The Seattle Times, May 10, 1962

Fair Brochure Studied

--Times photo by Ron De Rosa

THOUGHTFUL: Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was in a reflective mood as he looked at a Seattle World's Fair brochure just before going to the fair today. Badgered by a sore throat, the Texan slept late, then hurried to the fairgrounds to speak.

The Seattle Times, May 10, 1962

Johnson Speaks Softly But Says Just the Right Words

By ROBERT HEILMAN

Lyndon Baines Johnson — a big, bronzed Texan large enough to carry the large title of vice president of the United States — sat on a straight-backed chair in the Olympic Hotel shortly before noon today.

Tanned and immaculately clad in blue suit, white shirt and neat tie for the speaking chore just ahead of him, the vice president wore a remarkably pleasant expression for a man with a serious problem.

In Johnson's throat was a painful rasp and roughness — an aliment that forced him to keep to his bed most of the morning and cancel his early World's Fair Schedule.

JOHNSON was saving his voice. The "press conference" he granted a bare hour before his talk may have been limited, but it was adequate for two reasons:

For one, he held a Century 21 brochure so that he might familiarize himself with yet more details of the World's Fair he was about to visit.

For another, the sentences he spoke included the six magic words that endear any dignitary to 750,000 residents and close neighbors;

"Seattle is a very nice city."

The vice president spoke softly as he said it, but the traditional affability ascribed to Texans was undeniably present.

Johnson broke into his last-minute preparations at the behest of an aide, Charles Boatner.

Boatner, a member of the vice president's White House staff and a man with 25 years of experience in newspaper work, called the flicker-of-an eyelash "press conference" in behalf of the Times.

JOHNSON greeted his guests with a pleasant:

"Good morning. It's nice to see you."

"Charlie wants me to look at the schedule," said Johnson, looking at the Century 21 brochure.

A thin smile crossed the deep tan of the 6-foot-3-inch visitor's face.

"I've got to hurry along," he said. "Thanks for stopping in."

Johnson will be principal speaker at a banquet in the Olympic Hotel tonight winding up the National Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Space.

The Seattle Times, May 11, 1962

Vice President Tours Fair

--Times photo by Paul V. Thomas

FANS: Vice President Johnson chatted with admirers yesterday near the end of his Fairliner tour of the World's Fair. The vice president suffered from a throat ailment during his visit. But he did his best to respond to greetings with smiles, waves and occasional words.