[dropcap]H[/dropcap]ardy Hollers began his bid for Lyndon Johnson’s congressional seat on May 13, 1946 with these fighting words:  “He went on a few months’ sightseeing tour of the Pacific with a camera in one hand and leading his publicity agent by the other.”

For the past year, LBJ had thought about running for governor instead of a fifth term in the U.S. House of Representatives.  However, an opinion poll persuaded him to play it safe.  Even though the 37 year old po...