LBJ

1. LBJ Great Society Vietnam Civil Rights

2. LBJ • w/n 2 hours of JFK’s shooting: Johnson sworn in on plane at Dallas Airport • Bearing JFK’s body back to DC • Johnson: native of rural TX • Grad: TX state teacher’s college • Less polished, sophisticated than Harvard ed wealthy debonair Kennedy • Much more experienced as law maker • Politician; New Deal Dem • Congressional aid 1930  director of NYA 35-37 representative  Senator  Sen majority leader  VP  Pres

3. LBJ 2 • Determined to expand social reforms of New Deal • After almost 30 yrs in office- • Knows how to get things done • Persuaded Congress to pass • 1. expanded version of JFK Civil Rights Bill • 2. JFK income tax cut to spark increase in jobs & consumer spending • Triggers long period of expansion in 60s

4. War On Poverty • The Other America • Michael Harrington book • Poverty: focused on 40 mill still living in pov. In US • LBJ declares unconditional war on poverty 64 • Cong gave him everything he asked for • Office of Economic Opportunity (OEC) created w. Billion $ budget • Many self help programs for poor • Head Start, legal services • Job corps (vocational ed), literacy programs • Community action program- lets poor run programs in neighborhoods • Some produce results, some don’t • Before cutting back to pay for Vietnam- # families in pov went down

5. Election 64 • LBJ & Hubert Humphrey (MN) • Clear liberal agenda • Contrast w/ Sen Barry Goldwater, AZ • Staunch conserv • Wants to end ‘welfare state’, sell off TVA, end Soc Sec • Said he’d bomb Vietnam back to the stone age • Daisy girl commercial • Paints Goldwater as dangerous extremist • Johnson landslide 61% pop vote- highest fig in hist • Dems controlled both houses by over 2/3 majority

6. Great Society Reforms • 65-66- long list; over 500 • Medicare- health insurance for 65+ • Medicaid- health care for poor and disabled • Elementary + Secondary Ed Act- $$ to poor districts • Immigrant Act 1965- no more quotas based on census; increased opps for Asians, L.A.s to emigrate to US • National Foundation on Arts + Humanities- $ for worthy creative, scholarly projects • DOT- • Dept of Housing + Urban development (HUD) • $$ for higher ed • $$ for public housing, crime prevention • $$ for space program • Programs to regulate auto industry • Ralph Nader’s ‘Unsafe at Any Speed’ • Clean air & Water laws respond to Rachel Carson’s ‘Silent Spring’ on pesticides • Ladybird Johnson: Beautify America campaign: anti littering

7. Evaluate Gt Society • Criticized as costly, creates centralized welfare state • Defended as assisting millions who were forgotten: poor, disabled, elderly

8. Civil Rights Acts 1964 + 65 • Most important CR legislation s. Reconstruction • 1964 CR Act made seg illegal in all public facilities • 83 day filibuster • Broken by Humphrey who called for cloture 2/3 • Ltd debate to 1 hr • Gave Feds more power to act on school deseg • Set up Equal Employment Opp. Commission to end racial discrimination in employment • 24th amendment ratified: abolished poll tax • Had kept poor from voting

9. Civil Rts 2 • Brutality against voting rights marches (Selma AL) led by MLK Jr • Moves congress to pass Voting Rts Act 65 • Ended literacy tests + provided federal registrars in areas that kept blacks from voting • Impact: dramatic independence • So African Americans can vote for 1st time s. Reconst.

10. Civil Rts + Conflict • JFK’s close election persuaded him not to press CR issues • Defense of Govs of AL + MS to Fed Ct rulings force a showdown • 1962: James Meredith- Af Am air force vet tried to enroll in U of MS • Rt guaranteed by Fed Ct • Barred • JFK had to send in 400 Fed Marshalls + 3,000 troops to control mob violence + protect his rt to attend class • 1963- AL- Gov George Wallace tries to stop African American student from entering U of AL • JFK sends troops + he is admitted

11. Martin Luther King Jr • Nationally recognized leader of CR movement • Committed to non-violent protests against segregation • 1963: MLK + followers jailed • Birmingham, AL for illegal march • Becomes milestone bcs most Americans believe jailed unjustly • Wrote ‘letter from a Birmingham Jail’ • Argues: we must not emulate do nothingness of complacent nor hatred and despair of black nationalists– more excellent way of love and non-violent protest • Praised those who sat at lunch counters quietly as standing up for what is best in the Amer dream • Moves JFK to support a tougher Civil Rights Bill

