Lyndon Johnson

Extracted Attributes

• Moniker

  LBJ

• Full Name

  Lyndon Baines Johnson

• Date of Birth

  1908-08-27

• Date of Death

  1973-01-22

• Military Rank

  Commander (U.S. Navy Reserve)

• Military Award

  Silver Star

• Place of Birth

  Stonewall, Gillespie County, Texas, United States

• Place of Death

  Gillespie County, Texas, United States

• Political Party

  Democratic Party

• Key Policy Agendas

  Great Society, War on Poverty

• Presidency Duration

  1963-11-22 to 1969-01-20

Timeline

• Born in Gillespie County, Texas. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1908-08-27

• Married Claudia "Lady Bird" Taylor in San Antonio, Texas. (Source: Britannica)

  1934-11-17

• Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives representing Texas's 10th congressional district. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1937-04-10

• Sworn in as U.S. Senator from Texas after winning the 1948 Democratic primary by a narrow 87-vote margin. (Source: Britannica)

  1949-01-03

• Became Senate Majority Leader, becoming the youngest majority leader in Senate history at age 46. (Source: Britannica)

  1955-01-03

• Assumed office as Vice President of the United States alongside President John F. Kennedy. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1961-01-20

• Sworn in as the 36th President of the United States following the assassination of John F. Kennedy. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1963-11-22

• Signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law, banning racial discrimination in public accommodations and employment. (Source: Ballotpedia)

  1964-07-02

• Won re-election to the presidency in a landslide victory against Republican nominee Barry Goldwater. (Source: Ballotpedia)

  1964-11-03

• Signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 into law, eliminating legal barriers preventing African Americans from voting. (Source: White House Historical Association)

  1965-08-06

• Announced he would not seek or accept nomination for another term as president amid rising opposition to the Vietnam War. (Source: Ballotpedia)

  1968-03-31

• Completed presidential term and retired to his ranch in Texas. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1969-01-20

• Died from a heart attack at his ranch in Gillespie County, Texas at age 64. (Source: Ballotpedia)

  1973-01-22

Lyndon B. Johnson

Lyndon Baines Johnson (August 27, 1908 – January 22, 1973), also known as LBJ, was the 36th president of the United States from 1963 to 1969. Johnson was vice president under John F. Kennedy from 1961 until Kennedy's assassination in 1963, when he assumed the presidency. Before becoming vice president, he served in both houses of the U.S. Congress, representing Texas as a member of the Democratic Party. Born in Stonewall, Texas, Johnson worked as a teacher and a congressional aide before winning election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1937. In 1948, he was controversially declared the winner in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate election in Texas before winning the general election. He became Senate majority whip in 1951, Senate Democratic leader in 1953 and majority leader in 1954. Senator Kennedy bested Johnson and his other rivals for the 1960 Democratic presidential nomination before surprising many by offering to make Johnson his vice presidential running mate. The Kennedy–Johnson ticket won the general election. Johnson assumed the presidency in 1963, after Kennedy was assassinated. The following year, Johnson won reelection to the presidency in a landslide, winning the largest share of the popular vote for the Democratic Party in history, and the highest for any American presidential candidate in history. Johnson's domestic policy agenda known as the Great Society was aimed at expanding civil rights, public broadcasting, access to health care, aid to education and the arts, urban and rural development, consumer protection, environmentalism, and public services. He sought to create better living conditions for low-income Americans by spearheading the War on Poverty. As part of these efforts, Johnson signed the Social Security Amendments of 1965, which resulted in the creation of Medicare and Medicaid. Johnson made the Apollo Moon landing program a national priority; enacted the Higher Education Act of 1965 which established federally insured student loans; and signed the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 which laid the groundwork for U.S. immigration policy today. Johnson's civil rights legacy was shaped by the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Civil Rights Act of 1968. Due to his domestic agenda, Johnson's presidency marked the peak of modern American liberalism in the 20th century. Johnson's foreign policy prioritized containment of communism, including in the ongoing Vietnam War. Johnson began his presidency with near-universal support, but his approval declined throughout his presidency as the public became frustrated with both the Vietnam War and domestic unrest, including race riots, increasing public skepticism with his reports and policies (coined the credibility gap), and increasing crime. Johnson initially sought to run for re-election in 1968; however, following disappointing results in the New Hampshire primary, he withdrew his candidacy. Johnson retired to his Texas ranch and kept a low public profile until he died in 1973. Public opinion and academic assessments of Johnson's legacy have fluctuated greatly. Historians and scholars rank Johnson in the upper tier for his accomplishments regarding domestic policy. His administration passed many major laws that made substantial changes in civil rights, health care, welfare, and education. Conversely, Johnson is heavily criticized for his foreign policy, namely escalating American involvement in the Vietnam War.

