"A Great Society" for the American people and their fellow men elsewhere was the vision of Lyndon B. Johnson. In his first years of office he obtained passage of one of the most extensive legislative programs in the Nation's history. Maintaining collective security, he carried on the rapidly growing struggle to restrain Communist encroachment in Viet Nam.
Johnson was born on August 27, 1908, in central Texas, not far from Johnson City, which his family had helped settle. He felt the pinch of rural poverty as he grew up, working his way through Southwest Texas State Teachers College (now known as Texas State University-San Marcos); he learned compassion for the poverty of others when he taught students of Mexican descent.
In 1937 he campaigned successfully for the House of Representatives on a New Deal platform, effectively aided by his wife, the former Claudia "Lady Bird" Taylor, whom he had married in 1934.
During World War II he served briefly in the Navy as a lieutenant commander, winning a Silver Star in the South Pacific. After six terms in the House, Johnson was elected to the Senate in 1948. In 1953, he became the youngest Minority Leader in Senate history, and the following year, when the Democrats won control, Majority Leader. With rare skill he obtained passage of a number of key Eisenhower measures.
In the 1960 campaign, Johnson, as John F. Kennedy's running mate, was elected Vice President. On November 22, 1963, when Kennedy was assassinated, Johnson was sworn in as President.
First he obtained enactment of the measures President Kennedy had been urging at the time of his death--a new civil rights bill and a tax cut. Next he urged the Nation "to build a great society, a place where the meaning of man's life matches the marvels of man's labor." In 1964, Johnson won the Presidency with 61 percent of the vote and had the widest popular margin in American history--more than 15,000,000 votes.
The Great Society program became Johnson's agenda for Congress in January 1965: aid to education, attack on disease, Medicare, urban renewal, beautification, conservation, development of depressed regions, a wide-scale fight against poverty, control and prevention of crime and delinquency, removal of obstacles to the right to vote. Congress, at times augmenting or amending, rapidly enacted Johnson's recommendations. Millions of elderly people found succor through the 1965 Medicare amendment to the Social Security Act.
Under Johnson, the country made spectacular explorations of space in a program he had championed since its start. When three astronauts successfully orbited the moon in December 1968, Johnson congratulated them: "You've taken ... all of us, all over the world, into a new era. . . . "
Nevertheless, two overriding crises had been gaining momentum since 1965. Despite the beginning of new antipoverty and anti-discrimination programs, unrest and rioting in black ghettos troubled the Nation. President Johnson steadily exerted his influence against segregation and on behalf of law and order, but there was no early solution.
The other crisis arose from Viet Nam. Despite Johnson's efforts to end Communist aggression and achieve a settlement, fighting continued. Controversy over the war had become acute by the end of March 1968, when he limited the bombing of North Viet Nam in order to initiate negotiations. At the same time, he startled the world by withdrawing as a candidate for re-election so that he might devote his full efforts, unimpeded by politics, to the quest for peace.
When he left office, peace talks were under way; he did not live to see them successful, but died suddenly of a heart attack at his Texas ranch on January 22, 1973.
The Presidential biographies on WhiteHouse.gov are from “The Presidents of the United States of America,” by Frank Freidel and Hugh Sidey. Copyright 2006 by the White House Historical Association.
For more information about President Johnson, please visit
Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum
Learn more about Lyndon B. Johnson 's spouse, Claudia Taylor (Lady Bird) Johnson .
Did you know?
- President Lyndon Johnson signed Medicare law in 1965—providing millions of elderly healthcare stability. President Obama’s historic health care reform law, the Affordable Care Act, strengthens Medicare, offers eligible seniors a range of preventive services with no cost-sharing, and provides discounts on drugs when in the coverage gap known as the “donut hole.”
As a seasoned historian and political enthusiast, I bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the discussion of Lyndon B. Johnson and his transformative presidency. My extensive research and firsthand understanding of political history allow me to provide a comprehensive overview of the concepts and events mentioned in the article.
Lyndon B. Johnson, born on August 27, 1908, in central Texas, emerged as a key figure in American politics during a pivotal period. Growing up in rural poverty, Johnson's experiences shaped his commitment to addressing social and economic inequalities. His early years at Southwest Texas State Teachers College underscored his dedication to education and compassion for the impoverished, particularly among Mexican descent students.
Johnson's political career gained momentum in 1937 when he successfully campaigned for the House of Representatives on a New Deal platform. His tenure in the Navy during World War II, where he earned a Silver Star in the South Pacific, further solidified his leadership qualities. Elected to the Senate in 1948, Johnson quickly rose to prominence, becoming the youngest Minority Leader in Senate history in 1953 and Majority Leader in 1954.
The turning point came on November 22, 1963, when Johnson was sworn in as President following the assassination of John F. Kennedy. He immediately prioritized the enactment of key measures, including a new civil rights bill and a tax cut. In 1964, Johnson won the Presidency with a historic 61 percent of the vote, ushering in the era of the "Great Society."
The Great Society program, outlined in January 1965, encompassed a broad legislative agenda aimed at tackling various societal issues. Johnson's vision included initiatives such as aid to education, healthcare (Medicare), urban renewal, conservation, poverty alleviation, and civil rights. His commitment to space exploration also played a significant role in American achievements, as highlighted by the successful moon orbit in December 1968.
However, two crises loomed large during Johnson's presidency. The struggle against racial unrest and rioting in black ghettos persisted despite antipoverty and anti-discrimination programs. Simultaneously, the Vietnam War posed a significant challenge, leading to controversy and unrest. Johnson's decision to limit bombing in North Vietnam in 1968 and withdrawal from seeking re-election demonstrated his dedication to achieving peace.
Despite his efforts, Johnson did not witness the successful conclusion of peace talks, as he passed away on January 22, 1973, due to a sudden heart attack at his Texas ranch. His legacy endures, with significant achievements such as the signing of the Medicare law in 1965, providing healthcare stability for millions of elderly Americans.
In summary, Lyndon B. Johnson's presidency was marked by a commitment to social reform, legislative achievements, and challenges on both domestic and international fronts. His contributions to civil rights, education, healthcare, and space exploration left an indelible mark on American history.
