1. 36TH PRESIDENT Lyndon Baines Johnson 1908 - 1973

2. Background Grew up in a small town - Johnson City, Texas No electricity, no school system, no oil, no wealth Father, Sam, had a “passion” for politics - 6 term member of TX legislature. (A very honest politician) In the NAVY - a hero?? LBJ’s first job - teacher & principal at all-Mexican elementary school. Later - teaches and coaches debate at Sam Houston High

3. Early Political Career Elected to US House of Representatives - 1937 Main programs: rural electrification, public works, Became FDR’s “man in Texas” Lost Senate race in 1940 - his opponent “found” some votes Took leave of absence in 1941 to fight in World War II – awarded the silver star. Elected to Senate in 1948 - new campaign strategy - the helicopter!

4. Senator Lyndon Johnson Becomes a millionaire - radio & TV Youngest Majority Leader in 1954: “Program with a Heart” - expanded social security, tax breaks, aid to economically depressed. Sponsors NDEA: “Nat’l Defense Education Act” as a response to Sputnik Sponsors Civil Rights Act of 1960

6. The Presidency Fi First lady: Claudia Alta “Lady Bird” Taylor LBJ inaugurated on Air Force 1, Nov. 22, 1963 Issues: Civil Rights, Vietnam VP: Hubert H. Humphrey “Landslide Lyndon” defeats AuH20 in ‘64 - LBJ wins popular vote 61% to 38% (Electoral: 486 - 52)

7. The Great Society Michael Harrington’s The Other America  Despite rising affluence, between 40-50 million are trapped in “a culture of poverty” “This administration today, here and now, declares unconditional war on poverty in America.” -LBJ Key Programs  Job Corps  Project Head Start  Upward Bound

8. Voting Rights Act of 1965

9. Presidential Programs Civil Rights Act of 1964 : Bans discrimination in Employment THE GREAT SOCIETY (Liberalism) Wilderness Preservation Act, Elementary & Secondary Education Act, Higher Education Act Medicare/Medicaid Voting Rights Act Omnibus Housing Act (Creation of HUD) Nat’l Foundation for Arts & Humanities Clean Water Act Nat’l Traffic & Motor Safety Act (Dept. of Transportation) Minimum Wage Increase

10. Evaluating the Great Society Most ambitious and comprehensive set of domestic programs since the New Deal Key successes:  Head Start  Medicaid/Medicare  Federal funding for education  Voting Rights Notable failures  Local politicians angered  Confusion (“It’s like we … launched a half-dozen rockets at once.” -R. Sargent Shriver, head of Office of Economic Opportunity)  Didn’t help rural poverty, help reduce migration to northern cities, or families headed by women The Shadow of Vietnam

11. Post-Presidency