--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When Kennedy could not get the civil…" description: "\"When Kennedy could not get the civil rights bill passed - and he was the big liberal - Lyndon Johnson came in and it got passed, and he was the conserv..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/946/jim-brown-2991_always_when-kennedy-could-not-get-the-civil-rig_531940.jpg" --- # When Kennedy could not get the civil rights bill passed… ![“When Kennedy could not get the civil rights bill passed - and he was the big liberal - Lyndon Johnson came in and it got passed, and he was the conservative and the southerner. So sometimes in politics, to get something done, it takes a special kind of knowledge and a special kind of person, but…” quote by Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/946/jim-brown-2991_always_when-kennedy-could-not-get-the-civil-rig_531940.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/946/jim-brown-2991_always_when-kennedy-could-not-get-the-civil-rig_531940.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/946/jim-brown-2991_always_when-kennedy-could-not-get-the-civil-rig_531940.jpg) > “When Kennedy could not get the civil rights bill passed - and he was the big liberal - Lyndon Johnson came in and it got passed, and he was the conservative and the southerner. So sometimes in politics, to get something done, it takes a special kind of knowledge and a special kind of person, but it doesn't always follow the party lines.” [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Political success often depends on personal influence and strategy rather than party ideology. **In simple terms:** People can achieve goals by using the right person, not just party labels. Key Takeaway Leverage relationships over partisan loyalty. Themes politics strategy influence bipartisanship Mood pragmatic analytical Type political strategic When to use this quote - passing legislation - building coalitions - negotiating with opponents - leveraging seniority - using regional allies Key Concepts power dynamics legislative process personal networks Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders balance personal influence with party principles? - When is it acceptable to cross party lines for a cause? A Different Perspective Party loyalty can still hinder progress if not managed carefully. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big/) [Bill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bill/) [Came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/came/) [Civil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil/) [Civil Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-right/) [Civil rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights/) [Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative/) [Conservative Southerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative-southerner-4466788/) [Could](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/could/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Follow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follow/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [Got](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got/) [He](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he/) [Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/johnson/) [Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kennedy/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Liberal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberal/) [Liberal Lyndon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberal-lyndon-4466786/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Lyndon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lyndon/) [Lyndon johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lyndon-johnson/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [Passed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passed/) [Passed Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passed-conservative-4466787/) [Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Southerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/southerner/) [Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special/) [Takes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/takes/) ## Related quotes > [Lyndon Johnson faced some clear moral issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/lyndon-johnson-faced-some-clear-moral-issues/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam were perfect for Lyndon Johnson: 220 million against 18 million, water buffalo and all. No risk, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-douglas-duncan/ho-chi-minh-and-vietnam-were-perfect-for-lyndon-johnson-220-million/) [David Douglas Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-douglas-duncan/) > [During the 1937 congressional election campaign, Johnson's group probably paid $5,000 to Elliott Roosevelt, one of Franklin Roosevelt's sons, for a telegram in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/during-the-1937-congressional-election-campaign-johnson-s-group/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) > [Lyndon B. Johnson thought he'd have the boys home from Vietnam by Christmas - for four Christmases in a row (he never shifted course,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/lyndon-b-johnson-thought-he-d-have-the-boys-home-from-vietnam-by/) [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) > [Think about one of the most powerful influences on a young child's life - the absence of a father figure. Look back on recent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-greenfield/think-about-one-of-the-most-powerful-influences-on-a-young-child-s/) [Jeff Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-greenfield/) > [When downed American pilots were first taken prisoner in North Vietnam in 1964, U.S. policy became pretty much to ignore them - part and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/when-downed-american-pilots-were-first-taken-prisoner-in-north/) [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) > [President Lyndon Johnson was very, very unpredictable. We never knew for sure what he is going to do next, and he preferred to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-hill/president-lyndon-johnson-was-very-very-unpredictable-we-never-knew/) [Clint Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-hill/) > [Lyndon Johnson is not a comfortable model for President Obama to imitate. He is an all-but-forgotten president - pilloried for the failed war in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/lyndon-johnson-is-not-a-comfortable-model-for-president-obama-to/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) > [Bobby Kennedy's conduct toward Lyndon Johnson was childish and despicable. As the years went on, he displayed nasty, self-pitying, and messianic