Lyndon Johnson actually said...

Now it is my great privilege to do as Presidents have done for 40 years--to press this button and light the Christmas tree for all the Nation.

Remarks at the Lighting of the Nation's Christmas Tree

12/17/1964

More Lyndon Johnson Quotes

We are trying to withhold the appropriated funds that Congress gave us to the extent of $1 billion.

We proposed to reduce the expenditures by $3 billion.

We have been working this afternoon on the details of the deferments and the withholding that we indicated to Chairman Mills and others back...

This just carries out a commitment that we have made at the time.