LYNDON JOHNSON & THE GREAT SOCIETY

1. LYNDON JOHNSON&THE GREAT SOCIETY

2. Background / Trivia • Had represented Texas in Congress for 30 years before becoming JFK’s VP • He was 3 months old before his parents gave him a name • Proposed to his wife on their first date! • His entire family had initials LBJ: • Wife-Lady Bird Johnson • Daughters-Luci Baines Johnson & Linda Byrd Johnson • Dog-Little Beagle Johnson • All lived on the LBJ ranch in Texas • He was known a Lightbulb Johnson in the White House (due to his habit of turning off all the lights when leaving a room – grew up in Depression years)

3. Only P to witness the assassination of the P he succeeded • Only P ever sworn into office on Air Force One • At 6’3”, our second tallest P • Appointed the 1st black Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall • Could be very crass, rude • Many times held meetings with aides while on the toilet • Habit of stripping in front of any- body & jumping into White House pool • Favorite saying was biblical – “Come, let us reason together.” • But meant that he would be physically intimidating –in your face, grabbing & jabbing -until one would agree with him

4. LBJ’s 1st Address to Congress: November 27, 1963 • Addresses Congress shortly after the death of JFK • Vows to continue JFK’s policies • Peace Corps • Space Program • Civil Rights • Commitment to West Berlin & South Vietnam • Asks for unity & cooperation in pursuing JFK’s goals • Pledges support for the United Nations • Urges the passage of the Civil Rights Bill

5. Liberal Rulings of the Warren Court • Engel v. Vitale, 1962 • decision outlawing mandatory school prayer • Gideon v. Wainwright, 1963 • required that all indigent criminal defendants receive publicly funded counsel (Florida law at time gave free counsel to indigent defendants only in capital cases) • Miranda v. Arizona, 1966 • Right against self-incrimination in any proceeding that could lead to a criminal charge; not just at trial - starts with arrest!

6. Miranda • Multiple kidnapping/rape/robbery accusations • Finally arrested and picked out of a line-up • Confessed after 2 hrs. of police interrogation • Had not been informed of his rights. • The Supreme Court set aside Miranda's conviction, which was tainted by the use of the confession that had been obtained through improper interrogation. The state of Arizona retried him. At the second trial, his confession was not introduced into evidence, but he was convicted again anyway. He was sentenced to 20 to 30 years in prison. • Miranda was paroled in 1972. After his release, he started selling autographed Miranda Warning cards for $1.50. Over the next years, Miranda was arrested numerous times for minor driving offenses and eventually lost the privilege to drive a car. He was arrested for the possession of a gun but the charges were dropped. But because this violated his parole he was sent back to Arizona State Prison for another year. • After his release, Miranda spent most of his time in poorly kept bars and cheap hotels in rough sections of Phoenix. Miranda, then working as a delivery driver, participated in a card game at La Amapola Bar. • On January 31, 1976, a violent fight broke out and Miranda received a mortal knife wound from a lettuce knife; he was pronounced dead on arrival at Good Samaritan Hospital. He was 34 years old. • Police officers apprehended a male suspect shortly afterward and read him his Miranda rights from a small rectangular card, while another suspect involved in the murder fled to Mexico.

7. Domestic Policyfor remainder of JFK’s term • A former New Dealer during FDR’s time • Declared a “War on Poverty” • 20% of U.S. population & 40% of blacks in poverty • To give the poor an opportunity to improve themselves • Uses national grief to push through JFK’s Civil Rights bill which: • Bans discrimination in jobs, hotels, restaurants and voting • Also pushed through Economic Opportunities Act: • Job Corps – job training programs • VISTA (volunteers much like Peace Corps but volunteer in impoverished areas in U.S.) • Project Head Start (Pre-K for the poor)

8. Republican – BARRY GOLDWATER Platform: Cutbacks in social security Cut TVA Opposed to integration Favors bombing of N. Vietnam Opposed Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963 “In your heart you know he’s right.” ELECTION OF 1964

9. “The Great Society” ELECTION OF 1964 • Democrat – LYNDON JOHNSON • VP – Hubert Humphrey • “Something for everyone” in the “Great Society” • Promised NOT to escalate war in Vietnam • Response to Goldwater: “In your gut you know he’s nuts!”

10. Daisy Ad Is extremely effective Plays up Goldwater as “trigger happy” While viewing it, see how many times it mentions Goldwater

11. License plate that had been used in 1963 promoting JFK’s reelection in 1964 ELECTORAL RESULTS 1964

12. LBJ’s Goals 1964 • LBJ wants to cut the deficit in ½ • Reduce the size of the gov’t but maintain the size of the military • Tax Cuts to stimulate the economy, unemployment assistance & job creation • Modernization of schools, libraries, hospitals, & nursing homes • LBJ pledges to assist the less fortunate & declares a War on Poverty • “Great Society” = abundance and liberty for all • Three places to build the Great Society • in our cities • in our countryside • in our classrooms

13. Johnson & the War on Poverty

14. GREAT SOCIETY PROGRAMS • Voting Rights Act of 1965 • stopped literacy tests & helped blacks get registered to vote

15. MEDICARE ACT OF 1965 • Medicare is federal $ for hospital care of the elderly • Medicaid is aid to the poor -- federal $ to states for medical expenses of the poor

16. Elementary & SecondaryEducation Act 1965 • Gave federal $ to schools for materials, medical exams, nutritious meals, etc. • Note: money went to the student, not the school, so even parochial schools received money under this Act • However, performance of poor did not go up much • LBJ likes to do things in a big way and goes back to Texas to his one-room schoolhouse and signs act seated with his first teacher, "Miss Kate" Deadrich

17. APPALACHIAN DEVELOPMENT ACT 1965 • $1 Billion in aid for development of one of poorest regions of nation • New roads, health centers, etc.

18. IMMIGRATION ACT 1965 • For first time, puts limit on immigrants from Western hemisphere • Basis for admission changes to job skills, need for asylum, families, etc. instead of national origin • Major increase in Hispanic and Asian immigrants • LBJ again likes to make a big display – signs it at the Statue of Liberty

20. HUD Civil Rights Act of 1968 • Housing & Urban Development Dept. created • $ for reforms in urban areas

21. GREAT SOCIETY ENDS DUE TO ……

22. FRQ BRAINSTORM • In what ways did the Great Society resemble the New Deal in its origins, goals and social and political legacy? Cite specific programs and policies in support of your arguments.