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President Lyndon Johnson

President Lyndon Johnson. (1963-68). Background. Vice President to JFK Assumed Presidency when JFK assassinated Elected President in 1964 Beat Sen. Barry Goldwater (Republican). The Great Society.

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President Lyndon Johnson

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  1. President Lyndon Johnson (1963-68)

  2. Background • Vice President to JFK • Assumed Presidency when JFK assassinated • Elected President in 1964 • Beat Sen. Barry Goldwater (Republican)

  3. The Great Society • LBJ declared war on poverty; created a series of programs and laws which would create a “Great Society”

  4. Great Society Programs • Head Start --- provided aid for low income pre school students • Medicare--- health insurance for the elderly • Medicaid---- health insurance for the poor • Food Stamps • Dept of Housing and Urban Development—rent assistance for the poor; developed low income housing • Increased aid to schools

  5. Civil Rights Legislation • Voting Rights Act of 1964- Federal govt. would enforce voter registration in states • Civil Rights Act of 1964- prohibited discrimination based on race, sex, national origin in all public places and in employment

  6. Vietnam • Historical background: See Chart • U.S. supported S. Vietnam against communist insurgents (Viet Cong) and N. Vietnam • Domino Theory • Johnson increased Troop levels • 25,000 at the start of 1965 • 500,000 by the end of 1968 • Many soldiers were drafted

  7. Tonkin Gulf Resolution • Congress gave LBJ power to send troops to Vietnam • Avoided Declaration of War

  8. 1968 • Presidential Election • LBJ decides not to run for a second term

  9. 1968 Presidential Election • Democratic Candidates • Sen. Robert Kennedy • Eugene McCarthy • Vice President Hubert Humphrey

  10. 1968 Presidential Election • Democratic Convention (Aug. 26-29, 1968) • Sen. Robert Kennedy is assassinated on June 5, 1968 • Hubert Humphrey is nominated at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago • Convention marked by violent protests in the streets • Chaos in the convention hall

  11. 1968 Presidential Election • Republican Candidate • Richard Nixon • Ran on a secret plan to get the United States out of the war • Third Party Candidate • George Wallace • Ran on segregation platform

  12. Nixon wins the election

  13. MLK Assassinated • Martin Luther King assassinated in April 1968 • Result in riots in the inner cities

  14. Tet Offensive • Viet Cong offensive began Jan. 30, 1968 • Attacked all major S. Vietnamese cities • Took control of the American Embassy in Saigon • Americans/S. Vietnamese troops stop the offensive • Led many Americans to believe the war could not be won

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