12. March on Washington 63 • August: King led march of 200,000 • B+W to Lincoln memorial in support of CR Bill • Highlight: I have a Dream speech • Ends w/ crowd singing We Shall Overcome

13. March to Montgomery, AL 65 • March Voting Rts march met with beatings + violence.. Local police- Pres Johnson sends troops to protect MLK + demonstrators + sponsors CR Voting Bill (passed August) • Movement becomes divided.. Some loose patience

14. Black Muslims + Malcolm X • Ex convict Muslim convert • Elijah Muhammad preached Black Separatism, Nationalism, self improvement • Malcolm X left prison 1952- bcm controversial • Said MLK was an ‘Uncle Tom’ (subservient to whites) • Advocated self defense- use black violence to counter white violence • Goes to Mecca- comes back softened • Forms conciliatory organization “Org of Afro-Amer Unity” • Assassinated by black opponents Feb 65

15. Black Power + Race Riots • Radicalism of Malcolm X influences young blacks • Orgs like: Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) • Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) • Stokely Carmichael (SNCC) repudiates non violence; advocates Black Power • Esp economic power & racial separatism • 1966: Black Panthers- Huey Newton, Bobby Seale: revolutionary, socialist movement for self rule for American Blacks • “Get Whitey” + “Burn Baby Burn” • Whites suspect black extremists & revolutionaries were behind riots in black neighborhoods of major cities summers 64-68 • Summer 65: Watts Riot 34 dead, 700 buildings destroyed • No real evidence of B Panther involvement • Fed investigation into many riots: Kerner Commission- concludes (late 68) • Racism and segregation = chiefly responsible; American becoming 2 societies, 1 b, 1 w; separate + unequal • By mid 60s issue of CR expands beyond ‘de jure’ segregation of S; now includes ‘de facto’ seg of North

16. Murder in Memphis • MLK- Nobel peace prize 64- non violent style under increasing pressure from all sides • Peaceful marches in urban centers of N met little success • King broke w LBJ over Vietnam War bcs it drained $$ from social programs • Apr 68- King shot on balcony of motel in Memphis, TN (by white man) • James Earl Ray confessed, avoided death penalty; sentenced 99 yrs; recanted confession.. Died Hep C • Mass riots hit 168 cities • 46 dead • Violence did NOT reflect ideals of MLK- but anger, frustration

17. Warren Court & Individual Rights • Chief Justice Earl Warren 53-69 • Impact comparable to John Marshall in early 1800s • B v. Board of Ed= most impt case of 20th C involving race relats • In 60s: decisions affected criminal justice system, political systems of states, definition of indiv rts • Before Warren, CT focused on Property Rts

18. Warren CT 2 • Mapp v OH- 61: ruled illegally seized evidence cannot be used in Ct against accused • Gideon v Wainwright- 63: req’d state Cts to provide counsel for indigent defendants • Escobedo v IL- 64: plice must inform a person of their Rt to remain silent • Miranda v AZ- 66: expanded Escobedo to include rt of a lawyer being present during police questioning

19. Warren Ct 3 • Reapportionment- b4 62- commonly district lines drawn that favored rural areas over urban • Warren Ct decision- Baker v Carr 62 made that unconstitutional on principal of One Man; One vote • District lines must be redrawn to provide equal representation for ALL citizens

20. Warren Ct 4 • Freedom of expression & privacy • Rulings protect radical actions of student protesters under 1st amendment • Permit greater latitude 2 press • Ban religious activities from school • Guarantee rt of adults to use of contraceptives • Yates v US, 57- 1st amend protects radical + rev speech, even by communists, unless there was a ‘clear & present danger’ to safety of country • Engle v Viatle, 62- state laws requiring prayer & bible reading in public school violate 1stamend’s provision for sep of church & state • Griswold v CT, 65- bcs of indivrt to privacy, state cd NOT prohibit use of contraceptives for adults • This ruling on privacy = foundation for Roe v Wade later

21. Warren Ct 5 • Warren Ct defense of rights of unpop groups & freedoms of the accused (criminals?) provoke storm of controversy • Critics call for his impeachment • Decisions cause profound revolution in interp of const rights

