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In 1948, [[Lyndon  Johnson]], an obscure congressman opposed to [[President Harry Truman]]’s civil rights program and was a supporter of what he called “the anti-Communist Taft- Hartley labor bill,” was running for the Democratic Senate nomination in [[Texas]]. In those days obtaining the Democratic nomination was tantamount to winning the general election.

In 1948, [[Lyndon  Johnson]], an obscure congressman opposed to [[President Harry Truman]]’s civil rights program and was a supporter of what he called “the anti-Communist Taft- Hartley labor bill,” was running for the Democratic Senate nomination in [[Texas]]. In those days obtaining the Democratic nomination was tantamount to winning the general election.

Johnson ran against the [[Dixiecrat]] governor Coke Stevenson and several others. When the returns were in, the popular Stevenson had 71,000 more votes than Johnson but he lacked a majority in the crowded field. This necessitated a runoff. In the runoff Johnson again trailed Stevenson.

Johnson ran against the [[Dixiecrat]] governor [[Coke Stevenson]] and several others. When the returns were in, the popular Stevenson had 71,000 more votes than Johnson but he lacked a majority in the crowded field. This necessitated a runoff. In the runoff Johnson again trailed Stevenson.

[[George Parr]], the Democratic boss of Duval County, Texas ruled three counties in southeast Texas — Duval, Jim Wells, and Zapata. This oil-rich brush country was an area inhabited largely by Mexican-Americans. Parr paid their poll taxes, got them jobs, was generous with gifts to their sick and needy, and used them to vote. Parr collected payoffs from construction companies, brothels, moonshine and gambling businesses. In 1936, he went to prison for income tax evasion.

[[George Parr]], the Democratic boss of Duval County, Texas ruled three counties in southeast Texas — Duval, Jim Wells, and Zapata. This oil-rich brush country was an area inhabited largely by Mexican-Americans. Parr paid their poll taxes, got them jobs, was generous with gifts to their sick and needy, and used them to vote. Parr collected payoffs from construction companies, brothels, moonshine and gambling businesses. In 1936, he went to prison for income tax evasion.