10 th American History Unit V- A Nation Facing Challenges Chapter 17 – Section 3 The Great Society

The Main Idea President Johnson used his political skills to push Kennedy’s proposals through Congress and expanded them with his own vision of the Great Society. Reading Focus Why was Lyndon Johnson’s background good preparation for becoming president? Why was Johnson more successful than Kennedy in getting Congress to enact Kennedy’s agenda? In what ways did Johnson’s Great Society change the nation? What foreign-policy issues were important in Johnson’s presidency?

Lyndon Johnson Personality b Large and intense with none of Kennedy’s good looks, polish, or charm b Hardworking and ambitious b Genuine desire to help others b Greater concern for the poor and underprivileged than Kennedy b Believed in an expanded role for government in making Americans’ lives better Political Experience b School teacher in Texas b Served as Texas Congressman b Served as U.S. Senator b Served as majority leader in the Senate after one term as senator b By 1960, Johnson had more influence in Washington, D.C., than any other Democrat.

Reputation b Bull Dog “A Machiavelli in a Stetson.” b In the shadow of JFK b Political assets b Tender ego “Why don’t people like me.”

The Beginning of Johnson’s Presidency Johnson’s mastery of the political process, along with his years of experience in Washington, allowed Johnson to make a smooth transition to the presidency. He vowed to continue to carry on the New Frontier. Johnson called on members of Congress to pass Kennedy’s programs so that Kennedy did not die “in vain.” Johnson wanted to go beyond the Kennedy administration’s plans; he sponsored anti-poverty programs, tax-cut bills, and civil rights legislation.

Johnson Becomes President b b Why was Lyndon Johnson’s background good preparation for becoming president? b Explain b Explain – Why was Lyndon Johnson unhappy as vice-president? b Make Generalizations b Make Generalizations – In addition to his political skills, what other strengths did Johnson bring to the presidency? b Predict b Predict – How might President Kennedy’s legacy have been different if Johnson had remained Senate Majority leader instead of becoming Vice-President?

Enacting Kennedy’s Agenda War on Poverty b b Kennedy was influenced by Michael Harrington’s The Other America, a study of poverty that shattered the popular belief that all Americans had prospered from postwar prosperity. b b Johnson launched the War on Poverty when he asked Congress to pass the Economic Opportunity Act in Economic Opportunity Act b Funded several new anti- poverty programs b The Job Corps offered work-training programs for unemployed youth. b VISTA was a domestic version of the Peace Corps. b Other programs provided education for adults, work for unemployed parents, and help to fight rural poverty and assist migrants.

Maryland; Job Core Trainees Arrive for Training (01:00)

What was the War on Poverty? b b The War on Poverty ( ) a campaign of legislation and social services aimed at reducing or eliminating poverty in the United States of America. The term was first introduced by Lyndon B. Johnson during his State of the Union address on Jan. 8, The legislation was designed in response to the poverty affecting over 35 million Americans as of The poverty line was on a sharp decline and not a rise nor fluctuation at the time Johnson was campaigning. "This administration today, here and now, declares unconditional war on poverty in America." - Lyndon B. Johnson b b Forty programs that were intended to eliminate poverty by improving living conditions and enabling people to lift themselves out of the cycle of poverty.

Enacting Kennedy’s Programs—Other Initiatives Passed b b Johnson pushed for the passage of Kennedy’s tax-cut bill. Congress demanded that the president promise to hold government spending to $100 billion. Johnson used the press to help him convince Congress to pass the Tax Reduction Act in The nation’s economy grew by more than 10 percent and unemployment declined. b b Johnson pushed for the passage of Kennedy’s civil rights bill. After a year of debate, Congress passed the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Enacting Kennedy’s Agenda b b Why was Johnson more successful than Kennedy in getting Congress to enact Kennedy’s agenda? b Recall b Recall – What two things made it easy for Johnson to assume the presidency? b Draw Conclusions b Draw Conclusions – Why do you think that President Johnson retained President Kennedy’s cabinet members? b Recall b Recall – What were the effects of the Tax Reduction Act? b b Contrast – What was the difference between VISTA and the Peace Corps?

President Lyndon B. Johnson b 36th President Democrat b Who was LBJ? b Election of 1964 Republicans- Barry Goldwater Democrats- LBJ Issues- –Foreign Affairs - Vietnam –Civil Rights –War on Poverty –Nuclear Test Ban –Welfare –Programs to meet new problems Outcome - LBJ won largest majority in history. 43 million votes to 27 million and 486 electoral votes to 52.

