Matt+-+LBJ+-+SP09

Lyndon Johnson Democratic November 22, 1963 - January 20, 1969 VP: Herbert Humphry 1965 - 1969 1. After the devastating assassination of John F. Kennedy, Vice President Lyndon Johnson had high hopes for finishing John's goals as president. With a congress jack full of Democrats, he was able to do this but with the Epic failure of the Vietnam War, Johnson deserves a grade of a B-. 2. One of the biggest and most widely known goal made by Johnson was the Great Society and its for key points of civil rights, poverty, enviromental protection, medicare and medicaid, and consumerism. He acheived these goals with various acts and programs like VISTA which enlisted volunteers to teach in poor cities in order to educate under priveliged kids with the hope of them getting a job later on. To fight civil rights he created the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which erased segregation from public places like hotels. He also created the Voting Rights of 1965 which got rid of literacy tests for voters and promoted the idea of voting which caused a dramatic increase in minority voting. For health care he created Medicare which gave low pay medical insurance to the elderly and he created Medicaid which gave health care to poor people that couldn't otherwise afford it. For the enviroment he created the Clean Air Act and the Water Quality Act which set a standard on the quality of water and car emissions. And finally, for consumerism, he created the National Traffic Safety Act and the Highway Safety Act which increased safety standards and programs for cars. He also made the Wholesale Meat Act which increased the inspection standards on meat. 3. Johnson and congress had a very good relationship especially considering that there was a two to one democrat to republican ratio in congress at the time. I could also be said that congress and Johnson had a good relationship considering all of the legislation that was passed in the 5+ years of Johnson's presidency with his great society program. The only time that it didn't seem that congress and Johnson weren't on the same page was when the Vietnam War began especially when it continued to drag on and Johnson lost his reason for staying in a war that the majority of people didn't like. But other than that, Johnson and congress had a very good relationship and a busy one at that. 4. The action that had the most positive outcome in Johnson's presidency was the Great Society Program. This had the most positive outcome because of all the areas that it covered at one time and how they all had a positive outcome to them, especially with the Voting Rights Act, Johnson's proudest achievement. It was also, the most positive outcome because it is still being used today in many aspects. The worst action taken by Johnson was the expansion of American involvement in North Vietnam during the Vietnam War. This was the worst decision because it was just used because Johnson promised an imminent victory in vietnam over the vietcong. Also, it was the worst decision because of the huge economic affects that fell on the country after the war was ended. This included massive war debt and huge inflation rates which would carry out through the 70's and 80's. 5. The decision that has had the biggest affect on future generations was definitely the Great Society social reform program. This has a large affect on Americans because of the voting rights act which has largely increased the amount of people voting on election day, especially with minorities. It also affected Americans because the Medicare and Medicaid programs which have helped millions of poor and elderly people throughout the years. It has also affected the enviroment greatly and driving for americans and how we view both of them. 6. In conclusion, the country was, for the most part, better off when Johnson ended his sort of second term. He deserves this and his grade of a B- because the amazing affects the Great Society had on the country but loses points for his epic failure in Vietnam. Degregorio, William A.//The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents.// New Jersey: Barricade Books Inc. 2005.