Web Search Results

• Lyndon B. Johnson

  Edit links Article Talk - [x] English Read View source View history - [x] Tools Tools move to sidebar hide Actions Read View source View history General What links here Related changes Upload file Permanent link Page information Cite this page Get shortened URL Switch to legacy parser Print/export Download as PDF Printable version In other projects Wikimedia Commons Wikiquote Wikisource Wikidata item Appearance move to sidebar hide Image 4: Page semi-protected From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia President of the United States from 1963 to 1969 "Lyndon Johnson" and "LBJ" redirect here. For the American football player, see Lyndon Johnson (American football) "Lyndon Johnson (American football)"). For other uses, see LBJ (disambiguation) "LBJ (disambiguation)"). | Lyndon B. Johnson || Image 5(2).jpg) Official portrait, 1964 | | | | 36thPresident of the United States | | In office November 22, 1963–January 20, 1969 | | Vice President | Vacant (1963–1965) ( Hubert Humphrey (1965–1969) | | Preceded by | John F. Kennedy | | Succeeded by | Richard Nixon | | 37thVice President of the United States | | In office January 20, 1961–November 22, 1963 | | President | John F. Kennedy | | Preceded by | Richard Nixon | | Succeeded by | Hubert Humphrey | | United States Senator from Texas | | In office January 3, 1949–January 3, 1961 | | Preceded by | W. Lee O'Daniel | | Succeeded by | William A. Blakley | | | Senate positions | | | | | | Senate Majority Leader | | In office January 3, 1955–January 3, 1961 | | Whip | Earle Clements Mike Mansfield | | Preceded by | William Knowland | | Succeeded by | Mike Mansfield | | Senate Minority Leader | | In office January 3, 1953–January 3, 1955 | | Whip | Earle Clements | | Preceded by | Styles Bridges | | Succeeded by | William Knowland | | Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus | | In office January 3, 1953–January 3, 1961 | | Preceded by | Ernest McFarland | | Succeeded by | Mike Mansfield | | Senate Majority Whip | | In office January 3, 1951–January 3, 1953 | | Leader | Ernest McFarland | | Preceded by | Francis J. Myers | | Succeeded by | Leverett Saltonstall | | | | | | | | | | | Member of the U.S.House of Representatives from Texas's 10th district | | In office April 10, 1937–January 3, 1949 | | Preceded by | James P. Buchanan | | Succeeded by | Homer Thornberry | | | | Personal details | | Born | Lyndon Baines Johnson (1908-08-27)August 27, 1908 Gillespie County, Texas, U.S. | | Died | January 22, 1973(1973-01-22) (aged 64) Gillespie County, Texas, U.S. | | Resting place | Johnson Family Cemetery | | Party | Democratic "Democratic Party (United States)") | | Spouse | Claudia "Lady Bird" Taylor ​ ​ (m.1934)​ | | Children | Lynda Luci | | Parent | Samuel Ealy Johnson Jr. (father) | | Relatives | Johnson family | | Education | Southwest Texas State Teachers College (BS) Georgetown University Law Center (attended) | | Occupation | Politician teacher | | Civilian awards | Presidential Medal of Freedom (posthumously, 1980) | | Signature | Image 6: Cursive signature in ink | | Military service | | Allegiance | United States | | Branch/service | United States Navy Naval Reserve | | Years of service | 1940–1941 (inactive) 1941–1942 (active) 1942–1964 (reserve) | | Rank | Commander "Commander (United States)") | | Battles/wars | World War II Invasion of Salamaua–Lae | | Military awards | Silver Star | | Johnson's voice Audio 1 Johnson on the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Recorded July 2, 1964 | | | [...] Lyndon Baines Johnson was born on August 27, 1908, near Stonewall, Texas, in a small farmhouse on the Pedernales River.