JOHNSON took his wife to the opera. and after it was over. a friend introduced the Texan to Leinsdorf. Leinsdorf mentioned that he had a serious problem. An Austrian. his visa was expiring soon and he had been unable to get it renewed. Unless he succeeded. he would be sent back to Austria where Hitlers troops were marching in. JOHNSON volunteered to help. JOHNSON recalls he had considerable difficulty. but he was determined to make it possible for a man with talent such as Leinsdorf to stay in the United States if that were his wish. Finally. JOHNSON obtained an extension of his visa. Later. it became possible for Leinsdorf to become a U.S. citizen. During World War II.