" In attempting to understand Robert Kennedy's treatment of Lyndon Johnson , is there a clue in his treatment of Chester Bowles while his brother was watching , not interrupting because Bobby ' was communicating exactly what his brother had wanted ' ? Was Bobby , with Lyndon Johnson , also serving as a weapon for his brother ? Did the President want Johnson kept under tighter rein than ever -- and was Bobby his instrument for doing this ?
Whether or not that was one of the reasons , other -- political -- considerations may have militated such treatment . Robert Kennedy , after all , had been part of the Senate world on days -- and there had been many days -- when that world marveled at the genius and power of Lyndon Johnson , when word spread through the Senate corridors ( and down to the basement office of the Senate Rackets Committee ) of how , up on the chamber floor , the mighty Leader had just done it again : of how , with a vote seemingly sure to go against him , he had somehow once again turned defeat into triumph . Bobby had left the Senate office building very late on so many nights , to turn and see the lights still burning in the Leader's office ; he had said on one such night , ' No one can outlast Lyndon . "