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President Roosevelt found Johnson to be a welcome ally and conduit for information, particularly with regards to issues concerning internal politics in Texas (informally dubbed "Operation Texas") and the machinations of Vice President Garner and House Speaker Sam Rayburn. Johnson was immediately appointed to the powerful Naval Affairs Committee. He worked for rural electrification and other improvements for his district. Johnson steered the projects towards contractors which he personally knew, such as the Brown Brothers, Herman and George, who would finance much of Johnson's future career.<ref>Caro, (1982) is full of details.</ref> In 1941, he ran for the U.S. Senate (while not giving up his House seat) in a special election against the sitting governor, radio personality W. Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel. Johnson was not expected to win against the popular governor, but he ran a strong race and was declared the winner in unofficial returns. He ultimately was defeated by controversial official returns in an election marked by massive fraud on the part of both campaigns.

President Roosevelt found Johnson to be a welcome ally and conduit for information, particularly with regards to issues concerning internal politics in Texas (informally dubbed "Operation Texas") and the machinations of Vice President Garner and House Speaker Sam Rayburn. Johnson was immediately appointed to the powerful Naval Affairs Committee. He worked for rural electrification and other improvements for his district. Johnson steered the projects towards contractors which he personally knew, such as the Brown Brothers, Herman and George, who would finance much of Johnson's future career.<ref>Caro, (1982) is full of details.</ref> In 1941, he ran for the U.S. Senate (while not giving up his House seat) in a special election against the sitting governor, radio personality W. Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel. Johnson was not expected to win against the popular governor, but he ran a strong race and was declared the winner in unofficial returns. He ultimately was defeated by controversial official returns in an election marked by massive fraud on the part of both campaigns.

In 1948, Johnson ran in another controversial Senate race, this time against former governor Coke Stevenson.  After no candidate won a majority of the votes in the election, Johnson defeated Stevenson in a run-off election.  After joining the Senate, Johnson established relationships with several senior senators, including [[Richard Russell]].  Johnson was appointed to the powerful [[Armed Services Committee]] in 1950, which brought him into the public spotlight.  He became the leader of the [[Democratic Party]] in the Senate in 1953.  Johnson sought the Democratic nomination for president prior to the [[United States presidential election, 1960|1960 election]], but accepted the nomination for vice-president following Kennedy's nomination.

 

In 1948, Johnson ran in another controversial Senate race, this time against former governor Coke Stevenson.  After no candidate won a majority of the votes in the election, Johnson defeated Stevenson in a run-off election.  The result of this election was highly controversial, most historians, even those sympathetic to Johnson consider Johnson's 87 vote victory over Stevenson to be fraudulent <ref>See eg Robert A Caro Master of the ''Senate Means of Assent''</ref>  .  After joining the Senate, Johnson established relationships with several senior senators, including [[Richard Russell]].  Johnson was appointed to the powerful [[Armed Services Committee]] in 1950, and became chairman of the preparedness subcommittee which brought him into the public spotlight.  He became the leader of the [[Democratic Party]] in the Senate in 1953.  In his capacity as Majority leader of the senate, Johnson was able to ensure the passage of the 1957 Civil Rights Act, the first passed since Reconstruction, by carefully balancing the powerful southern wing of the Democratic party with the liberal northern and Eastern Wing.  Johnson sought the Democratic nomination for president prior to the [[United States presidential election, 1960|1960 election]], but accepted the nomination for vice-president following Kennedy's nomination.

==Presidency==

==Presidency==