Lyndon Baines Johnson

1. Lyndon Baines Johnson Libertyville HS

2. LBJ’s Swearing In • 11/22/63, in plane hanger after JFK’s assassination • Formed Warren Commission to investigate assassination • Headed by Earl Warren, Chief Justice of USSC • Investigation: one shooter • LBJ promised to carry on JFK’s legacy

3. Lyndon B. Johnson • Born to poor family in TX in 1908; father became congressman • Went to college and became teacher • LBJ elected to Congress in 1938 (platform=New Deal) • Served in US Navy during WWII • Elected to Senate, 1948 • Majority leader, 1954

4. Vice President Johnson • Ran in Dem primary, 1960 • Convention: “Stop Kennedy” coalition • Offered VP by JFK, to help him beat Nixon in South • As VP, LBJ powerless • Wasn’t really trusted by Kennedy insiders • Worked with African Americans on civil rts issues • Handled minor international affairs for JFK

5. President Johnson • Johnson promised to fulfill legacy of Kennedy • $11.5 billion tax cuts • 1964 Civil Rights Act • 24th Amendment (banned federal poll tax) • Would it be enough to get elected?

6. 1964 Election • Dems nominated LBJ, Hubert Humphrey • GOP nominate Barry Goldwater (AZ) • GOP badly split between conservatives and moderate-liberal wings • Goldwater an arch-conservative • Many moderate GOP voted for LBJ • “Daisy” ad Results LBJ: 486 ECV / 43.1 million Goldwater: 52 ECV / 27.1 million LBJ’s margin of 61% highest since 1820

7. LBJ’s “Great Society” • LBJ’s domestic agenda • Commitment to improving the quality of life of all Americans • LBJ’s vision: Completing New Deal • Programs • 1965 Voting Rights Act • Elementary & Secondary Ed. Act of 1965 • Higher Ed Act of 1965 (grants, work-study, gov’t loans for students of poor) • Est. NEH, NEA, CPB “What’s that big word, there?”

8. LBJ’s “War on Poverty” • Est. Appalachian Regional Commission • Created the Office of Economic Opportunity • Coordinated anti-poverty programs (food stamps) • Head Start program • VISTA (Volunteer in Service to America) Act – domestic peace corps • Housing Act (low-rent, gov’t subsidized housing) • Medicare Act of 1965

9. Other Legislation of LBJ’s Term • Continued space research • Est. Dept of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) (develop policy on housing and cities) • Est. Dept. of Transportation (DOT) (“ensure fast, safe, efficient transportation network”) • 1967: 25th Amendment (provides means of replacing pres. in case of disability; fill VP vacancy)

10. Downfall of LBJ • Downfall came about due to the unpopularity of the Vietnam War & strained race relations • “Credibility Gap” (lies) • “Long Hot Summers” – frustration of A-A inner city • Economic slowdown • LBJ lashed out at “preachers, liberals and reporters” who had ‘turned’ on him • March 31, 1968: announced he “would not seek, nor accept” the Democratic nomination Watts, 1968

11. Election of 1968 • Democratic nominee looked to be RFK • RFK assassinated after CA primary • RFK’s death threw race up for grabs • Dems nominate Hubert Humphrey • Chicago convention marred by anti-war protests, brutal suppression • Humphrey supported peace in Vietnam, expansion of Great Society • American Indep. Party (state’s rights): George Wallace • GOP candidate: Richard Nixon • “Southern Strategy” – effort to appeal to “solid south” • Theme: restore “law and order” Results Nixon: 301 ECV / 31.7 million Humphrey: 191 ECV / 31.2 million Wallace: 46 ECV / 9.9 million

12. 1968 Election • Realigning election (first since 1932 election of FDR) • GOP won 5 of next 6 presidential elections & 7 of next 10 • Why did Dems lose? • Intraparty split over civil rights, Vietnam, “culture wars” • Dems lost South to GOP