1. LBJ’s Great Society

2. Lyndon B. Johnson Unlike JFK Background
Older, political experience, “burly”
Background
High School Teacher, Congressmen, Senator (Majority leader after only 1 year)
Vice President
*Concern for poor & underprivileged

3. JFK’s Legacy
“JFK told his countrymen that our national work would not be finished ‘in the… life of this administration, nor perhaps in our lifetime… But let us begin.’ Today, in this new moment of resolve, I would say to all my fellow Americans, let us continue. This is our challenge – not to hesitate, not to pause, not to turn about & linger over this evil moment, but to continue on our course so that we may fulfill the destiny that history has set for us” - LBJ

4. Continuing JFK’s Agenda
Smooth transition into presidency
Continued JKF’s “New Frontier” ideas
LBJ’s focus was the “War on Poverty”
After reading Michael Harrington’s 1962 book The Other America
Economic Opportunity Act
Funded antipoverty programs
Job Corps: Work training programs for unemployed youth
VISTA: Volunteers In Service to America; domestic version of Peace Corps

5. Great Society Great Society: term for LBJ’s domestic programs
He was able to do more than JFK; more ambitious
Goal of Great Society was a better life
Election of 1964
Chooses running mate Hubert Humphrey as Vice President
Republican candidate: Barry Goldwater
Considered extremist; wanted to use nuclear weapons to end Vietnam War)
LBJ won in the biggest landslide of the century

6. Election of 1964

7. Great Society programs
Education = key to Great Society
Elementary & Secondary Act
1st large-scale gov’t aid to public schools
Higher Education Act
1st federal scholarship for needy college students
Housing:
Omnibus Housing Act > HUD
*1st African American to head cabinet =
Robert Weaver

8. Great Society continued
Civil Rights
Civil Rights Act 1964
Outlawed discrimination in public, housing, etc
Voting Rights Act 1965
End requirements against African Americans for voting
Environment
Wilderness Preservation Act
Water Quality Act
Clean Air Act Amendments

9. Decline of the Great Society
Peak of Great Society but declined because of Vietnam War
By 1966, we had 385,000 U.S. combat troops in Vietnam & spent $2.5 billion/month
One congressmen said “you can’t have guns & butter”
LBJ chose guns because committed to preventing the spread of communism
Also declined because American public & Congress thought there was too much reform too fast

10. Immigration Issues Immigration Act of 1965 Significance
Act repealed national-origin immigration quotas of the 1920s
Significance
Triggered a new wave of immigration from Asian & Latin American nations
Created ethnic diversity in the U.S.

11. 1st wave of immigrants: 1800 - 1880
2nd wave of immigrants:
National Origin Act of 1924
Immigration Act of 1965

12. LBJ’s Foreign Policy Increased money & troops Escalation:
Vietnam
Escalation:
Increased money & troops
Johnson Doctrine
Prevent the spread of communism to Latin America
Improve relations with the Soviet Union
Pueblo incident
U.S. spy ship captured by North Korea who refused to return
North Koreans eventually returned the crew but kept the ship

13. Compare & Contrast To Do: (1) Label your paper “Double Bubble Map”
(2) JFK & LBJ are the 2 presidents you will compare
(3) Contrast JFK’s & LBJ’s characteristics, policies, strengths
(a) in the middle, identify what is common to both
(4) Write up (min. 1 paragraph): Discuss the similarities & differences of JFK & LBJ’s presidencies.