What RFK Said When LBJ Told Him He Wouldn’t Be Vice President

July 29th, 1964. The White House, Oval Office. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy receives a summons. President Lynden B. Johnson wants to see him. It’s 100 p.m. Robert walks from the Justice Department to the White House. He knows what this meeting is about. For months, Robert has hoped, expected even, that Johnson would choose him as vice presidential running mate for the 1964 election.

Now, Robert is about to learn Johnson’s decision. Robert enters the Oval Office. Johnson is seated behind his desk. The atmosphere is tense. The two men have never liked each other. Their mutual animosity goes back years, but this meeting will make their relationship irreparable. Johnson gets straight to the point.

According to Robert’s later account and those of others Robert told immediately after, Johnson says, “I’ve given this a lot of thought and I’ve concluded that it would be a mistake for me to select you as my running mate.” Robert sits silently. Johnson continues explaining his reasoning.

 The South wouldn’t accept Robert. It would hurt the ticket. Robert is too controversial on civil rights. When Johnson finishes, Robert asks one question. Is there anything I can do to change your mind? Johnson says, “No, my decision is final.” Robert stands. According to his later account, he says, “I’m sorry you feel that way.

 Thank you for telling me directly. Robert leaves the Oval Office. The meeting lasted less than 20 minutes. Robert returns to his office at the Justice Department. His aids immediately see his face and know something terrible has happened. Robert tells his aids, “He’s not going to pick me. It’s over.” This is the story of what Robert F.

Kennedy said when Lynden Johnson told him he wouldn’t be vice president. Why the decision devastated Robert both politically and personally and how this moment defined the bitter relationship between two of the most powerful Democrats of their era. Let’s start by understanding why Robert wanted to be vice president in 1964 and why that ambition was both logical and problematic.

Robert Francis Kennedy was 38 years old in July 1964. Robert had served as attorney general since January 1961, appointed by his brother, President John F. Kennedy. As attorney general, Robert was far more than a cabinet member. Robert was President Kennedy’s closest adviser, his political enforcer, his trusted confidant.

 The Kennedy brothers spoke multiple times daily. Robert attended National Security Council meetings. Robert was involved in every major decision. The Bay of Pigs, the Cuban Missile Crisis, civil rights enforcement, Vietnam policy. Robert wielded power far beyond what any attorney general before or since has exercised. Then on November 22nd, 1963, President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.

 Vice President Lyndon Johnson became president. In an instant, Robert lost his brother, his best friend, and his position of influence. Johnson kept Robert on as attorney general through late 1964, but the relationship was terrible. Johnson’s inner circle, his Texas adviserss, had no love for the Kennedy people.

 The Kennedy staffers looked down on Johnson as crude and unrefined. The mutual contempt was obvious to everyone in Washington. By early 1964, Robert was thinking about his political future. Robert was young, only 38. Robert had political ambition. Robert wanted to continue his brother’s legacy. The question was how? One option was to remain attorney general under Johnson, but Robert found this increasingly intolerable.

 Robert had no real influence with Johnson. Robert was marginalized, excluded from important decisions. Robert felt like he was watching from the sidelines. Another option was to run for office. Robert could run for governor of New York or senator from New York, though Robert had never lived in New York. Or Robert could wait until 1968 and run for president himself.

 But there was a third option, vice president. If Johnson selected Robert as his running mate in 1964, Robert would be positioned to run for president in 1968 or 1972 when Johnson left office. Robert would be the heir apparent. From Robert’s perspective, this made political sense. Robert was popular. Robert had name recognition. Robert could deliver key constituencies.

Catholics, liberals, Kennedy loyalists. Robert could help Johnson win. But from Johnson’s perspective, selecting Robert as vice president was a nightmare scenario. First, Johnson and Robert hated each other. The personal animosity was deep and mutual. Johnson resented Robert’s condescension.

 Robert despised Johnson’s crudeness and what he saw as Johnson’s betrayal of his brother’s legacy. Second, selecting Robert would make it look like Johnson was president only because of the Kennedy name that Johnson couldn’t win on his own. Johnson desperately wanted to win the presidency in his own right to step out of John Kennedy’s shadow.

 Choosing Robert as running mate would keep Johnson in that shadow. Third, Johnson believed Robert would hurt the ticket in the South. Robert was strongly identified with civil rights enforcement. As attorney general, Robert had sent federal troops to integrate the University of Mississippi. Robert had confronted segregationist governors.

 Southern Democrats hated Robert. Fourth, and perhaps most importantly, Johnson feared Robert. Johnson worried that Robert would use the vice presidency as a platform to undermine him to build support for eventually taking over. Johnson didn’t trust Robert and didn’t want him that close to power. So Johnson faced a dilemma.

