Succeeding President John F. Kennedy, whose ability to charm even the most jaded reporter had made charisma a household word, President Lyndon B. Johnson faced inevitable difficulties. Kennedy was good-looking, cultured, and athletic despite back problems. Johnson was homely, "folksy," and physically clumsy. Despite his considerable political skills, Kennedy gave the impression of being statesmanlike. Johnson, noted for his off-color language and sexual jokes, was called "earthy "by his friends and "crude" by his detractors, and he had a reputation for political wheeling and dealing. When Johnson tried to appear sober and presidential, he seemed stiff— and sometimes almost foreboding. His attempts to project a warm, familyman image also failed to endear him to the public. In May 1964, a few months into his presidency, Johnson was asked to pose for photographs with the family Beagles, Him and Her. In the manner of...