Cliff Carter got his start with Lyndon Johnson by running his 1948 senatorial primary campaign against Coke Stevenson. At the time, Texas was pretty much a one party state do the primary victory generally led to a victory in the general election. As the polls closed, Stevenson held a 362 vote lead. However, at the final tally, Johnson had won the election by 17 votes. The magnitude of this victory led to Johnson's acquisition of the moniker, Landslide Lyndon.

Of course Stevenson cried foul and had the results thrown out. Not to be denied, Johnson lawyer John Cofer took the case directly to Supreme Court Justice who put Johnson back on the ballot. Stevenson countered by appealing to the Senate Rules and Administration. Even before he was officially a member of the Senate, Johnson's friends there stood by him.

As time went on, Carter became more important to Johnson and trusted to handle some of the most sensitive issues such as conveying orders to enforcer, Mac Wallace, and collecting large sums of cash. It was also his job to convince Dallas District Attorney Henry Wade to charge Lee Oswald with simple murder and make no mention of a conspiracy. National security was the reason given then, as it still is today.

Financially, Johnson liked to have contributions made outside the office and that meant Carter would pick up large sums of money given to the senator so he could keep on doing good things for you country as well a shepherd legislation through the senate to the benefit of the donor. At times the price of simply meeting with the senator carried a $50,000 price tag. The cash was then delivered promptly to the senators office or where ever it was needed.

He also functioned within the Democratic National Committee as Johnson extended his influence. This gig came to an end when his questionable ethics came to light and he had to resign.

Cliff Carter was good at what he did in that he was effective in protecting his boss, Lyndon Johnson while keeping the little people in the dark as to what is going on.