( He was the eldest of five children born to Samuel Ealy Johnson Jr. and Rebekah Baines.( Johnson was not given a name until he was three months old, as his parents could not agree on a name that both liked. Finally, he was named after "criminal lawyer—a county lawyer" W. C. Linden, who his father liked; his mother agreed on the condition of spelling it as Lyndon.( Johnson had one brother, Sam Houston Johnson, and three sisters, Rebekah, Josefa, and Lucia.( Through his mother, he was a great-grandson of Baptist clergyman George Washington Baines.( Johnson's paternal grandfather, Samuel Ealy Johnson Sr., was raised Baptist and for a time was a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) "Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)"). In his later years, Samuel Sr. became a Christadelphian; Samuel Jr. also joined the Christadelphian Church toward the end of his life.( Johnson was influenced in his positive attitude toward Jews by the religious beliefs that his family, especially his grandfather, had shared with him.( Johnson grew up poor, with his father losing a great deal of money.( Biographer Robert Caro described him as being raised "in a land without electricity, where the soil was so rocky that it was hard to earn a living from it."(In school, Johnson was a talkative youth who was elected president of his 11th-grade class. He graduated in 1924 from Johnson City High School, where he participated in public speaking, debate, and baseball.( At 15, Johnson was the youngest in his class. Pressured by his parents to attend college, he enrolled at a "sub college" of Southwest Texas State Teachers College (SWTSTC) in the summer of 1924, where students from unaccredited high schools could take the 12th-grade courses needed for admission to college. He left the school just weeks after his arrival and decided to move to California. He worked at his cousin's legal practice and in odd jobs before returning to Texas, where he worked as a day laborer.( In 1926, Johnson enrolled at SWTSTC. He worked his way through school, participated in debate and campus politics, and edited the school newspaper, _The College Star_.( The college years refined his skills of persuasion and political organization. For nine months, from 1928 to 1929, Johnson paused his studies to teach Mexican–American children at the segregated Welhausen School in Cotulla, Texas, 90 miles (140 km) south of San Antonio. The job helped him to save money to complete his education, and he graduated in 1930 with a Bachelor of Science in history and his certificate of qualification as a high school teacher.( He briefly taught at Pearsall High School in Pearsall, Texas before taking a position teaching public speaking at Sam Houston High School "Sam Houston High School (Houston, Texas)") in Houston.(When he returned to San Marcos in 1965, after signing the Higher Education Act of 1965, Johnson reminisced: > I shall never forget the faces of the boys and the girls in that little Welhausen Mexican School, and I remember even yet the pain of realizing and knowing then that college was closed to practically every one of those children because they were too poor. And I think it was then that I made up my mind that this nation could never rest while the door to knowledge remained closed to any American.( ## Entry into politics After Richard M. Kleberg won a 1931 special election to represent Texas in the United States House of Representatives, he appointed Johnson as his legislative secretary. This marked Johnson's formal introduction to politics. Johnson secured the position on the recommendation of his father and that of state senator Welly Hopkins, for whom Johnson had campaigned in 1930.