President Johnson, Robert Phillips, and Senator Russell Long
September 14, 1965, 6:10 P.M.

Citation #8858, WH6509.03. LBJ Library

President Johnson: Mr. Phillips, this is Lyndon Johnson. Senator Long is here in the office, and we have reviewed the problems that are a result from this terrible disaster that we’ve suffered there, and we have gone from agency to agency beginning with the Corps of Engineers, and the Veterans Administration, the Food and Drug Administration, Agricultural Department, Small Business Administration, all the services—Army, Navy, and Air Force—the National Command Center, Department of Agriculture, Interior, Maritime, Housing and Home Finance, and Bureau of Yards and Docks and Navy, Federal Communications, Federal Aviation, Bureau of Public Roads, Treasury, Commerce, and Interstate Commerce Commission.

Now, in times of distress, it’s necessary that all the members of the family get together and lay aside any individual problems they have or any personal grievances and try to take care of the sick mother, and we’ve got a sick mother on our hands. And as I said the other night when I was there, we’ve got to cut out all the red tape. We’ve got to work around the clock. We’ve got to ignore hours. We’ve got to bear in mind that we exist for only one purpose and that’s to the greatest good for the greatest number. And the people who’ve lost their homes, people who have lost their furniture, the people who have lost some of their crops and even their families are not going to be very interested in any individual differences between federal or state or local agencies.

So I hope that all the government people can put their shoulder to the wheel without regard to hours, without regard to red tape. Bring to these people the kind of assistance they need in this emergency which is worthy of a great government and a great country. And I want to thank all the local officials and the city and county and state and parish officials, and I want to assure you that up here, if you have any problems, well, let me know about them. We’ll get them straightened out. And down there, I don’t want any problems to . . . that the . . . that Betsy didn’t create to exist. I don’t—

Robert Phillips: Who will follow those orders, sir?

President Johnson: Well, here’s Senator Long. He wants to say a word to you, and we’ll do the job here. We expect you all to do it there

Robert Phillips: Yes, Mr. President.

Russell Long: Thank you so much, Mr. Phillips. You’re doing a great job down there.

Robert Phillips: Thank you, Senator.

Russell Long: And I know you’ve got your problems. We don’t . . . We’re not trying to make you violate the law, but insofar as you can find a way to make the law bend to the problem, well that’s what we want you to do.

Robert Phillips: I think I understand, Senator.

Russell Long: And as I say there’s one more thing about it: we’ve got some things in these laws indicated that have to do with private enterprise where we try to protect them, but it’s time for private enterprise to make their move to help the people, too, because they’ve got their place to fulfill, and they shouldn’t’ play the part of a dog in the manger. They . . . 

Now’s their time when they ought to be doing the extra hour of duty, and I think they’re doing it. I’m very proud of all these people who kept their stores open on Sunday and at other times after hours and folks who provide their services below the cost of service or sometimes giving their services away for free to help their fellow man. It’s a fine thing that they’re doing and insofar as some few people who want to chisel and cheat and take advantage of the unfortunate conditions of their neighbor, I think we ought to all remember who those people were when the time comes later on when they need us.

Robert Phillips: We’re going to work with everybody, Senator, along the lines that the President has told us to and encourages us to do  . . . and we will do.

Russell Long: Thanks so much. God bless you.

Robert Phillips: Bye.