What was the meaning of L.B.J.’s response to Senator Russell’s warning?

L.B.J. & Civil Rights Mini-Q

Document C

Source: Robert Dallek, Flawed Giant: Lyndon Johnson and His Times, 1961-1973, 1998.

Note: A few days after he became president in November 1963, Johnson invited Senator Richard Russell of
Georgia, an unyielding segregationist, to the White House to talk about the civil-rights bill. The longtime
friends and colleagues sat knee-to-knee as they had this conversation.

Johnson: Dick, you’ve got to get out of my way. I’m going to run over you.

Russell: You may do that, but, by God, it’s going to cost you the South and cost

you the election.

Johnson: If that’s the price I’ve got to pay, I’ll pay it gladly.