( Kleberg had little interest in the day-to-day duties of a Congressman, instead delegating them to Johnson.( After Franklin D. Roosevelt won the 1932 U.S. presidential election, Johnson became a lifelong supporter of Roosevelt's New Deal.( Johnson was elected speaker of the "Little Congress", a group of Congressional aides, where he cultivated Congressmen, newspapermen, and lobbyists. Johnson's friends soon included aides to President Roosevelt as well as fellow Texans such as vice president John Nance Garner and congressman Sam Rayburn.( [...] Andrew, John A. (1999). _Lyndon Johnson and the Great Society_. Chicago: Ivan R. Dee. ISBN "ISBN (identifier)")978-1-56663-185-3. OCLC "OCLC (identifier)")37884743. Berman, Larry (1991). _Lyndon Johnson's War: The Road to Stalemate in Vietnam_. Bornet, Vaughn Davis (1983). _The Presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson_. Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas. ISBN "ISBN (identifier)")978-0-7006-0242-1. Brands, H.W. (1997). _The Wages of Globalism: Lyndon Johnson and the Limits of American Power_. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN "ISBN (identifier)")978-0-19-511377-8. Cohen, Warren I.; Tuckerm, Nancy Bernkopf, eds. (1994). _Lyndon Johnson Confronts the World: American Foreign Policy 1963–1968_. Cambridge University Press. Colman, Jonathan (2010). _The Foreign Policy of Lyndon B. Johnson: The United States and the World, 1963–1969_(PDF). Edinburgh University Press. Dallek, Robert (2004). _Lyndon B. Johnson: Portrait of a President_. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN "ISBN (identifier)")978-1-280-50296-5., abridged version of his two-volume biography Ellis, Sylvia (2013). _Freedom's Pragmatist: Lyndon Johnson and Civil Rights_. Gainesville, FL: University Press of Florida. Gavin, Francis J.; Lawrence, Mark Atwood, eds. (2014). _Beyond the Cold War: Lyndon Johnson and the New Global Challenges of the 1960s_. doi "Doi (identifier)"):10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199790692.001.0001. ISBN "ISBN (identifier)")978-0-19-979069-2. Lichtenstein, Nelson, ed. (1976). _Political Profiles: The Johnson Years_. short biographies of 400+ key politicians Schulman, Bruce J. (1995). _Lyndon B. Johnson and American Liberalism: A Brief Biography with Documents_. Boston: Bedford Books of St. Martin's Press. ISBN "ISBN (identifier)")978-0-312-08351-9. Schwarz, Jordan A. (2011). _The New Dealers: Power politics in the age of Roosevelt_. Vintage. pp.364–284. ISBN "ISBN (identifier)")978-0-679-74781-9. Vandiver, Frank E. (1997). _Shadows of Vietnam: Lyndon Johnson's Wars_. Woods, Randall B. (2016). _Prisoners of Hope: Lyndon B. Johnson, the Great Society, and the Limits of Liberalism_. Zarefsky, David (1986). _President Johnson's War on Poverty_.### Historiography Catsam, Derek (2007). "The Civil Rights Movement and the Presidency in the Hot Years of the Cold War: A Historical and Historiographical Assessment". _History Compass_. 6 (1): 314–344. doi "Doi (identifier)"):10.1111/j.1478-0542.2007.00486.x. Germany, Kent B. (2009). "Historians and the Many Lyndon Johnsons: A Review Essay". _Journal of Southern History_. 75 (4): 1001–1028. JSTOR "JSTOR (identifier)")27779121. Lerner, Mitchell B. (2012). _A Companion to Lyndon B. Johnson_. scholarly essays on all aspects of Johnson's career. ## External links Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library & Museum Biography on WhiteHouse.gov (courtesy of the White House Historical Association)

