LBJ Comes From Behind To Win Seat In Congress

While voters in 10 Texas counties went to the polls on April 10, 1937, to pick a new congressman, the youngest candidate on the ballot spent the day in a hospital bed.

After working his way through college at San Marcos and teaching school at Houston, Lyndon Baines Johnson joined the staff of Rep. Richard Kleberg. Three years later, he returned to the Lone Star State as administrator of the National Youth Administration, a New Deal Program.

Although eager to launch his own elective career, Johnson refused to start at the bottom with a local or state office. The ambitious bureaucrat would settle for nothing less than a seat in the United States House of Representatives, which invincible incumbents in one-party Texas usually held for life.

The sudden death of Rep. James P. Buchanan in February 1937 opened the door but only a crack. By leaving his name off the list of possible replacements, the Austin Statesman gave Johnson credit for showing good sense. A 28-year-old unknown from the smallest county in the Tenth Congressional District would have to be crazy to challenge the political heavyweights sure to seek the post.

As Alvin Wirtz listened to Johnson make the case for entering the race, he realized it would be a waste of time and breath to tell him to wait his turn. The former lawmaker and veteran lobbyist offered his assistance and a piece of advice. For the underdog to have even a ghost of chance, he had to turn the election into a referendum on the New Deal.

Money was no problem. Wirtz put the bite on a few corporate contributors, who gave generously to the long-shot cause, and Johnson