Lyndon B. Johnson

===Freshman senator to majority whip===
[[File:Senator Lyndon Johnson.jpg|thumb|Johnson's [[United States Senate]] portrait in the 1950s]]
Once in the Senate, Johnson was known among his colleagues for his highly successful "courtships" of older senators, especially Senator [[Richard Russell Jr.|Richard Russell]], Democrat from Georgia, the leader of the [[Conservative coalition]] and arguably the most powerful man in the Senate. Johnson proceeded to gain Russell's favor in the same way he had "courted" Speaker Sam Rayburn and gained his crucial support in the House.

Johnson was appointed to the [[United States Senate Committee on Armed Services|Senate Armed Services Committee]], and in 1950 helped create the Preparedness Investigating Subcommittee. He became its chairman, and conducted investigations of defense costs and efficiency. These investigations demanded actions that were already being taken in part by the [[Truman administration]], although it can be said that the committee's investigations reinforced the need for changes. Johnson gained national attention through his handling of media. Johnson ensured that every report was endorsed unanimously by his committee. He used his political influence in the Senate to receive broadcast licenses from the [[Federal Communications Commission]] in his wife's name.<ref name="'70s"/><ref name="new yorker">{{cite magazine |title=The Johnson Years: Buying And Selling |last=Caro |first=Robert A. |author-link=Robert Caro |date=December 18, 1989 |magazine=The New Yorker |url=https://www.newyorker.com/archive/1989/12/18/1989_12_18_043_TNY_CARDS_000356927}}</ref> After the 1950 general elections, Johnson was chosen as Senate Majority Whip in 1951 under the new Majority Leader, [[Ernest McFarland]] of [[Arizona]], and served in this capacity from 1951 to 1953.<ref name="Bioguide.congress.gov"/>