 Robert wanted the vice presidency. Many Democrats expected Johnson to choose Robert, but Johnson absolutely did not want Robert as his running mate. Through spring and early summer 1964, speculation grew about Johnson’s running mate. Robert’s name appeared constantly in press coverage. Robert encouraged the speculation.

 Robert met with Democratic Party leaders. Robert gave speeches. Robert positioned himself as the logical choice. But Johnson never seriously considered Robert. Johnson had already decided against him. The question was when and how to tell him. In early July 1964, Johnson attended the funeral of former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt in Hyde Park, New York. Robert was also there.

After the funeral, Johnson and Robert flew back to Washington together on Air Force One. During the flight, Johnson tried to discuss the vice presidency with Robert in a roundabout way. Johnson suggested that Robert might not enjoy being vice president, that it was a limiting job, that Robert might prefer remaining attorney general or running for Senate. Robert didn’t take the hint.

Robert said he was interested in the vice presidency and would be honored to serve as Johnson’s running mate. Johnson realized he would have to tell Robert directly and definitively. Johnson scheduled a meeting for July 29th, 1964. On the morning of July 29th, Robert was at the Justice Department. Robert received word that Johnson wanted to see him 

at 100 p.m. Robert suspected what was coming, but hoped [clears throat] he was wrong. At 100 p.m., Robert walked to the White House. Robert was ushered into the Oval Office. Johnson was seated behind the Resolute desk. No one else was present. This was a private meeting between the two men. According to Robert’s account given to multiple people immediately after the meeting and later in oral history interviews, Johnson began by saying he’d given the vice presidential selection a great deal of thought.

 Johnson said, “I’ve concluded that it would be a mistake for me to select you as my running mate.” Robert said nothing. Johnson continued explaining his reasoning. Johnson mentioned the South. Southern Democrats wouldn’t accept Robert. Johnson mentioned the need to win on his own terms. Johnson suggested Robert was too controversial.

 Robert listened without interrupting. When Johnson finished, Robert asked, “Is there anything I can do to change your mind?” Johnson said, “No, my decision is final.” Robert then said, according to his later account, “I’m sorry you feel that way. Thank you for telling me directly. Robert stood up. The meeting was over. Robert and Johnson shook hands prefuncterally.

Robert left the Oval Office. The entire meeting lasted between 15 and 20 minutes. Robert later described it as cold and business-like. Johnson showed no emotion. Robert kept his composure. Robert walked back to the Justice Department. His secretary and aids saw his face and knew immediately something was wrong.

 Robert went into his office and closed the door. After several minutes, Robert called in his close aid, Edwin Guffman. Robert told Guffman he’s not going to pick me. It’s over. Guffman asked if Johnson gave reasons. Robert said Johnson claimed it would hurt the ticket in the South and that it was about politics, not personal animosity.

But Robert didn’t believe it was just politics. Robert told Guffman, according to Guffman’s later account, “I think he enjoyed telling me. I think he’s been looking forward to this.” Robert also called his brother-in-law, Steven Smith, and several close friends. To each, Robert said essentially the same thing.

Johnson had decided against him. The decision was final. There was nothing to be done about it. Robert’s reaction was described by those who saw him that afternoon as devastated but controlled. Robert didn’t rage or break down. Robert absorbed the blow quietly. But friends said they’d never seen him look so crushed.

 The next day, July 30, 1964, Johnson held a press conference. Johnson announced that he would not consider any member of his cabinet for vice president. This was a transparent attempt to make it look like Robert wasn’t being singled out. Johnson was excluding everyone, but everyone knew this was about Robert. No other cabinet member was seriously considered for vice president.

 The announcement was simply cover for rejecting Robert specifically. Robert was humiliated by this public announcement. Not only had Johnson rejected him privately, now Johnson was making it public in a way that seemed designed to embarrass him further. Robert told Associates he didn’t have to do it this way. He could have just chosen someone else.

 Instead, he had to make a show of excluding me. In the following weeks, Robert made several decisions about his future. First, Robert decided to resign as attorney general. Robert couldn’t continue in that position under Johnson. The relationship was beyond repair. Second, Robert decided to run for Senate from New York.

 Robert had never lived in New York, which made him vulnerable to carpet bagger accusations, but New York was a major state with a Senate seat available. Robert could win there and build a platform for future presidential ambitions. Third, Robert decided to campaign for Johnson in the fall despite their personal animosity. Robert was a loyal Democrat.

