The 5 wildest LBJ moments
Tales of a big complicated Texan, plus the weekly roundup
Last week, I ate like my favorite president of all time.
Let me back up a step, as I had a little criticism via the TikTok and Instagram comment section.
Here is what I do NOT mean when I say “favorite:”
He is my hero
He is a good person
I respect this man without reservation
Probably a cool guy to be my dad
He is hot
What I mean is that among the nearly 50 unhinged people who’ve held the office of the President of the United States, this person is the most fascinating, fun and funny to me.
So yes, LBJ. I’ve mentioned the LBJ doodle I have as a tattoo, I know I’ve talked about the 3.5 Robert Caro books on LBJ I’ve read, and yes, I ate like him for an entire day last week.
It was delicious, and I promised some storytime surrounding LBJ’s most insane behavior, MOST of which is not safe for work here, so you’ve been warned: this president was vulgar as hell and so will his top 5 most bonkers facts:
LBJ had phones installed everywhere, including in the White House bathroom by the toilet so he never lost a moment of time.
He conducted meetings in his bathroom while he was pooping and once tricked his embarrassed National Security Advisor into backing up into his naked lap for a laugh.
When asked why the U.S. was in Vietnam, LBJ whipped out his penis (nicknamed Jumbo) and said “that’s why.”
Johnson was at his ranch in Texas. After a meal and possibly some Cutty Sark and soda, he went outside in the middle of night to go pee off the back porch. A member of his Secret Service stood nearby, averting his eyes, and asked Johnson, “Sir, aren’t you afraid of rattlesnakes?” And Johnson said back, “Hell, it IS part rattlesnake.”
Un. Hinged. Maniac. A man of a different time who was terrible and ambitious, depressed and confident, anxious and powerful, hilarious and a gigantic problem. Anyway, wanted to share those.
The Weekly Recap
On to the weekly recap!
I’m on YouTube, so now those of you who don’t have social media (TikTok, Instagram) can watch me recreate recipes, eat like presidents and politicians, and even eat like YOU.
I ate like JFK and it did NOT go as expected
I also ate like a professional webcomic artist (who is very much okay with being identified), so I’ll shout her out here, The RedDot Comic, she’s a paid subscriber and a fun fan to have.
With the TikTok ban looming, I’m focusing on 1) calling my senators like I do with any issue that’s important to me and 2) putting out two more very fun “Eat Like” entries before the ban on Jan. 19th. I’ll get back to a more regular mix of Eating and recreating recipes, so whichever one you enjoy, don’t fret. It’s all good.
Last note here: I’m in LA County, very much safe and fine and far enough away from the fires, but some folks aren’t. Feel free to donate resources to wherever you want if you have capacity and will, but I’m supporting ARC in its mission to help those incarcerated firefighters who’ve been risking their lives for $6 a day. Grateful for all the firefighters out there.
Stay safe and fun out there,
-Bennett