Alfred DeMailo Collection, The Vietnam Center and Archive, Texas Tech University  Interview 1, page 7. 

LBJ returns to Texas and domestic concerns.

April 14-15, 1967: 

12:33am - 1:55am. Returned to the Main House - to the Office - where Pres. and Mrs. Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Krim, were joined by Luci and Patrick Nugent (fm Mr. Krim) - conversation ranged from the Punta del Este successful trip to Johnson holdings, politics, Luci’s forthcoming baby, construction addition to President’s bedroom. 

—The President’s Daily Diary, April 14, 1967. View Mathilde and Daphne Krim’s recollections of hanging out with LBJ here. 

“We met at Punta del Este for three days, April 12-14, 1967. They were days of work as intensive as any I had experienced, except during a major crisis. There were formal conference meetings at Punta del Este, and between sessions I met for an hour or so with eleven Latin American Presidents, one President-elect, and one Prime Minister. I also had a working dinner with the Central American presidents. This gave us a chance to talk not only about overall hemisphere problems but about important bilateral problems. With President Raul Leoni of Venezuela, for example, I settled a difference over oil imports. I also agreed to provide special equipment that he urgently needed to cope with Castro-directed guerrilla operations. With President Marco Aurelio Robles of Panama, I agreed to speed negotiation of a Panama Canal treaty. When I checked the list of items for action after the conference, I found that a dozen of the thirty substantial matters had arisen from my bilateral talks.” —Lyndon Baines Johnson, The Vantage Point, (New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1971), 350. Photos: LBJ Presidential Library 5072-18, A3989-35, A3992-20, and C5066-7a; public domain.
Zoom
“We met at Punta del Este for three days, April 12-14, 1967. They were days of work as intensive as any I had experienced, except during a major crisis. There were formal conference meetings at Punta del Este, and between sessions I met for an hour or so with eleven Latin American Presidents, one President-elect, and one Prime Minister. I also had a working dinner with the Central American presidents. This gave us a chance to talk not only about overall hemisphere problems but about important bilateral problems. With President Raul Leoni of Venezuela, for example, I settled a difference over oil imports. I also agreed to provide special equipment that he urgently needed to cope with Castro-directed guerrilla operations. With President Marco Aurelio Robles of Panama, I agreed to speed negotiation of a Panama Canal treaty. When I checked the list of items for action after the conference, I found that a dozen of the thirty substantial matters had arisen from my bilateral talks.” —Lyndon Baines Johnson, The Vantage Point, (New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1971), 350. Photos: LBJ Presidential Library 5072-18, A3989-35, A3992-20, and C5066-7a; public domain.
Zoom
“We met at Punta del Este for three days, April 12-14, 1967. They were days of work as intensive as any I had experienced, except during a major crisis. There were formal conference meetings at Punta del Este, and between sessions I met for an hour or so with eleven Latin American Presidents, one President-elect, and one Prime Minister. I also had a working dinner with the Central American presidents. This gave us a chance to talk not only about overall hemisphere problems but about important bilateral problems. With President Raul Leoni of Venezuela, for example, I settled a difference over oil imports. I also agreed to provide special equipment that he urgently needed to cope with Castro-directed guerrilla operations. With President Marco Aurelio Robles of Panama, I agreed to speed negotiation of a Panama Canal treaty. When I checked the list of items for action after the conference, I found that a dozen of the thirty substantial matters had arisen from my bilateral talks.” —Lyndon Baines Johnson, The Vantage Point, (New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1971), 350. Photos: LBJ Presidential Library 5072-18, A3989-35, A3992-20, and C5066-7a; public domain.
Zoom
“We met at Punta del Este for three days, April 12-14, 1967. They were days of work as intensive as any I had experienced, except during a major crisis. There were formal conference meetings at Punta del Este, and between sessions I met for an hour or so with eleven Latin American Presidents, one President-elect, and one Prime Minister. I also had a working dinner with the Central American presidents. This gave us a chance to talk not only about overall hemisphere problems but about important bilateral problems. With President Raul Leoni of Venezuela, for example, I settled a difference over oil imports. I also agreed to provide special equipment that he urgently needed to cope with Castro-directed guerrilla operations. With President Marco Aurelio Robles of Panama, I agreed to speed negotiation of a Panama Canal treaty. When I checked the list of items for action after the conference, I found that a dozen of the thirty substantial matters had arisen from my bilateral talks.” —Lyndon Baines Johnson, The Vantage Point, (New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1971), 350. Photos: LBJ Presidential Library 5072-18, A3989-35, A3992-20, and C5066-7a; public domain.
Zoom

