Lyndon B. Johnson
1963 - 1968Lyndon B. Johnson1
The Kennedy AssassinationNovember 22, 1963 JFK assassinated by
Lee Harvey OswaldDallas, TexasMany theories as to why he was
killedHard to prove - Oswald killed before going to trial by Dallas
nightclub owner Jack Ruby
2The Kennedy AssassinationWarren Commission led by Chief Justice
Earl WarrenInvestigated killing conclusion - Oswald acted
aloneLater investigation shows possible conspiracyKennedys death
stunned and saddened Americans
Vice-president Lyndon B. Johnson sworn in as president aboard
Air Force One
3Lyndon Baines Johnson (D-TX)Addressed Congress 5 days after JFK
assassinationConfidently swore to continue JFKs programsHis
confidence & firmness helped reassure nation & ease shock
of sudden change of leadersAn early victory - passage of Civil
Rights Act of 1964Enacts sweeping civil rights laws outlawing
segregation
4Top Priority - The War on PovertyEconomic Opportunity Act
(1964)Created Office of Economic Opportunity to direct anti-poverty
campaignJob Corps - trained young people in marketable skillsVISTA
(Volunteers in Service to America)a domestic Peace CorpsProject
Head Start - educational aid to preschoolers from disadvantaged
families
5The Great SocietyJohnsons collection of domestic
programsTargeted health, education, conservation, the environment,
and racial equalityVery successful in gaining passage of
programs
Huge Proliferation of Govt. ProgramsAll manner of programs to
deal with numerous social illsConservatives called it encroachment
on basic American freedomsAmerican govt. too activist
61964 ElectionJohnson & V.P. Hubert Humphrey (D-MN)Repubs.
nominate Barry Goldwater (AZ)Goldwater campaign offered a choice,
not an echo.In your heart, you know hes right - sloganCalled for
aggressive anti-Comm. policyPromised smaller govt. than LBJs
visionCalled federal action on civil rights unconstitutional -
should be left to states
71964 ElectionJohnson emphasized restrained & flexible
foreign policyto prevent nuclear warSaid prosperity in U.S. founded
on federal programs in effectpledged to continue course set by
JFKJohnson won by landslide486 - 52 (all but six states) & 61%
of vote
8Liberalism VictoriousLiberal president in White HouseDemocratic
dominated CongressJohnson flooded Congress with Great Society
programs (63 in 1965 alone) incl.:Dept. of Housing & Urban
Develop. (1965)public housing, urban renewalMedical Care Act
(1965)creates Medicare - insurance for elderlyExpensive programs
would face competition with rising cost of war in Vietnam
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