Much of Connally’s book involves President Johnson, including assessments of this political titan’s social policies, his politicking, and his private life. Connally himself was a progressive governor, and President Johnson often sought out his advice. (But as Connally states himself, Johnson often did not follow his suggestions). Connally outlines out three major disagreements he had with Johnson: He wanted to threaten Hanoi with a nuclear attack, he felt Johnson was pushing his Great Society programs too rapidly, and he says Johnson should have replaced Kennedy’s men with his own in the Cabinet.
Of course, John Connally devotes a chapter to the tragic Kennedy assassination, which the governor survived with bullet wounds to his chest, wrist, and thigh. Connally states he tried to talk the President out of a motorcade, but Kennedy’s men insisted upon this arrangement. (Ben Barnes corroborates this story in his memoir Barn Burning Barn Building). Connally was convinced Lee Harvey Oswald intended to kill him as well as Kennedy.
In History’s Shadow also describes Connally’s decision to leave the Democratic Party. In 1971, the still-Democrat John Connelly was appointed to be Richard Nixon’s Secretary of Treasury. In 1973, Connally felt the Democratic Party had become too dominated by far-left liberals. Nixon considered Connally to replace Spiro Agnew as Vice President, but decided to nominate the more moderate Gerald Ford because of Congressional opposition to the conservative Connally.