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Lyndon B. Johnson //August 27, 1908 – January 22, 1973 Terms of Office: 1963 - 1969 Vice President: Hubert Humphrey Political Party: Democratic//


 * __Thesis:__** "He can be as gentle and solicitous as a nurse, but as ruthless and deceptive as a riverboat gambler." Johnson would use this manipulating personality to ensure the pressing issue of civil rights, which was being addressed by Kennedy before his assassination, was solved. Creating what Johnson referred to as the "Great Society" Johnson promised to continue plans of Kennedy as well as a few of his own. The only shadowing problem on Johnson's presidency was his failure to devise a strategy for dealing with Vietnam which only made the problem grow bigger. For Johnson's efforts in solving issues domestically and making land mark decisions in passing black rights his only downfall was the Vietnam war which earns him the grade of a B+.


 * __Goals as President:__** President Johnson had lofty goals coming into his presidency. He had devised what is known as the "Great Society" which was made up of five note worthy points. Johnson's Great Society plan began with a war on poverty. Johnson believed, "many Americans live on the outskirts of hope, some because of their poverty and some because of their color and all too many because of both." Johnson created the Office of Economic Opportunity which funded several anti- poverty programs to combat the growing problem of poverty. Next was Johnson's goal of changing civil rights which was seen in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which barred discrimination in employment as well as public areas. Also Johnson passed the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which authorized the federal government to promote voter registration among blacks. Among the civil rights legislation under Johnson Medicare was passed which provided hospital insurance and for a low sum of money medical insurance for Seniors. Also Johnson had goals in protecting the environment and people so he passed the Water Quality Act and The Clear Water Restoration Act which put standards on state water quality and the second act allowed federal funding for sewage treatment plants. As stated Johnson had goals in not expanding the Vietnam war but in reality he escalated US involvement.


 * __President and Congress:__** Johnson enjoyed a democratic majority in congress which he used to his advantage. Without the help of his party controlling congress, Johnson's Great Society would have seen trouble getting started and some of the advancing decisions he passed might not have happened in a Republican congress. As seen in Johnson's goals he succeeded in passing the The Economic Opportunity Act which established the Office of Economic Opportunity to help fund anti- poverty programs. Also the already mentioned civil rights legislation was passed under Johnson with the help of congress. There was also the Water Quality Act and The Clean Water Restoration Act which improved American standards of living. Congress ran into one major conflict which in the end would effectively divide them. The congress could not agree on a Vietnam resolution on how to handle the outcome of the war and this would lead to their defeat in the following years.


 * __Positive/ Negative Outcome:__** Lyndon Johnson most positive outcome as president was seen on his war against poverty. Johnson stated, "Our task is to help replace their despair with unconditional war on poverty in America." Already mentioned, Johnson passed The Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 which created the Office of Economic Opportunity, which administered/ funded several antipoverty programs. Some of these programs included the Job Corps which provided training in residence to disadvantaged youth age 16-21. There was also the Volunteers in Service to America which enlisted volunteers to work and teach in ghettos. Also there was the Work Study program noted for providing jobs to enable students in low income families to work their way through college. Worth mentioning is The Work Experience Program which provided a daily daycare among other things to households. Lastly There was The Community Action Program which gave instructions for disadvantaged preschoolers, showing a positive outlook in education, gave tutoring to disadvantage high school students, and provided foster grandparents to befriend institutionalized children. All these programs had a positive effect domestically in America that we are still seeing today.

Vietnam was the most negative issue that plagued Johnson throughout his presidency. Johnson constantly condemned the North Vietnamese and justified his retaliations because of North Vietnam's "open aggression on high seas." However, Johnson continued to claim, "We still seek no wider war." He took back his word after the Gulf Tonkin Resolution which prompted operation Rolling Thunder which began bombing the North Vietnamese. Next month he dispatched 3,500 marines to Danang which marked the beginning the eight years of US involvement in South Vietnam. Troop involvement continued to rise even though Johnson's administration kept wanting to negotiate. Johnson's promises but failure to perform in the Vietnam situation greatly hurt his credibility.


 * __Influence on Future:__**Johnson's greatest influence on the future of America was his guiding hand in civil rights. Wanting to carry on the echoing thoughts of Kennedy who denounced segregation shortly before his assassination. Congress under Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which barred discrimination in employment as well as in hotels, restaurants, and other public facilities and also the attorney general was able to begin desegregation suits. Next came the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which was seen as Johnson's proudest achievement, which outlawed literacy tests and authorized the federal government to promote voter registration among blacks. Another Voting Rights Act was passed in 1968 which ended discrimination in the sale or renting of a house as well as put tighter penalties on civil rights violations. All this new found power sparked radical movement in the black community creating such organizations as the Black Panthers. Johnson's legislation greatly effected the future as it gave blacks a chance for equal rights not even seen in the reconstruction era. This legislation also had a huge impacting effect on black-white relations as now they were on equal ground and being forced to get along which had lead to much conflict sparking debate and decisions that are still being seen today

.**__Conclusion:__**Johnson when analyzed was a great domestic leader. But in the end was no TR with a big stick when it came to foreign affairs. Although he was successfully in breaking down the poverty right as well as winning much needed civil rights legislation his huge escalation in the Vietnam war with little results left a sour taste on his legacy. Did Johnson leave America a better place? Yes this can not be stressed enough that America was a better place at home with the poverty down, environment up and civil rights on the move Johnson did a great job on improving standards. However Vietnam was an issue that can not be ignore and for his failing involvements Johnson deserves the grade of a B+.

Cohen, Lizabeth, and Thomas A. Bailey David M. Kennedy. //The American Pageant, A History of the Republic (2002 12th Edition)//. 12th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2002. Print. Degregorio, William A.. //The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents, Seventh Edition (Complete Book of Us Presidents)//. 7 ed. Fort Lee: Barricade Books, 2009. Print.
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