This LBJ biography helps explain deep US fear of vote rigging
But one aspect of American politics, described early in the former president's ascent to power, and then later, has both shocked and educated me. Vote-rigging. It was endemic. In 1960, when LBJ ran alongside John F Kennedy for the presidency, votes from LBJ's home state of Texas proved vital, possibly critical, in getting Kennedy over the line. Caro spells out where those votes came from: blatant electoral fraud organised by Texan power-brokers linked to LBJ. Caro neither condones nor suggests that most Americans would condone; but a strong impression arises that these things happen, outrage can subside when the political establishment is disinclined to rake over the coals, and (though a stink was at first kicked up over the presidential fraud) America is capable of finally shrugging.
Many years later, when Joe Biden beat Trump, the latter's conviction that he was cheated of victory appeared an obsessive and paranoid fantasy. It was. But now I understand why Americans with long memories might question whether all their elections really are free and fair.
Reading about Greece's success in pulling itself out of the deep economic pit created by the country's having lived beyond its means, one cannot but admire its impressive current prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Our own descent into the pit is occurring more gently and in an altogether more dignified manner, but it's the same pit. So much so that Greece can already borrow on more favourable terms than the world will accord the UK. We British have been in the habit of importing royalty from Greece. I do wonder whether we might consider importing political leadership too.
Way back in the mists of obscure 20th-century parliamentary history, your diarist was on the standing committee examining the bill that privatised Britain's principal airports, formerly state-owned. I argued then for obliging any new private owner to promote free competition, as it struck me that a franchise for a monopoly of retail provision would command an eye-watering price which airport owners should not be allowed to extract.
Fast-forward 40 years and my friend Alice is at Stansted on August 8, flying to Spain and wishing to buy €80. 'Landside', she finds only one currency exchange dealer. They explain they charge a commission on the exchange. A determined person, Alice argues. The lady behind the counter takes pity on her and finally agrees to drop the commission. Alice asks for €80.
As you will know the pound is worth more than the euro. She is charged £95.29. This is scarcely believable. So much so that I asked Alice to check. She has sent me the receipt. And I cannot but conclude they charged her 95 pounds for 80 euros. I've been checking rates on the high street. I cannot find any dealer who will give a customer back fewer euros than the pounds they hand over the counter. In some cases they will charge little more than £70 for €80. What has gone wrong? Last year The Sun reported that 'travellers could lose … £200 when they take away €1,000 at Stansted airport'. Do we have no regulatory authority able to police this banditry?
Not long after the death ten days ago of Dame Stella Rimington, once the head of MI5, a little trill on the pan-pipes alerts me to an incoming WhatsApp. It's from a friend who used to work for a well-known recruitment agency. 'We once hosted her at our agency, my boss interviewing her for a client event. It was a memorable conversation. My boss began: 'We're headhunters, so we need to understand people. Stella, what do you do when you want to understand people better. How do you approach this?' 'I tap them,' replied Rimington.'
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