22. Social Revs & Cultural Movements • Many liberal groups identify w/ blacks’ struggle against oppression • Student movement & New Left 62- SDS meeting- Port Huron, MI: group of radical students • Tom Hayden, leader: “Port Huron Statement” • Call for univ decisions to be made thru participatory democ • Students cd have voice in decisions affecting their lives • Hayden’s supporters: ‘New Left’ • 1st major student protest: Berkeley 64 called Free Speech movement- students demand end to U restrictions on student political activities • Mid 60s students across US protesting many U rules, including those abo dorm visits by opp sex & demanded grtr voice in U gov • Protests grow w/ escalation of war

23. Protests • Radical fringe of SDS: Weathermen • Embraced violence & vandalism in attacks on American institutions • Extreme acts & language discredit them & New Left • Counter culture: • Polit protests of New Left goes w/ new counter culture expressed in rebellious styles of dress, music, drug use, communal living • Long hair, beards, beads, jeans • Folk music of Joan Baez, Bob Dylan used protest • Music of Beatles, Stones, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin underscore mood of counter culture • Woodstock Music Festival 69- upper NY, final fling of counter culture.. Thousands • Retrospect- baby boomers believed in ideals of democratic society, hoped to end poverty, war, racism & oppressive authority • Impatient, they turned to radical solutions & self destructive behavior

24. Sexual Revolution • Traditional beliefs challenged since 40s (Rosie the Riveter) • Surveys by Alfred Kinsey in late 40s-early 50s indicate premarital sex, marital infidelity, homosexuality more common than thought before • Medicine (anti-biotics) & technology (birth control) plays a role • Sexual themes in advertising made sex appear to be a consumer good • How much it changed America is open to debate • Little doubt new mores weakened earlier restrictions on pre marital sex, contraception, abortion, homosexuality • Late 80s general reaction to effects of all this: family values.. Swing of the pendulum, etc

25. Women’s movement • Renewed by mid 60s due to Civil Rts, sexual rev, increased employment & edu of women • Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique 63- • Encouraged middle class women to seek fulfillment in prof careers- not just as wife, mother, home makers • 66- Friedan org’d NOW w/ goal: equality for women • 2 anti discrimination laws passed: • Equal Pay Act 63- Civil Rights Act of 64 • Both prohibit discrim in employment & compensation on basis of gender

26. Campaign for ERA 1972 • Congress passed Equal Rights Amendment • Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the US or by any state on account of sex • NOW & other groups campaigned hard but it just missed ratification by 38 states req’d • Defeated in 70s partly due to growing conservative reaction to radical feminists • Achievements of Women’s movement: fundamental changes in employment & hiring practices • Women enter professions once dominated by men: medicine, law, politics

27. Vietnam War- most divisive issue of 60s • 2.7 million served, 58,000 died • Costly, hopeless effort to keep S. Vietnam from falling to communism • Early stages: 1954: Dien Bien Phu • 1954-60 US supplies econ & mil aid • Why were we there? • Ike: Domino Theory • If one SE Asian country falls to communism; they all topple • Putting NZ & Aus at risk • Protect US reputation as defender of free nations against communist takeovers • Stand behind our commitment to our allies, like NATO (see failure of League of Nations)

28. Build up under JFK • Increased # advisers who trained SV’s army & guarded weapons & installations • By 63- 16,000 troops • Role: support, NOT combat • Helped create Strategic Hamlets (fortified villages) • Problem: Ngo Dinh Diem- unpop- • Lost support of peasants in countryside • Capitol Saigon- Buddhist monks self immoliate in protest against Diem’s policies • Nov 2, 63- Diem overthrown & killed by Vietnamese Generals • w/ knowledge of Kennedy admin

29. Tonkin Gulf incident & resolution • SV had 7 govs in 1964 • Goldwater attacked JFK and LBJ’s ‘weak support’ of SV and advocated we ‘bomb the hell out of ‘em’ • Allegedly aug 64- NV gunboats fired upon US destroyer in Gulf of Tonkin • Pres personally persuades Congress to take ‘all necessary measures’ to protect US interests in Vietnam • Critics: an illegal war bcs not declared by Congress • Congress didn’t feel this way • Until 68- most Americans supported effort to contain Communism

