LBJ, sensitive guy

Doug Henwood dhenwood at panix.com
Fri Sep 17 10:35:41 PDT 1999


[An old favorite, quoted in Alexander Cockburn's New York Press column.]

"The leftish Papandreou regime in Greece was protesting the U.S. decision to establish NATO bases on Cyprus. The Greek ambassador to Washington invoked the Greek parliament as unlikely to accept the U.S. plan. Johnson exploded at the uppity diplomat: 'Fuck your parliament and your constitution. America is an elephant. Cyprus is a flea. Greece is a flea. If these two fellows continue itching the elephant, they may get whacked by the elephant's trunk, whacked good.... If your Prime Minister give me talk about democracy, parliament, and constitution, he, his parliament, and his constitution may not last very long.' As the ambassador left the room, Johnson shouted after him, 'Don't forget to tell old Papawhat'shisname what I told you.... You hear?'"



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