A Rogue, Yes, but With Great Vision: ROBERT DALLEK

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A. He felt his power ebbing in the Senate. Liberal Senators were coming in who resisted him. He thought he could change the vice presidency as he'd changed everything else in his career. He'd make it more important than it had been.

Q. Where do you rank Johnson historically?

A. I consider him a near great President, on a level with Truman. His vision of American domestic life approaches greatness. Johnson also had profound flaws. Examining his failure in Vietnam will be the task of my second volume.

Q. How do you feel about Johnson personally?

, A. One doesn't simply write about Lyndon Johnson. You get the Johnson treatment from beyond the grave -- arm around you, nose to nose. I should admit that he also reminds me of my father, quite an overbearing and narcissistic character. And in some ways, he reminds me of myself. Another workaholic.