People and Places of the Modern Era in Texas – 1950 to the Present

Lyndon Baines Johnson

If you are to travel to Johnson City, just west of Austin, you can make a visit to the LBJ State Park. This is the birthplace, home, and burial site of the 36th President of the United States. No, the town is not named in honor of the president, but for one of his ancestors who donated the land for the town.

Here is a timeline of LBJ’s life: 1908 – Born near Johnson City 1939 – Married Claudia “Lady Bird” Taylor 1941 – Won seat in House of Representatives 1948 – Elected as U.S. senator

1960 – Reluctantly chosen by John Kennedy as presidential running mate 1960 – Reluctantly chosen by John Kennedy as presidential running mate. Kennedy said, ”I’m 43 years old. I’m not going to die in office. So the vice-presidency doesn’t mean anything.”

1963 – Johnson invited Kennedy to make a tour of Texas. While in 1963 – Johnson invited Kennedy to make a tour of Texas. While in Dallas on Nov. 22, Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald. LBJ became the 36th President of the United States.

1964 – Johnson passed the Civil Rights. Act, which outlawed racial 1964 – Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act, which outlawed racial discrimination in employment, voting, education, and public facilities. 1964 - Won presidential election with 61% of votes. It was the largest majority ever achieved by an American president.

1965 – Entered the Vietnam War in order to prevent it from falling 1965 – Entered the Vietnam War in order to prevent it from falling to Communism. It was a very unpopular war. 1968 - Did not run for reelection 1973 - Died of a heart attack

History may remember Johnson as “the man who dragged America into the Vietnam War.”

The 1950’s and 1960’s were a time of high interest in technology in Texas.

M.D. Anderson Hospital, part of the huge Houston Medical Center, became known for its cancer research.

A short distance away, Doctors Michael DeBakey and Denton Cooley were pioneering new techniques in treating heart disease.

DeBakey used synthetic materials to replace diseased blood vessels DeBakey used synthetic materials to replace diseased blood vessels. This technique was so new he had to use his wife’s sewing machine to make the synthetic vessels at home.

In 1969, Dr. Denton Cooley implanted a completely artificial heart into a 47-year-old man. It kept him alive for 64 hours until a real heart was available for transplant.

At the same time, a revolution in electronics was underway in Dallas At the same time, a revolution in electronics was underway in Dallas. Texas Instruments became the first company to make a radio with transistors. Now radios could be smaller and portable. In 1958, T.I. scientist Jack Kilby invented the integrated silicon circuit, which today we call a “chip.” The chip made it possible to make electronic instruments smaller and faster.

transistor silicon chip

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

One of the most important applications of the chip was in the growing field of space science. After the Soviet Union had launched Sputnik, the first satellite, in 1957, the United States raced to catch up with space technology. President Kennedy announced that the national goal was to land a man on the moon before 1970.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration announced plans to build a space center to accomplish that goal. But where to put it??? Many states wanted it! Finally, with help from Lyndon B. Johnson’s political skills, Houston was chosen. The center is now called The Johnson Space Center.

In 1962 John Glenn orbited the earth three times In 1962 John Glenn orbited the earth three times. In July 1969 Americans walked on the moon. Texans working in the Space Center played a major role in these great accomplishments. John Glenn

“Houston, the Eagle has landed.”

President George Walker Bush

Another prominent Texan happens to be our 43rd president, George Walker Bush. He was born July 6, 1946 in New Haven, Connecticut. He was the oldest of six children. When George was two years old, his father entered the oil business and moved the family to Midland, Texas. He attended school in both Midland and Houston before going off to Phillips Academy, Yale University, and Harvard University.

In 1977, Bush married Laura Welch, a teacher from Midland, Texas In 1977, Bush married Laura Welch, a teacher from Midland, Texas. That same year, he also lost his first race for the U.S. Congress.

In 1978, George Bush started his own oil and gas company In 1978, George Bush started his own oil and gas company. His twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna were born in 1981.

In 1994, Bush ran for governor of Texas and won In 1994, Bush ran for governor of Texas and won. In 1998, he was re-elected, receiving 69% of the vote.

In 2000, George W. Bush became the 43rd president of the United States In 2000, George W. Bush became the 43rd president of the United States. His second term ended in 2008.

President Bush’s father, George Herbert Walker Bush, was the 41st president of the United States.