• Lyndon Johnson (36th president of the United States)

  #### Sign up to receive Ballotpedia's daily newsletter Email \ First Name Please complete the Captcha above #### Ballotpedia on Facebook Share this page) Follow Ballotpedia #### Ballotpedia on Twitter Share this page) Follow Ballotpedia Ballotpedia Logo Ballotpedia Logo # Lyndon Johnson (36th president of the United States) Silhouette Placeholder Image.png Lyndon Johnson (b. August 27, 1908 in Stonewall, Texas) was the 36th president of the United States. He was sworn into office on November 22, 1963, following the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and he served until January 20, 1969. Johnson died on January 22, 1973, at the age of 64. Johnson was a member of the Democratic Party. His vice president was Hubert Humphrey. During his presidency, Johnson pushed for a legislative agenda he called the Great Society. Great Society legislation included the Medicare and Medicaid acts, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the establishment of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. He also signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Johnson was also known for increasing U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. Prior to serving as president, Johnson served as Kennedy's vice president from 1960 to 1963. He also served as a member of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. While in the Senate, he served as majority whip, minority leader, and majority leader. ## Contents ## Biography ### Timeline of events Below is an abbreviated outline of Johnson's professional and political career: ### Before the presidency Johnson was born on August 27, 1908, in Stonewall, Texas, to Samuel Ealy Johnson Jr. and Rebekah Baines Johnson. He graduated from Johnson City High School in 1924 and Southwest Texas State Teachers College (later known as Texas State University) in 1930. He worked as a teacher until he moved to Washington, D.C. to become a legislative secretary for Texas Congressman Richard M. Kleberg (D) in 1931. Johnson returned to Texas in 1935 to become the Texas director of the National Youth Administration. Johnson won a seat in the United States House of Representatives in 1937. He became the first member of Congress to volunteer for active duty when the country joined World War II in 1941. He served as a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy until the summer of 1942. Johnson served in the House until his election to the United States Senate in 1948. While in the Senate, Johnson served as majority whip, minority leader, and majority leader. At the age of 44, he was the youngest person to ever serve as minority leader. Johnson served in the Senate until he was sworn into office as President John F. Kennedy's vice president in 1961. ### Presidency Johnson was sworn into office on November 22, 1963, the same day President John F. Kennedy was shot and killed in Dallas, Texas. After taking office, Johnson declared a War on Poverty and called on Congress to pass legislation on education, employment, and race. He signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law on July 2, 1964. The act made it illegal for employers and educational institutions to discriminate based on race. It also prohibited racial segregation in public places. In November 1964, Johnson won re-election against Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater (R) with the largest margin of victory in U.S. history. Johnson received 61.2 percent of the popular vote compared to Goldwater's 38.8 percent. He went on to push for a legislative agenda known as the Great Society. Great Society legislation included the Medicare and Medicaid acts, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the establishment of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. He also signed the Fair Housing Act of 1968, prohibiting discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, and sex in all housing aspects including renting, buying, and financing.During his presidency, Johnson increased U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War from 16,000 troops when he took office to more than 500,000 troops by 1968. Johnson was criticized for the rise in involvement by the media, and anti-war protests were conducted throughout the country. By 1968, Johnson's approval rating had fallen to 36 percent. He announced on March 31, 1968, that he would not seek re-election. By the time he left office, peace talks had begun in Vietnam, but the war did not end until 1975. ### Post-presidency Johnson retired to his ranch in Texas after leaving office. He died of a heart attack on January 22, 1973, at the age of 64. Johnson was posthumously given the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Jimmy Carter (D) in 1980. ### Personal Johnson married Claudia Alta “Lady Bird” Taylor on November 17, 1934. They had two daughters, Lynda and Luci. ## Elections ### 1964 presidential election | U.S. presidential election, 1964 | | | | | | --- --- --- | | Party | | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Electoral votes | | | Democratic | Green check mark transparent.pngLyndon Johnson/Hubert Humphrey Incumbent | 61.2% | 42,825,463 | 486 | | | Republican | Barry M. Goldwater/William Miller | 38.8% | 27,146,969 | 52 | | Total Votes | | | | 69,972,432 | 538 | | Election results via: U.S. Election Atlas, "1964 Presidential General Election Results," accessed July 3, 2018 | | | | | | Green check mark transparent.png ### 1960 presidential election | U.S. presidential election, 1960 | | | | | | --- --- --- | | Party | | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Electoral votes | | | Democratic | Green check mark transparent.pngJohn F. Kennedy/Lyndon Johnson | 50% | 34,220,984 | 303 | | | Republican | Richard Nixon/Henry Lodge | 49.8% | 34,108,157 | 219 | | | Democratic | Harry Byrd\ | 0.2% | 116,248 | 15 | | Total Votes | | | | 68,445,389 | 537 | | Election results via: 1960 official election results | | | | | | Green check mark transparent.png \15 electors chose to cast their vote for Virginia Senator Harry Byrd rather than the candidate they had pledged to vote for. Other candidates that appeared on the ballot received less than 0.1 percent of the vote. Those candidates included: Eric Haas, Rutherford Decker, Orval Faubus, Farrell Dobbs, Charles Sullivan, J. Bracken Lee, C. Benton Coiner, Lars Daly, Clennon King, and Merritt Curtis. ## State of the Union addresses Every year in office, the president of the United States addresses Congress on the present state of affairs as well as the administration's goals for the coming year. Following are pages with information on Johnson's State of the Union addresses. ## See also ## External links ## Footnotes | Political offices | | | --- | Preceded by John F. Kennedy (D) | President of the United States 1963-1969 | Succeeded by Richard Nixon (R) || | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---| | v • e U.S. Executive Branch | | | --- | | | Elected offices | President Donald Trump • Vice President J.D. 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• Lyndon B. Johnson | Biography, Presidency, Civil Rights, Vietnam War, & Facts | Britannica