30. Escalation • 65- US military & most pres advisors recommend increasing ops in Vietnam to save Saigon • Feb 65 Plaiku, Vietcong attack on US base • LBJ authorized op Rolling Thunder • Prolonged air attack w/ B52 bombers against NV targets • April first time- US troops used to fight Vietcong • By end of 65: over 184,000 troops in Vietnam; MOST in combat role • Step by step escalation • To win War of Attrition we used Search & Destroy missions • Alienated peasants further • By end of 67 US had 485,000 troops in SV • Peak: 540,000 Mar. 69 • Gen Westmoreland, commander of US forces in Vietnam assures Amer public he can see ‘Light at the end of the tunnel’ • Asks for more troops

31. Controversy • Misinformation from military & civilian leaders & LBJ’s reluctance to speak frankly to Amers on scope and cost of war created Credibility Gap • Distance btwn what Gov tells us and what we can believe • Johnson always hoped a little more pressure would bring NVs to peace table • Most damaging knowledge gap may have been w/n Gov circles • Rbt McNamara (memoirs) concluded that leaders failed to understand either the enemy or the true nature of the war

32. Hawks v Doves • Supporters of war: an act of soviet backed aggression against SV and part of the Master Plan to control all SE Asia • Some opposed bcs of high cost in lives & $$ • Thought $$ better spent on problems of cities, poor in US • Greatest opposition: from those about to be eligible for draft • Most doves believed conflict to be a civil war fought by Vietnamese Nationalists & some Communists who wanted to unite nation by overthrowing a corrupt Saigon gov • Nov 67: anti war movement got a leader: MN senator Eugene McCarthy- 1st to challenge LBJ for nomination 68

33. Tet Offensive • Lunar New Year, Jan 68 • VC launched all out surprise attack on almost every provincial capital & American base in SV • High death toll • US counter attack recovered lost territory • @ home: Tet Offensive interpreted as colossal set back for US Vietnam Policy- so in eyes of public in US Tet was tremendous polit victory in demoralizing support for war • NH primary: McCarthy 42% of vote against Johnson

34. LBJ w/draws • JCS responded to TET by requesting another 200,000 troops to win the war • experienced Cold War diplomats advised LBJ against escalation • Mar 31, 68: LBJ on TV • US will limit bombing of NV & negotiate peace • He will not run again to free himself up to work full time for peace • May 68: Peace talks start • Quickly deadlock over minor issues • Escalation stopped. For now.

35. 1968 • One of most troubled/ violent years in history • Coming apart: • April 4, senseless murder of MLK Jr & Riots • Second Kennedy assassination • Robert, had bcm senator from NY • 68 enters race after McCarthy’s strong showing in NH • Effective in mobilizing trad Dem blue collar & minority votes • June 5- won major primary in CA • Victory speech at Ambassador Hotel, cut thru kitchen • Shot by SirhanSirhan, young Arab Nationalist who opposed Kennedy’s support of Israel

36. Democratic Convention: Chicago 68 • After death of Kennedy • Race is 3 way: Wallace & Nixon v Humphrey • At Chicago- Humphrey gets enough votes to win nomination • As VP loyally supported LBJ • Controlled convention • Anti-War protesters control streets outside • TV cameras capture • Mayor Dailey sent police out against protestors: Peace Riots drew attention from convention • Early polls: Humphrey = underdog

37. White Backlash & George Wallace • Growing hostility of many whites, esp in South • To deseg, anti-war protests, race riots • Tapped by George Wallace, AL • Marshaled general resentment against Washington establishment (pointy headed liberals) & 2 party system • Ran as self appointed candidate of Amer Indep Party • Hopes to win enough to throw election to House

38. New Nixon • Thought to be dead after loss of Gov race 62 • “You won’t have Dick Nixon to kick around anymore” • Retired from politics • Back in 68 • More confident, less negative • Fave of party regulars • 1st ballot, w VP Spiro T Agnew- law & order gov of MD • Like Wallace in politics • Hawk on Vietnam • Slogans: Peace w/ Honor; No one sided Victory; Law & Order; An Open White House

39. Election 68 • Nixon & Wallace started strong • Dems catch up, esp in North Urban areas • Humphrey preached to faithful of New Deal Coalition • Nixon won close pop vote • Huge electoral victory • Wallace gets 13% • Conservative swing had begun • People had reaction to protests, violence, permissiveness, counter culture, drugs, federal intervention in social institutions