Run the bastards over

1966 US President Lyndon Johnson visited Australia for talks on Vietnam, cheered on by right-wing Prime Minister Harold Holt who famously said "All the way with LBJ".

While riding with corrupt New South Wales Premier Robin Askin (pictured) through the streets of Sydney, surrounded by Vietnam protesters, including your Almanackist's friend, Graeme Dunstan who lay down in front of LBJ's car, Johnson was probably either horrified or amused as Askin (also famously) told their driver, "Run the bastards over".

The comment led to much derision, and a protest song (to the tune of American peace activist Julia Ward Howe's famous 'The Battle Hymn of the Republic'), often sung at rallies thereafter:

In 1966, our friend and ally LBJ
came out to Sydney town from his great land of USA.
Some students chose to demonstrate by lying in his way
but my comment lingers on.
Run, run, run the bastards over!
Run, run, run the bastards over!

Graeme Dustan in the Book of Days

Categories: usa, australia, activism, vietnam