President above party

“There is division in the American house now. There is divisiveness among us all tonight,” said President Johnson on Sunday before announcing that, in consequence: “I shall not seek—and will not accept—the nomination of my party for another term as your President.” Thus the man whose main concern when he came to the Presidency was to establish a consensus among the American people is now giving up the job in order to re-establish that consensus. Mr Johnson’s retirement is being hailed as a great sacrifice. It may be so; he is a proud man. But there is no doubt that the decision has been long matured and was finally announced with relief. For all the suspicion that he may yet succumb to a popular draft if his policies succeed while his rivals tear the Democratic party apart, Mr Johnson is best taken at his word.