Patronage power: Rural electrification, river development, and Lyndon Johnson (1937--1939)

Few historians document Lyndon Johnson's efforts to construct a state-wide political machine at the local level early in his congressional career. The literature glorifies Johnson for hydroelectric river development and rural electrification. This thesis acknowledges the transformative nature of rural electrification in Central Texas through the efforts of Johnson but, more importantly, reveals how extensively Johnson sought to capitalize on the tail-end of the New Deal to utilize government-funded relief projects to establish a state-wide political machine. An analysis of the correspondence between Johnson, his local political operators, members of his state-wide network, and rural constituents reveals another layer to the complexity of Johnson and further exposes his ambitious, calculating nature. Johnson used rural electrification to first create a community of supporters in his congressional district then used rural electrification and multipurpose river development programs to cultivate political contacts across the state of Texas.;This thesis explores the first time that Lyndon Johnson used patronage to develop a political community as a publicly elected official. Johnson pushed for constant expansion of operations to ensure a steady supply of new jobs while displaying a cavalier attitude about specific regulations regarding the allocation of funds. His machine manipulated and massaged congressional appropriations restrictions and utilized multiple congressional revenue streams to stretch finances further and lower overhead costs to increase the scope of operations thus further improving the lives of his constituents. Johnson also used this movement to efficiently and effectively construct a foundation for his political machine. This thesis also clarifies an early moment in Johnson's beliefs about civil rights. Instead of standing on principle, Johnson relied on extortion and threats to fight racism at this early juncture in his political career because of his own personal ambition. Burning ambition---his own personal sense of political self-preservation---trumped Johnson's early beliefs about civil rights. Therefore because of his personal ambition he kept his opinions about civil rights silent while his operators utilized "out of sight, out of mind" policies towards race relations when necessary.;While building this political community Johnson pledged electricity for votes. He had two goals: (1) create a market for LCRA-generated power to prevent private utilities from acquiring the power, and (2) create a political machine. Initially growth occurred slowly but Johnson used modern forms of communications and propaganda to construct a community; including radio, newsprint, theater, and public events and affairs. Johnson also laid the foundations for this community through the creation of shared community space and the promotion of a shared community-mindset. Johnson prioritized the creation of these community spaces over the construction of transmission lines and engaged in deceit when necessary---Arthur Stehling committed forgery---while pursuing Johnson's plans for the formation of this political machine through the conception of a new, common community. Johnson pushed for optimal growth and utilized every opportunity for publicity. These new structures signified the changes occurring across the landscape and for the first time the people of Central Texas began to feel the relief of the New Deal---five years after President Roosevelt initiated relief efforts. Subsequently, the people of Central Texas supported Johnson in his political endeavors.;Secondly, this thesis explores the geographical expansion of multipurpose river development and rural electrification operations in Central Texas. Expansion was priority number one because this increased Johnson's political clout in Central Texas. Johnson expanded his control by infiltrating or manipulating newly forming rural electric cooperatives. His operators side-stepped or rewrote local laws when necessary to aid development. Finally, Johnson heavily influenced decisions pertaining to personnel during his expansion of territory and consolidation of control.;Ambition and opportunism created numerous occasions for patronage, publicity, and unbridled expansion. Within the LCRA, Johnson shifted focus from dam construction to development of rural electric cooperatives. Johnson's promotional efforts made the congressman the target of various groups seeking support for river development within their respective communities. At times, Johnson used heavy-handed tactics to achieve desired results.;Finally, Johnson and his operators continued to marginalize members of the Karnes cooperative until personally ordered to stop by the National Director of the Rural Electrification Administration. Johnson's involvement in determining the location of a cooperative headquarters in Karnes County to cultivate the support of local political players demonstrates how ambition, expansion of name-recognition, and the cultivation of political power at the local level to build a state-wide machine define Johnson's early involvement in rural electrification and multipurpose river development in late 1930s Central Texas.;Therefore, this thesis builds upon traditional interpretations of Johnson's participation in rural electrification and properly places his involvement into a more complete context. This thesis also breaks up the neat compartmentalization that previously occurred to create a more comprehensive outlook. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).