1964: President LBJ orders pants…

LBJ: Now the pockets, when you sit down, everything falls out, your money, your knife, everything. So I need at least another inch in the pockets. And another thing…the crotch, down where your nuts hang, is always a little too tight, so when you make them up, please give me another inch I can let out there, uh, because they cut me. It’s just like riding a wire fence. These are almost, these are the best I’ve had anywhere in the United States.

JHaggar: Fine.

LBJ: But when I gain a little weight, they cut me under there. So, leave me, you never do have much margin there. See if you can’t leave me an inch from where the zipper (BURPS) ends, round, under my back to bunghole, so I can let it out there if I need it.

JHaggar: Right.

LBJ: Now be sure you have the best zippers in them. These are good that I have. If you get those to me I sure would be grateful.

JHaggar: Fine. Now where would you like them sent please.

LBJ: White House.

While exploring the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, Michigan I encountered this interesting bit of presidential lore. An excerpt from a phone conversation with the son of the Lebanese immigrant who founded the Haggar pants empire, it gives interesting insight into this politician who became president only due to the assassination of JFK. History is divided as to whether JFK actually wanted Johnson as his running mate. The earthy, coarse Texan was a career politician far removed from JFK’s young, glamorous Camelot. History isn’t always kind to LBJ, as most of the focus is on his Vietnam failures, however this Texas Democrat’s War on Poverty and focus on Civil Rights makes him the most influential president on domestic affairs in the modern age. 

In addition to the telephone where you can listen to this fascinating conversation, the museum contains Joseph Haggar’s entire 1920’s office suite from which he founded the Haggar clothing company.