 Robert wanted Democrats to win. Robert campaigned for the Johnson Humphrey ticket, though with notably little enthusiasm. On September 3rd, 1964, Robert resigned as Attorney General. His resignation letter to Johnson was formal and brief. Dear Mr. President, I am submitting my resignation as Attorney General effective September 3rd, 1964.

Respectfully, Robert F. Kennedy. Johnson’s acceptance letter was equally formal and brief. No warmth, no thanks for service, just formal acknowledgement. Robert announced his candidacy for US Senate from New York. Robert ran against incumbent Republican Senator Kenneth Keading. The campaign was Robert’s first time running for office himself.

 Previously, Robert had managed campaigns for his brother, but never run himself. Robert won the Senate race on November 3, 1964, the same day Johnson won the presidency in a landslide over Republican Barry Goldwater. Johnson won 61% of the popular vote, the largest margin since 1820. Johnson had won on his own terms without needing the Kennedy name on the ticket.

Robert became senator from New York in January 1965. From that position, Robert began building opposition to Johnson. Robert criticized Johnson’s Vietnam War escalation. Robert championed anti-poverty programs. Robert positioned himself as the voice of the Democratic Party’s liberal wing. In contrast to Johnson’s more centrist approach, the relationship between Johnson and Robert remained poisonous. They rarely spoke.

When they did communicate, it was through intermediaries. The hatred was mutual and undisguised. In [snorts] November 1967, Robert seriously considered challenging Johnson for the 1968 Democratic presidential nomination. Robert ultimately decided against it for the moment, but Robert remained a threat to Johnson.

 On March 31, 1968, Johnson shocked the nation by announcing he would not seek reelection. Johnson cited the divisiveness of Vietnam and the country’s need for unity. But Johnson also knew Robert was preparing to challenge him and that the fight would be brutal. With Johnson out, Robert entered the 1968 presidential race. Robert won several primaries.

 Robert was the frontr runner for the Democratic nomination. Then on June 5, 1968, Robert was assassinated in Los Angeles after winning the California primary. Robert died on June 6th, 1968 at age 42. Johnson issued a statement expressing shock and sadness at Robert’s assassination, but there would be no reconciliation.

 Robert was dead, and the bitterness between him and Johnson remained unresolved. Looking back at July 29, 1964, and that 20inut meeting in the Oval Office, what Robert said was minimal and controlled. Is there anything I can do to change your mind? and I’m sorry you feel that way. Thank you for telling me directly. But what Robert said afterward to his aids revealed his true feelings.

 He’s not going to pick me. It’s over. And I think he enjoyed telling me. Robert understood immediately that Johnson’s decision wasn’t just political. It was personal. Johnson didn’t just decline to pick Robert. Johnson wanted Robert to know he’d been rejected. The exclusion of all cabinet members announcement the next day was in Robert’s view designed to twist the knife.

Robert’s response running for Senate, building an independent political base, eventually challenging Johnson’s policies and positioning himself as Johnson’s rival showed that Robert wasn’t going to accept being sidelined. If Johnson wouldn’t give Robert a path to power, Robert would build his own path. The tragedy is that both men had legitimate grievances.

 Johnson had every right to choose his own running mate. Johnson didn’t owe Robert the vice presidency. Johnson’s concerns about Robert hurting the ticket in the South were real. But the way Johnson handled it, the coldness of the meeting, the humiliating public announcement, the transparent nature of the exclusion made reconciliation impossible.

 Johnson could have rejected Robert more gracefully. Johnson chose not to. Robert, for his part, was asking for something enormous to be handed the vice presidency despite having never run for office based largely on his last name and his brother’s legacy. Robert’s sense of entitlement to the position was understandable given his role in his brother’s administration, but it was still presumptuous.

What Robert F. Kennedy said when LBJ told him he wouldn’t be vice president was brief and dignified in the moment. But what Robert did afterward, resigning, running for Senate, building opposition to Johnson, eventually preparing to challenge Johnson for the presidency, spoke louder than any words in the Oval Office that day.

July 29th, 1964 was the day the split between Johnson and Robert became permanent and irreparable. Both men left that meeting knowing they were now enemies. Neither would ever forgive the other, and both would be dead within 4 years. Johnson from a heart attack in January 1973, Robert from an assassin’s bullet in June 1968.

Disclaimer. This video presents historical events based on Robert F. Kennedy’s documented accounts given to AIDS and in oral history interviews, witness testimonies from his staff, Johnson’s statements, contemporary news reports, resignation letters, and verified historical documentation. All statements are documented through multiple sources.

 This content is for educational purposes.