Margaret Fowler Presidents Calling

Executive Decision to Appoint Russell to Warren Commission

Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Russel

I listened to a taped telephone conversation between Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard Russel. The President called Russel to discuss  Russel’s appointment to the Warren Commission which was tasked with the investigation of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. During the conversation Russel refuses to join the commission but due to The President’s encouragement, Russel soon concedes. Throughout the conversation Johnson keeps political air to his persona saying things along the lines of  “For the people” and “For your country” to convince Russel to join the Commission. However, Johnson also takes on the approach of a man of honor saying that Russel has to make time for this Commission because Russel is the man he (Johnson) chose to be on the commission, that Russel is the only man he trusted to due this job correctly. Through these two tactics Johnson was able to convince Russel to head the Warren Commission.