Ike was President and Speaker Sam Rayburn and Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson controlled Congress.

FORBES: It's How You Play the Game

Having identified Sam Rayburn as a strong triple B credit, I next turned to the question of pricing.

FORBES: Muni Bond Manager's Journal: Looking For Real Value

Given the rating, some investors might assume Sam Rayburn is a lower-quality credit.

FORBES: Muni Bond Manager's Journal: Looking For Real Value

To help answer this question, I analyzed industry spreads and price trends to put the Sam Rayburn bond in context.

FORBES: Muni Bond Manager's Journal: Looking For Real Value

Like his political hero Sam Rayburn, the legendary Texan speaker of the House, Mr Bentsen took pride in the fact that both sides liked him.

ECONOMIST: Lloyd Bentsen

In the 1940s and '50s, Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn did the same, finding the points where Southern and Northern Democrats could agree, and even brought some Republicans along.

CNN: GOP faces choice: Leadership or gridlock

The TIAA-CREF Municipal Bond Team examined the security for the bond as well as the economic and financial condition of the borrower and determined that Sam Rayburn was a stable credit that simply did not need to maintain a higher rating.

FORBES: Muni Bond Manager's Journal: Looking For Real Value