Lyndon Baines Johnsonchapter 22

• “When I was young, poverty was so common that we didn't know it had a name.”

• Grew up in a poor part of Texas

Attended Southwest Texas Teachers College (Now Texas State)

• Became a politician while still a young teacher.

Begins as a State Representative in Congress from 1937 - 1949

Serves a distinguished career in the US Senate from 1948 - 1960

• Ballot Box 13 from Jim Wells County, Tx• “Landslide Lyndon!”

One writer alleges that Johnson's campaign manager, future Texas governor John Connelly, was connected with 202 ballots in Precinct 13 in Jim Wells County that had curiously been cast in alphabetical order and all just at the close of polling. (All of the people whose names appeared on the ballots were found to have been dead on election day.)

Selected as Kennedy’s running mate in 1960.

Kennedy Assassinated

November 22, 1963LBJ sworn in as President

Warren Commission• Investigated JFK’s death• Conclude that Lee Harvey Oswald acted

alone• Many believe there was a conspiracy

Election of 1964

• LBJ is extremely popular, and easily wins the election

• LBJ uses this momentum to push his programs

“Daisy Commercial”

Presidential Domestic Policy Names

• Teddy Roosevelt – The Square Deal• FDR – The New Deal• Truman – The Fair Deal• Kennedy – The New Frontier

LBJ’s “Great Society”

“This administration, here and now, declares unconditional war on poverty in America.”

• Tax cut – LBJ cut taxes, government spending, and the economy improved

• VISTA – Volunteer in Service to America

• HEAD Start – Pre-school for low income children• Medicare – care and insurance for the elderly• Medicaid – insurance for the poor

Higher Education Act

• "I shall never forget the faces of the boys and the girls in that little Welhausen Mexican School, and I remember even yet the pain of realizing and knowing then that college was closed to practically every one of those children because they were too poor. And I think it was then that I made up my mind that this Nation could never rest while the door to knowledge remained closed to any American."

Higher Education Act

• strengthened the resources of colleges and universities, and to provide financial aid to students

Effects of the Great Society

• Drastically reduced poverty in America• Created a welfare society• Many conservatives DID NOT LIKE IT!

Immigration reform

• Greatly expanded immigration quotas

• Exempted family members of citizens and political refugees

The Warren Court

• Seen as very liberal (or progressive)

• Sought to protect personal freedoms– Miranda Rights– Miranda v Arizona

• Declared prayer in school unconstitutional – Angered many

conservatives

LBJ and Foreign Affairs

• Aided the Dominican Republic against a revolution

• Further involved U.S. forces in South Vietnam

• “Escalation”

LBJ quotes...(he had some good ones)

“The fact that a man is a newspaper reporter is evidence of some flaw of character.”

“Jerry Ford is so dumb he can't fart and chew gum at the same time.”

“Did you ever think that making a speech on economics is a lot like pissing down your leg? It seems

hot to you, but it never does to anyone else.”

“Being president is like being a jackass in a hailstorm. There's nothing to do but to stand there and take it.”

“Better to have him inside the tent pissing out, than outside pissing in.” – On FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover

“I want to make a policy

statement: I am unabashedly in

favor of women.”

“Jack was out kissing babies while I was out passing bills. Someone had

to tend the store.”

“There are no favorites in my office. I treat

them all with the same general

inconsideration.”

“When things haven't gone well for you, call in a secretary or a staff man and chew him out. You will sleep better and they will appreciate the attention.”

“I may not know much, but I know the difference between chicken sh** and chicken salad.”