1. Lyndon B. Johnson Era

2. Kennedy’s Assassination
November 22, Kennedy in Dallas for parade and speech
During parade while riding in an open motorcade, Kennedy was shot in the throat and head – died that day
Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested the same day for the murder
The assassination rocked the nation

4. Warren Commission
November 24, Oswald was murdered – sparked questions about JFK’s death – was there a conspiracy?
Warren Commission: led by Chief Justice Earl Warren to investigate JFK’s death
Lasted 10 months
No conspiracy was found – Oswald and Ruby acted alone

5. Enter LBJ
Hours after JFK was pronounced dead – Vice President, Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as President
LBJ’s background:
Texan
Headed a New Deal agency
State senator
U.S. senator
Majority leader in Senate

6. Johnson takes action
Johnson continued on with Kennedy’s “New Frontier”, but with much greater success
Was able to convince Congress to pass Kennedy’s legislation
He paid heavy attention to what he termed, the War on Poverty
Asked Congress to pass legislation that would aid the poverty stricken in America  they did
Job programs, tax cuts, and civil rights

7. Johnson’s Great Society
“We have the opportunity to move not only toward the rich society and the powerful society, but upward to the Great Society. The Great Society rests on abundance and liberty for all. It demands an end to poverty and racial injustice…”
Johnson’s idea for a Great Society became the term for his domestic programs during his re-election campaign in 1964

8. Creating the Great Society
Johnson was overwhelming elected President in with a victory of
Programs of the Great Society were intended to promote a better life:
Education for children & poor
Housing for poor
Health care for elderly & poor
Environment

10. Johnson’s Foreign Policy
Johnson Doctrine: intervention to fight the spread of communism
Intervened in Dominican Republic in 1965 to end a revolt
Increased involvement in the Vietnam War (more on this tomorrow)
By ,000 troops were in Vietnam and $2.5 billion had already been spent