In honor of the LBJ Presidential Library’s 50th anniversary this month, join us for an evening  discussing the extraordinary telephone conversations President Johnson recorded in the White House, which offer an unparalleled peek into his presidency. Scholar Melody Barnes, presidential historian Michael Beschloss, and MSNBC anchor Brian Williams join Dr. Mark Lawrence, Director of the LBJ Library, in conversation.

In the first of several calls that day to Peace Corps director R. Sargent Shriver, President Johnson implored Shriver to accept a second role as head of the War on Poverty. Shriver repeatedly begged off the assignment, but Johnson persisted. By the end of the day, the President had worn down Shriver and secured his acquiescence.