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 __**Lyndon Baines Johnson**__ Birth: August 27, 1908 Death: January 22, 1973 Political Party: Democrat Terms of Office: November 22, 1963 - January 20, 1969 Vice President: None (1963-1965); Hubert Humphrey (1965-1969)

Lyndon Baines Johnson stepped up to take over the job as president when John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22nd, 1963. In his time as the president of the United States, Johnson accomplished many things that helped change the way America was viewed by both its citizens and those who looked upon it. Within the nation Johnson improved interracial relations, even though there were still many conflicts between the white and black communities. He also wanted to end poverty within the nation. Overall, Johnson wanted to fix America into a “Great Society”. Abroad the nation’s border, Johnson was tied into the Vietnam War. This war cost him a lot of his popularity and his credibility as a president. Regardless, Johnson still left a positive impact on the nation. His presidency wasn’t remarkable, but it was above average, which is why Lyndon Baines Johnson deserves a low B.

Upon entering his presidency, Lyndon Baines Johnson had one main goal, within the nation, which was to change the United States into a Great Society. Most of the domestic reforms were from Kennedy’s New Frontier plan and were still carrying on as if Kennedy had never been killed. The two major reforms were the elimination of poverty along with the elimination of racial injustices. With the foreign nations, Johnson’s main goal was to maintain an independent South Vietnam to help keep communism in check. He acted wonderfully on both of his goals, although many people criticize Johnson for his acts during the war.

Lyndon Baines Johnson’s relationship with Congress was very good due to the fact that both the congressional houses were dominated by Democrats. It is because of this good relationship that Johnson was able to pass many laws without receiving a lot of dispute. Many of the laws that Johnson passed involved Civil Rights. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 ended segregation in public facilities and helped give African Americans their right to vote back in states that were denying this right. Johnson also passed many laws, like the Social Securities Act of 1965 and the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 that were designed help move along the war on poverty.

Out of Lyndon Baines Johnson’s entire presidency the most positive outcome was his pushing of the Great Society ideal. He may not have achieved in making a perfect society, but he did make a lot of changes that affected the majority of the nation’s citizens. He helped African Americans regain a right that was lost to them and he helped make them seem like equals with whites in public. He also helped poverty stricken people by developing the Office of Economic Opportunity to oversee a variety of antipoverty programs. He also developed the Social Securities Act authorizing Medicare, which provided federal funding for many senior citizen health care expenses.

The most negative outcome of Johnson presidency some people would argue is his involvement in the Vietnam War. Believing that if Communism was not stopped, it would eventually grow out of proportion to a point in which it would seem impossible to stop. Johnson sent many United States troops to fight in Vietnam is hopes that he would be able to convince the Communist regime that they could not win the war. However, as the battles went on and the American death toll piled up, the United States withdrew its troops with defeat. Many Americans known as the “doves” wanted Johnson to negotiate with the Communist regime instead of causing a costly war. His actions in Vietnam made him lose a lot of public support. This was also the most impactful event for Johnson’s presidency. He set over 58,000 Americans to their deaths and didn’t even have a victory to help relieve some of the suffering and mourning. When people think of Johnson’s presidency it usually doesn’t involve all of the domestic reforms that he provided, rather than the stinging defeat of the Vietnam War.

Lyndon Baines Johnson was a good president when it came to domestic affairs, but abroad he was a bit ruthless. However, to judge a president by something he did not cause isn’t complete fair and although it’s difficult to consider all of the good things about Johnson’s presidency there were a lot of them. His domestic reforms helped reshape the nation in an attempt to make a Great Society and some of them or parts of them are still in effect today. His actions in the Vietnam my taint his presidency, but his social reforms keep him under the good presidency column, which is why he deserves a low B.

"American President: Lyndon Baines Johnson." //Miller Center of Public Affairs //. Web. 17 Dec. 2009. <[]> "Lyndon B. Johson." //The White House//. The White House. Web. 17 Dec. 2009. <[]>.