On March 29, 1952 he surprised Democratic leaders by saying he would not seek re-election
[DOC] [TLE] Zarefsky Interpretive Essay [PDF] - Voices of Democracy - University ... [PAR] LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON, "WITHDRAWAL SPEECH" (31 MARCH 1968) ... 
minutes of discussing U.S. policy in Vietnam, he stunned the nation with the 
surprise announcement that he would not be a candidate for reelection.