How Lyndon B. Johnson Spent Election Day 1964

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Lyndon B. Johnson’s first year as president was one for the history books: it began with President Kennedy’s assassination on Nov. 22, 1963, and ended almost exactly a year later with Johnson’s reelection to the White House, in a major victory over controversial Republican candidate Barry Goldwater.

That year is the subject of All the Way, premiering on Saturday night on HBO and starring Bryan Cranston as LBJ. LIFE Magazine was tracking the real thing as it was happening; that reelection was the subject of a Nov. 13, 1964 cover story about the “Mighty Landslide.” And, though the published issue would only include a couple of shots of the President and his family at their Texas ranch, LIFE’s photographer John Dominis captured the whole run-up to Johnson’s learning that he had won handily—and how he celebrated.

Despite the eventual results and Johnson’s well-founded confidence, it was clear that the President wouldn’t consider the victory his until the results were official. And even then, one of American history’s biggest landslides wasn’t entirely satisfying.

“He wants,” a friend told LIFE before the results came in, “to make it unanimous.”

Cover of LIFE magazine, November 13, 1964.
LIFE magazine, November 13, 1964.John Dominis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
LBJ and Ladybird at home, 1964
President Lyndon Johnson sitting on a porch swing at his home in Johnson City with wife Claudia (Lady Bird) on the morning following his landslide election win.John Dominis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Image
Lady Bird Johnson and daughter Lucy on election eve, 1964.
Lady Bird Johnson and daughter Luci on election eve, 1964.John Dominis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Image
Election night, 1964.
Election night, 1964.John Dominis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Image
Lyndon B. Johnson and wife Lady Bird on election night, 1964.
Lyndon B. Johnson and wife Lady Bird on election night, 1964.John Dominis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Image
Lyndon B. Johnson on election night, 1964.
Lyndon B. Johnson on election night, 1964.John Dominis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Image
Lyndon B. Johnson on election night, 1964.
Lyndon B. Johnson on election night, 1964.John Dominis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Image
Lyndon B. Johnson on election night, 1964.
Lyndon B. Johnson on election night, 1964.John Dominis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Image
Election night, 1964.
Election night, 1964.John Dominis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Image
Lyndon B. Johnson and wife Lady Bird on election night, 1964.
Lyndon B. Johnson and wife Lady Bird on election night, 1964.John Dominis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Image
Touch of Texas. A raucous rally greeted the President's election eve homecoming in Austin.
Caption from LIFE. Touch of Texas. A raucous rally greeted the President's election eve homecoming in Austin. John Dominis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Image
Taking the reins. At the LBJ ranch, the President and vice president-elect saddle up. Johnson outfitted Humphrey with cowboy clothes and then mounted him on a frisky quarter horse, El Rey, while he rode his Tennessee walker, Lady B. Then they went out to round up cattle. Humphrey was game but not expert.
Caption from LIFE. Taking the reins. At the LBJ ranch, the President and vice president-elect saddle up. Johnson outfitted Humphrey with cowboy clothes and then mounted him on a frisky quarter horse, El Rey, while he rode his Tennessee walker, Lady B. Then they went out to round up cattle. Humphrey was game but not expert.John Dominis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Image
(L-R) VP Hubert Humphrey, Texas governor John Connally and President Lyndon Johnson on Johnson's ranch morning after he and Humphrey won the national election. 1964.
(L-R) VP Hubert Humphrey, Texas governor John Connally and President Lyndon Johnson on Johnson's ranch morning after he and Humphrey won the national election. 1964.John Dominis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Image
President. Lyndon Johnson and VP Hubert Humphrey the morning after winning election. 1964.
President. Lyndon Johnson and VP Hubert Humphrey the morning after winning election. 1964.John Dominis—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Image

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Write to Lily Rothman at lily.rothman@time.com