The Great Society In 1964 Johnson told the nation that he had his own plans for the United States. He called the domestic programs of his administration the Great Society. In order to launch Johnson’s Great Society, he needed to win the 1964 election. Chose Hubert Humphrey as his running mate Republicans selected Barry Goldwater as their nominee. Barry Goldwater’s views were very different from Johnson’s. He suggested using nuclear weapons to end Vietnam. Attacked the Great Society with claims that people were only equal in the eyes of God and that government programs to help people were similar to communism

The Great Society (04:22)

LBJ’s Great Society b Great Society- abundance and liberty for all; end to poverty and racial injustice; every child can find knowledge; renew contact with nature; a challenge constantly renewed War on Poverty: forty programs that were intended to eliminate poverty by improving living conditions and enabling people to lift themselves out of the cycle of poverty. Education: sixty separate bills that provided for new and better-equipped classrooms, minority scholarships, and low-interest student loans. Medicare & Medicaid: guaranteed health care to every American over sixty- five. The Environment: introduced measures to reclaim our heritage of clean air and water. National Endowment for the Arts and the Humanities: created with the philosophy that artists, performers, and writers were a priceless part of our heritage and deserve support. Job Corps: provided enabling skills for young men and women. Head Start: program for four- and five-year-old children from disadvantaged families that gave them a chance to start school on an even basis with other youngsters. b Although the Great Society program made significant contributions to the protection of civil rights and the expansion of social programs, critics increasingly complained that the antipoverty programs were ineffective and wasteful. b The Great Society was never fully funded because of the Vietnam War, which drained available resources.

Creating the Great Society b b Elementary and Secondary Education Act - first large scale program of government aid to public schools b b The Higher Education Act - created the first federal scholarships for needy college students b b Head Start – education program for preschool children of low- income parents b b Omnibus Housing Act – created Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) b b Medicaid – program that provides free health care for poor people b b Medicare – health care program for people over age 65 b b The Great Society emphasized the environment; laws were passed to improve water and air quality. b b Lady Bird Johnson worked to preserve the outdoors and natural beauty of the United States. Pushed for the Highway Beautification Act (came to be called Lady Bird’s bill)

Medicare Bill Signed; Truman is Witness of Historic Event (01:01)

Policies b July Medicare bill citizens over 65 received low-cost hospital insurance.citizens over 65 received low-cost hospital insurance. –Financed by an increase in the social security tax. –Medical insurance and out-of -hospital expenses- gov’t would pay 1/2 Medcaid- from taxes.Medcaid- from taxes. –Provided federal funds to the states that wanted to set up their own plans to help needy people under age 65..

Decline of the Great Society Between 1965 and 1966, Congress passed 181 of the 200 major bills that President Johnson requested. Some members of Congress were concerned about the rapid pace of reform. The midterm elections of 1966 allowed the Republicans to gain seats in both houses of Congress—which slowed down Johnson’s legislative program. The new Congress did enact some Great Society programs: Public Broadcasting Act (1967) — Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Public Broadcasting System (PBS), and National Public Radio (NPR). The Truth-in-Lending Act (1967) A 1968 law to establish the nation’s wild and scenic rivers program

LBJ Faces Crises (03:37)

The Great Society b b In what ways did Johnson’s Great Society change the nation? b Recall b Recall – How did President Johnson describe himself? b Analyze b Analyze – What do you think Goldwater meant when he said that government programs to help people were similar to communism? b Explain b Explain – What was the Elementary and Secondary School Act?

The Great Society b Recall b Recall – How was Congress able to slow down Johnson’s legislative program? b Evaluate b Evaluate – Do you think that PBS and NPR serve as important alternatives to commercial television in today’s society? Explain.

LBJ’s Vietnam b Vietnam Undeclared War Domino Theory Tonkin Gulf Incident and Resolution Escalation + Bombing Credibility Gap Peace Movement Tet Offensive My Lai Massacre

Johnson’s Foreign Policy Vietnam b b By the end of 1966, some 385,000 U.S. combat troops were in Vietnam, and the government was spending $2.5 billion a month on the war. b b “We cannot have guns and butter.” b b Policy dictating that revolutions in Latin America were more than local concerns if communism was involved. The U.S. would intervene. b b Johnson sent troops to end a revolt in the Dominican Republic in Johnson Doctrine

Johnson’s Foreign Policy RelationswithSovietUnion b b Continued Kennedy’s effort to improve relations with Soviet Union b b Signed treaty to protect each country’s diplomats from harassment by authorities in the other country b b United States and Soviet Union (along with 58 other nations) signed agreement to ban weapons in outer space. b b In January 1968 North Korea captured a U.S. Navy spy ship—the Pueblo—off the coast of Communist North Korea. b b The United States claimed it was in international waters and called up troops. b b The North Koreans released the crew, but kept the ship. PuebloIncident

Johnson’s Foreign Policy b b What foreign issues were important in Johnson’s presidency? b Recall b Recall – Which war occupied the Johnson administration? b Describe b Describe – What were the focal points of President Johnson’s foreign policy?