Lyndon Johnson: A Flawed Giant

Lyndon B. Johnson was the 36th President of the United States, serving from 1963 to 1969. He is best known for his ambitious legislative agenda, which included the Great Society program, the War on Poverty, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Johnson also oversaw the escalation of the Vietnam War, which became increasingly unpopular during his presidency.

Johnson was a complex and contradictory figure. He was a master of politics and a skilled legislator, but he was also known for his arrogance and ambition. He was a man of great vision, but he was also capable of great ruthlessness. Johnson's legacy is still debated today, but there is no doubt that he was one of the most important presidents in American history.

Flawed Giant: Lyndon Johnson and His Times, 1961-1973

by Robert Dallek

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Early Life and Career

Lyndon Baines Johnson was born on August 27, 1908, in Stonewall, Texas. He was the eldest of five children born to Samuel Ealy Johnson Jr. and Rebekah Baines Johnson. Johnson's father was a farmer and rancher, and his mother was a schoolteacher. Johnson grew up in poverty, and he often had to work on the family farm to help make ends meet.

Johnson was a bright and ambitious child. He attended Southwest Texas State Teachers College, where he studied political science and history. After graduating from college, Johnson worked as a teacher and a school administrator. In 1937, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Johnson quickly rose through the ranks of the Democratic Party, and in 1948, he was elected to the U.S. Senate.

Vice Presidency

In 1960, Johnson was elected Vice President of the United States on the ticket with John F. Kennedy. Kennedy and Johnson had a close relationship, and Johnson played a key role in Kennedy's administration. Johnson was responsible for overseeing the space program, and he also played a key role in the civil rights movement.

Presidency

Kennedy was assassinated in November 1963, and Johnson became President. Johnson inherited a number of challenges, including the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement, and the economy. Johnson quickly moved to address these challenges, and he quickly became one of the most active presidents in American history.

Johnson's Great Society program was a sweeping set of social programs designed to address poverty, education, and healthcare. Johnson also signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Johnson also oversaw the escalation of the Vietnam War, which became increasingly unpopular during his presidency.

Johnson left office in 1969, and he retired to his ranch in Texas. He died in 1973 at the age of 64.

Legacy

Lyndon B. Johnson was a complex and contradictory figure. He was a master of politics and a skilled legislator, but he was also known for his arrogance and ambition. He was a man of great vision, but he was also capable of great ruthlessness.

Johnson's legacy is still debated today, but there is no doubt that he was one of the most important presidents in American history. He oversaw the passage of some of the most important legislation in American history, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He also played a key role in the space program and the War on Poverty.

Johnson's presidency was also marred by the Vietnam War, which became increasingly unpopular during his presidency. Johnson's decision to escalate the war led to a loss of public support, and he ultimately decided not to seek re-election in 1968.

Despite the Vietnam War, Johnson's legacy is a mixed one. He is remembered as a great president who achieved some of the most important social and economic reforms in American history. He is also remembered as a flawed giant who made some serious mistakes.

Additional Resources

* [Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and Museum](https://www.lbjlibrary.org/) * [Lyndon B. Johnson Foundation](https://www.lbjfoundation.org/) * [Miller Center of Public Affairs: Lyndon B. Johnson](https://millercenter.org/president/johnson)

Flawed Giant: Lyndon Johnson and His Times, 1961-1973

by Robert Dallek

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3528 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	785 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE