Lyndon Baids Johnson Achievements

Gonyea, D. (2014). LBJ Legacy: Vietnam War Often Overshadows Civil Rights Feat. Retrieved from: http://www.npr.org/2014/04/09/300836769/civil-rights-act-anniversary-may-polish-lbj-s-image

Lyndon B. Johnson had only served one term, but he surprisingly accomplished a lot during his only term. Johnson had the ability to pass the acts that Kennedy created during his time in office. Some of these accomplishments include: Medicare and Medicaid, Education acts, and the Civil Rights acts. In order to continue his war on poverty, he established Medicare and Medicaid to aid poor families and the elderly. To further help families in need, as well as children, Johnson passed education acts to fix and create more public schools in poor areas. Lastly, civil rights acts were passed to give better opportunities for blacks within the United States. While these acts were based on Kennedy's ideas, Johnson found the way to put them into place.

Today, we can still be grateful for many of the things LBJ did. He was very focused on the arts, the environment, poverty, equality, and workplace safety. Due to his policies, we are privileged to have a pension when we retire, affordable healthcare; people of different races are treated equally and have the same rights as the rest of American citizens, and improved means for low-income families, etc. Although LBJ received many skeptic conservatives who did not believe that his policies were for the better of the citizens, however, US citizens should be grateful for the work of President Lyndon B. Johnson, for he was dedicated to his country and wanted the best for his citizens.

The Vietnam War lasted longer, bloodier, and more hostile than any U.S. President or American citizen imagined. Lyndon Johnson faced many other enemies during the war such as the duration, the immense number of deaths, and for the first time in most American’s history, failure. Through deep evaluation of Lyndon B. Johnson’s foreign policies as President during the Vietnam war, failure was a recurring outcome, as he faced military and political difficulties over having complete authority over political decisions made leading to the misuse of his respective power, receiving split support through torn Americans at home, and his accord to deport so many troops into combat in Vietnam.

The presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson had many high reaching domestic reforms that had positive outcomes for Americans. For example, the first of which was his request of Congress to pass Kennedy's civil rights bill in as a memorial in the year of 1964 (Schultz 2014). But for Johnson, the intention was to improve the lives of the poor, elderly and uneducated citizens of our country. Another area where the president wanted to fire up interest was in reforming policies for improved civil rights laws and to rewrite the immigration laws.

Unfortunately, the Vietnam War ate a lot of government money and some of the Great Society bills just couldn't get through because of money problems. "Guns and butter," Johnson said, "should both be funded by Congress" (qtd. in Rubel 179). He was met with a lot of resistance because people rendered that idea impossible. It was obvious to everyone that the Great Society was much more important to Johnson than the Vietnam War.

Born in 1908, Lyndon B. Johnson was a long way from the White House. Stonewall, Texas was a quiet town with modest beginnings. Despite the calm surroundings, Johnson was extremely intelligent and exciteful. When Johnson was first elected to the US House of Representatives in 1931, he opposed federal civil rights laws and felt that they should be dealt with by the state. Later, in 1957, Johnson did support a federal law on voting rights. Though Johnson lost the presidential election to John F. Kennedy afterward, Kennedy chose Johnson as his “running mate,” or vice president, but the assassination of Kennedy made Johnson president of the United States. Before J.F.K’s death, he had proposed a Civil Rights Bill, but the bill was not a sure thing until Johnson, President Johnson then, stood behind it. After at first opposing federal civil rights laws, why did L.B.J sign the Civil Rights Act of 1964? Was it because of politics or principle. Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act because of principle. It is known that he signed the bill based on principle because of teaching in Cotulla, his reference to Martin Luther King Jr., and his willingness to risk losing the presidential election.

In the 1960s, America was in a realm of turmoil and upheaval. During President Kennedy’s term, there was a rise of race riots, sexual and drug revolutions and many anti-war protests. Upon President Kennedy’s assassination, President Johnson came into office with a plan to “correct” society. President Johnson constructed programs to help aid the poor and elderly with medical costs, food stamps, along with aid for education which all came to be known as part of the Great Society programs. Though he did join the United States in the Vietnam War and was unable to navigate out of it, his success in dealing with social, economic and political issues are overshadowed.

Lyndon Baines Johnson was born in Stonewall, Texas on August 27, 1908. He grew up right there in his hometown. His parents were Samuel Elay Johnson Jr. and Rebekah Baines. He was accompanied by his siblings Sam Houston Johnson, Rebekah Johnson, Lucia Johnson, and Josefa Johnson. For school he would run to the nearby, one-room junction school. He grew up on a farm but his grandfather had a dream of him becoming a member of the U.S. senate. He was a responsible young adult and out of college he knew that he wanted a higher level of education. He enjoyed learning and teach others so he once dropped out for a year to be a principal and teach children of fifth, sixth, and seventh grades.

During Eisenhower Presidency he sent U.S troops to go fight in the Vietnam War. Although he was criticized for sending troops he did what was necessary and Vietnam needed our help. America was afraid Vietnam would turn into a Communist country so that’s why he helped to prevent communism and to isolate it, but we failed.

Johnson had handled many responsibilities when it came down to the Vietnam War and he had also handled the situation fairly. Johnson had the support from Congress to a forceful approach to the Vietnam disagreement. When Johnson had sworn in the presidency he had begun to change the military. Johnson had many hopes

“We have the opportunity to move not only toward the rich society and the powerful society, but upward to the Great Society.” Lyndon B. Johnson This quote was by the Democratic president in the United States who launched a set of social programs. The main goal of the Great Society was to eliminate poverty and racial injustice. There were many achievements that came upon these programs such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 as well as the Criminal Justice Act.

“We wish peace, but we wish the peace of justice, the peace of righteousness. We wish it because we think it is right and not because we are afraid.” Theodore Roosevelt not only spoke these words, he lived them. Throughout his life Theodore always worked hard and fought for what he believed was right. Even though he had to overcome many obstacles, Theodore always strived for peace and righteousness. Theodore Roosevelt was an amazing political leader because he protected America’s natural heritage, brought peace to countries at the brink of war, and helped pass many laws that protected the American people’s rights and land.

Lyndon B. Johnson became the 36th President of The United States, following the assisantion of John F. Kennedy, who Johnson was vice president too. During his presidency two major events would occur in the United States, that Johnson had to resolve. He first has to deal with the conflict of the Vietnam War which was a major issue in the United States during his presidency, many people argued not to be there any longer since it was seen as a pointless and almost victory was seen as unachievable. Another goal of Johnson’s was to put the United States into to an era of social reform, in this goal he was highly successful. Johnson was reelected by the people as the President in 1964, where he won in a landslide showing how the American people approved of him at the beginning of his presidency.

It was September 14, 1901 and President McKinley had just been declared dead by the hands of an anarchist named Leon Czongosz. Taking his place was the youngest president to ever be in office, his name was Theodore Roosevelt. He was the spark of the progressive era and while in office would fight to eliminate problems caused by industrialization, and a corrupt government. All this began by encouraging people speak out so they could be heard, a new idea called “Bully Pulpit”.