LBJ and Grassroots Federalism: Congressman Bob Poage, Race, and Change in Texas

The major achievement of Duke's book is its reiteration of how Johnson used federal funds and influence to convince states' rights advocates that there were times when federal, state, and local entities could coexist and cooperate in order to improve the lives of ordinary citizens. Johnson and Poage worked together on several projects that saved Waco from massive unemployment, floods, and uncontrollable poverty, yet Poage maintained his stance on civil rights regardless of the numbers of federal dollars that poured into his congressional district.