qualities that would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mallon/bobby-kennedy-s-conduct-toward-lyndon-johnson-was-childish-and/) [Thomas Mallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mallon/) > [The American people on the ground need a clearer, stronger, Lyndon B. Johnson-type voice from their president. Obama has that voice. It has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/the-american-people-on-the-ground-need-a-clearer-stronger-lyndon-b/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Lyndon Johnson may have escalated the war, but when I was drafted and shipped off to Vietnam, the signature on my orders was Nixon's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-gunton/lyndon-johnson-may-have-escalated-the-war-but-when-i-was-drafted-and/) [Bob Gunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-gunton/) > [The most intimidating world leader was Lyndon Johnson, who became U.S. President when John Kennedy was assassinated. He exulted in this power and liked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-johnson/the-most-intimidating-world-leader-was-lyndon-johnson-who-became-u-s/) [Paul Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-johnson/) > [Like Lyndon Johnson, President Obama understands that timidity in a time of troubles is a prescription for failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/like-lyndon-johnson-president-obama-understands-that-timidity-in-a/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) > [One doesn't simply write about Lyndon Johnson. You get the Johnson treatment from beyond the grave - arm around you, nose to nose. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/one-doesn-t-simply-write-about-lyndon-johnson-you-get-the-johnson/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) > [Pres. Lyndon Johnson was a middle-aged man of smalltown America, both a Westerner and a Southerner, and except where politics had demonstrably forced his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wicker/pres-lyndon-johnson-was-a-middle-aged-man-of-smalltown-america-both-a/) [Tom Wicker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wicker/) ## More by Jim Brown > [The three greatest people in my life as a young person were white, my high school superintendent, my high school coach and a -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/the-three-greatest-people-in-my-life-as-a-young-person-were-white-my/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [Capitalistic society teaches kids to be No. 1, but true self-esteem doesn't come from money. It doesn't come from winning the Super Bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/capitalistic-society-teaches-kids-to-be-no-1-but-true-self-esteem/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [The three greatest people in my life as a young person were white. I'm not a person that really deals in color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/the-three-greatest-people-in-my-life-as-a-young-person-were-white-i-m/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [Nobody I ever broke bread with - and I see players all the time - talked about using their head running the football. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/nobody-i-ever-broke-bread-with-and-i-see-players-all-the-time-talked/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [In a perfect world, I don't think any man should slap anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/in-a-perfect-world-i-don-t-think-any-man-should-slap-anyone/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [The three greatest people in my life were white, OK. My high school coach, my high school superintendent and my mentor in Manhasset, Long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/the-three-greatest-people-in-my-life-were-white-ok-my-high-school/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [Success is not only for the elite. Success is there for those who want it, plan for it, and take action to achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/success-is-not-only-for-the-elite-success-is-there-for-those-who-want/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [You have to put money in its proper perspective. The way it is positioned in the culture is like it is the most important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/you-have-to-put-money-in-its-proper-perspective-the-way-it-is/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [People think that coaches are always right, but it's difficult to teach a runner how to run, because every runner is different. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/people-think-that-coaches-are-always-right-but-it-s-difficult-to/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [We have to go back to the memories of 9-11. If that memory doesn't do anything to you as an American, then you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/we-have-to-go-back-to-the-memories-of-9-11-if-that-memory-doesn-t-do/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [The so-called incorrigibles were not the way people said they were. I found a lot of character in some of these people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/the-so-called-incorrigibles-were-not-the-way-people-said-they-were-i/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [I never had a father, really. My great-grandmother raised me. But I was in this country where I got help from people that were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/i-never-had-a-father-really-my-great-grandmother-raised-me-but-i-was/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [One of the most fantastic experiences I ever had was as a decathlete. I finished fifth in the nation my senior year of high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/one-of-the-most-fantastic-experiences-i-ever-had-was-as-a-decathlete/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [When you think of the sacrifices our firefighters make, think about the service of soldiers in foreign lands and listen to their lives, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/when-you-think-of-the-sacrifices-our-firefighters-make-think-about/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [Young black men in this country have to understand that they have a responsibility. They cannot be the enemy in their own neighborhoods and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/young-black-men-in-this-country-have-to-understand-that-they-have-a/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) [Explore all 143 Jim Brown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When Kennedy could not get the civil rights bill passed - and he was the big liberal - Lyndon Johnson came in and it got passed, and he was the conservative and the southerner. 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