Interview with Brian Lamb, February 20, 2020

Interview Summary

Brian Lamb, the founder of TV news network C-SPAN, begins the interview by recalling how he came to enlist in the U.S. Navy. Lamb then describes his work as a White House social aide under the Johnson administration. Lamb recalls memories of Lady Bird Johnson and Lyndon Johnson. Lamb then details his role in Lynda Bird Johnson Robb's wedding. Lamb characterizes some of the attitudes of White House social aides. Lamb describes what Bess Abell was like as a social secretary. Lamb reflects upon some celebrity guests he encountered as visitors to the White House while he worked there. Lamb evaluates how anti-Vietnam War protests impacted work at the White House and the Pentagon. Lamb offers a comparison between working at the Johnson White House versus the Nixon White House. Lamb shares some of the more interesting memories from being a White House social aide. Lamb recalls his work for the 1968 Nixon presidential campaign. Lamb emphasizes the importance of documenting his life. Lamb and the interviewer remember attending President Clinton's second inauguration in 1997. The biography of Bess Abell that the interviewer is working on is also mentioned. Lamb describes how the relationship between Chuck Robb and Lynda Bird Johnson first developed. Lamb and the interviewer highlight their experiences from their military service in the Vietnam War. A comparison between Washington D.C. in the late 2010s versus the 1960s and 1970s is offered. Lamb discusses a trip he took to Vietnam during the period of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. Lamb and the interviewer conclude by evaluating the benefits and drawbacks to the American draft lottery system developed during the Vietnam War years.

Interview Keyword

U.S. Army White House Social aides Lady Bird Johnson Lyndon Johnson Lynda Bird Johnson Robb Chuck Robb Bess Abell Social secretary Joan Crawford Barbara Walters Richard Nixon 1968 presidential campaign Bill Clinton Book Senate Senators Draft lottery

Interview LC Subject

Military Politicians Washington (D.C.) Johnson family Vietnam War, 1961-1975 Wedding Demonstrations Work Inauguration Day Draft United States Education University of Maryland

Interview Rights

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Interview Usage

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.