Perhaps because LBJ was a Texas Democrat -- an East Texas Democrat. Although he pushed Civil Rights a lot for the national scene with his Great Society programs, he soft-pedaled it at home where it was still a very touchy subject -- especially in east Texas. (That's mentioned in the movie.)Actually, it was George Bush, the father, who lost his Congressional seat in Houston because he voted for a Bill to nullify segregation in housing around that time. Houstonians didn't like that and voted him out of office as a result.
Or, perhaps the custom of champion teams visiting the WH hadn't started yet. Note the player who said, "Our team should have been the ones to start that tradition."
I do not even remember this team and this championship. I was busy raising 4 children under age 5, worrying about how to make my husband's paycheck stretch (Johnson told us all to eat black eyed peas and ham hocks, instead of steak every night) for all our needs, and watching the anti-war movement spin out of control in Bezerkley, CA. If this game was even on TV, we certainly didn't watch it in California.
This is a great movie, however, and I thoroughly enjoyed it -- especially the credits at the end where the real players appeared with additional commentary. Everyone should see it.
Wonderful, pics, Wolf.......the Twin towers pics make me very sad. I have a pic of my husband and I on top of one of them in about 1990...with the NY city behind us.
What movie are you talking about, afraid....??
You're take on it is probably the correct one -- the LBJ take. The gist of the news article at least leaves the impression that sports champions did visit the WH back then, and this team was in some way slighted by not being invited.
I am not a native Texan...but, I was under the impression that that basketball team was the first to win the National Championship with a black team.....so, that could have something to do with the reason they weren't invited...
although, it sounds soooooo horrible that it has taken this long for them to get their recognition...
I haven't seen the movie referred to...so, please correct me if I am wrong...
I would like some verification of this. Everything I read about GHWB doesn't agree with this. He was asked by President Nixon (when he was a congressman) to run for the Sentate, a race he lost. I don't believe he was voted out of a congressional seat.