Lyndon B. Johnson The Great Society http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEvEuRmImXc

Lyndon B. Johnson Sworn in as president on after the assassination of JFK

Johnson Takes Over Very different than Kennedy Loud and slightly crude Loves to shock people with his language, stories & behavior Physical Grew up in both poverty and prosperity Ambitious and hard working

“the Johnson treatment” Johnson Takes Over U.S. Senate – Senate Majority Leader Position has a great deal of influence over legislation Master of compromise; seemed to find a middle on which most people could agree First Cabinet meeting “the day is over when top jobs are reserved for men” Appoints women and Mexican Americans to high positions “the Johnson treatment”

Establishing Continuity Transition was skilled and tactful “I felt from the first day in office that I had to carry on for President Kennedy, I considered myself the caretaker of both his people and his policies” Focuses attention on passage of Kennedy’s tax cut bill and civil rights legislation On March 15, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson calls on Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act. LBJ's Voting Rights Speech: "The American Promise" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNjlwwf2K9g

The War on Poverty Kennedy’s antipoverty initiative; Johnson says “I’m sympathetic. Go ahead. Give it the highest priority. Push ahead full tilt.” Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) $1 billion budget Job Corps – work training program for people between 16 and 21 Head Start – preschool for low income families Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) – domestic version of the Peace Corps. American Indians are also allowed to establish their own antipoverty programs on the reservations

1964 Election In your guts, you know he’s nuts” Lyndon B Johnson Barry Goldwater In your guts, you know he’s nuts” “In your heart, you know he’s right” http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1964

Johnson and Congress “Kennedy inspired, Johnson delivered” Programs Medicare & Medicaid Elementary & Secondary School Act $1.3 billion to schools in poor areas Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Quality of Life Supports the Arts Corporation for Public Broadcasting Non profit organization dedicated to educational television programs Environmental Issues Beginning to discover the harmful effects of pesticides on humans and wildlife Water Quality Act 1965, Air Quality Act 1967, Water Pollution Act 1968 Creates several new national parks and wilderness areas

Warren Court Decisions Chief Justice Earl Warren Baker v Carr, Reynolds v. Sims, & Wesberry v. Sanders Electoral districts must contain approximately the same number of voters to ensure fair representation for all Americans Gideon v. Wainwright States must provide a lawyer for poor defendants Escobedo v. Illinois Right to have lawyer present during police investigation Miranda v. Arizona Accused must be informed of their rights at the time of arrest Ensure that the system doesn’t violate individual rights…or overstepped their boundaries???

Impact of the Great Society People disagree whether changes brought about by the Great Society and the Warren Court decisions left the nation better or worse “War on Poverty” does help Number of poor people fell 21% in 1963, 1973 only 11% Massive tax cuts spur the economy Growing budget deficit to fund programs

Decline of the Great Society LBJ was far more interested in domestic policy, but foreign affairs demanded his attention

Foreign Policy Dominican Republic Vietnam Sends 22,000 American troops Put a pre-American government in power Vietnam 1966 – government spends more money on Vietnam than on the War on Poverty