“We met at Punta del Este for three days, April 12-14, 1967. They were days of work as intensive as any I had experienced, except during a major crisis. There were formal conference meetings at Punta del Este, and between sessions I met for an hour or so with eleven Latin American Presidents, one President-elect, and one Prime Minister. I also had a working dinner with the Central American presidents. This gave us a chance to talk not only about overall hemisphere problems but about important bilateral problems. With President Raul Leoni of Venezuela, for example, I settled a difference over oil imports. I also agreed to provide special equipment that he urgently needed to cope with Castro-directed guerrilla operations. With President Marco Aurelio Robles of Panama, I agreed to speed negotiation of a Panama Canal treaty. When I checked the list of items for action after the conference, I found that a dozen of the thirty substantial matters had arisen from my bilateral talks.”

—Lyndon Baines Johnson, The Vantage Point, (New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1971), 350. Photos: LBJ Presidential Library 5072-18, A3989-35, A3992-20, and C5066-7a; public domain.

April 14, 1967. 

“DREW PEARSON SAYS: 

AMBITION AND JEALOUSY PLAGUE LATIN AMERICA; ECUADOR DETERMINED TO RECOVER LAND LOST TO PERU; CHILE AND BOLIVIA REMAIN DIPLOMATIC STRANGERS”

Another perspective on LBJ’s recent trip to meet with Latin American leaders at Punta del Este, from columnist Drew Pearson in his column The Washington Merry-Go-Round. Pearson had traveled to Latin America himself in January, and met with LBJ on his return. 

April 13-14, 1967. In the early morning hours of April 14th, the National Military Command Center (NMCC) lost all contact with Punta del Este and, therefore, the President. For about an hour, different methods were attempted in an effort to regain communication with the President, including sending communication through the CIA until they too lost contact. Finally, communications were re-established and communication traffic was able to continue as normal. Log, Situation Room Log for April 13-14, 4/13-14/1967, #78, “Situation Room Log, Volume 6,” Situation Room File, NSF, Box 2, LBJ Presidential Library.
Zoom
April 13-14, 1967. In the early morning hours of April 14th, the National Military Command Center (NMCC) lost all contact with Punta del Este and, therefore, the President. For about an hour, different methods were attempted in an effort to regain communication with the President, including sending communication through the CIA until they too lost contact. Finally, communications were re-established and communication traffic was able to continue as normal. Log, Situation Room Log for April 13-14, 4/13-14/1967, #78, “Situation Room Log, Volume 6,” Situation Room File, NSF, Box 2, LBJ Presidential Library.
Zoom

April 13-14, 1967. In the early morning hours of April 14th, the National Military Command Center (NMCC) lost all contact with Punta del Este and, therefore, the President. For about an hour, different methods were attempted in an effort to regain communication with the President, including sending communication through the CIA until they too lost contact. Finally, communications were re-established and communication traffic was able to continue as normal.


Log, Situation Room Log for April 13-14, 4/13-14/1967, #78, “Situation Room Log, Volume 6,” Situation Room File, NSF, Box 2, LBJ Presidential Library.

April 12-14, 1967. President Johnson attends meetings at the Punta del Este Summit. On April 13th, Johnson delivers his remarks at the public session of the meeting.

“It is our duty—we who hold public office and bear great private responsibilities—to create an environment in which you can build your part of the new America.

It is your duty to prepare yourselves now—to use the tools of learning, and the idealism that is your natural heritage, for the humane purposes that lie deep in our common civilization.

You cry out for change, for what President Franklin Roosevelt called a New Deal. And you do not want it imposed from above. You want a chance to help shape the conditions of your own lives.

You—the youth of the Americas—should know that revolutions of fire have brought men in this hemisphere, and in jungles half the world away, still greater tyrannies than those they fought to cast off.

Now, here in the countries of the Alliance, a peaceful revolution has affirmed man’s ability to change the conditions of his life through the institutions of democracy. In your hands is the task of carrying it forward.

The pace of change is not fast enough. It will remain too slow—unless you join your energies, your skills and commitments in a mighty effort that extends into the farthest reaches of this hemisphere.

The time is now. The responsibility is ours.

So let us declare the next 10 years the decade of urgency.

Let us match our resolve and our resources to the common tasks—until the dream of a new America is accomplished and is a reality in the lives of all of our people.”

—Remarks in Punta del Este at the Public Session of the Meeting of American Chiefs of State. April 13, 1967.

Check out the section of the Navy Film covering the Summit meetings, including some of the President’s remarks, above.