  Encyclopedia Britannica Encyclopedia Britannica Lyndon B. Johnson Lyndon B. Johnson Lyndon B. Johnson: 1937 campaign poster Presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson Lyndon B. Johnson, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Lady Bird Johnson Lyndon B. Johnson: speech card Martin Luther King, Jr., and Lyndon Johnson Black and white image of the Greensboro Sit-In, in which young African American students staged a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth's lunch counter. Civil Rights Act and Lyndon B. Johnson U.S. trooops of the 7th. and 9th. divisions wade through marshland during a joint operation on South Vietnam's Mekong Delta, April 1967. Johnson, Lyndon B. Richard M. Nixon. Richard Nixon during a 1968 campaign stop. President Nixon Washington Monument. Washington Monument and fireworks, Washington DC. The Monument was built as an obelisk near the west end of the National Mall to commemorate the first U.S. president, General George Washington. South portico of the White House, Washington, D.C. Richard M. Nixon. Richard Nixon during a 1968 campaign stop. President Nixon President Theodore Roosevelt delivering a speech, September 2, 1902. Teddy Roosevelt. Britannica AI Icon Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Lyndon B. Johnson # Lyndon B. Johnson Britannica AI Icon ### Who was Lyndon B. Johnson? Lyndon B. Johnson, frequently called LBJ, was an American politician and moderate Democrat who was president of the United States from 1963 to 1969. He was born on August 27, 1908, and died on January 22, 1973.### How did Lyndon B. Johnson become president? Lyndon B. Johnson was elected vice president of the United States alongside President John F. Kennedy in 1960 and acceded to the presidency upon Kennedy’s assassination in 1963. He was president from 1963 to 1969. ### What did Lyndon B. Johnson do as president? As president, Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, the most comprehensive civil rights legislation since Reconstruction, into law; he also greatly expanded American involvement in the Vietnam War despite national opposition. ### Why didn’t Lyndon B. Johnson seek another term as president? By 1968, Lyndon B. Johnson knew he was unlikely to win another presidential election; his increase of American involvement in the Vietnam War, as well as rising American casualties in Vietnam, had made him deeply unpopular. After Senator Eugene McCarthy and Robert Kennedy declared their candidacies for the Democratic presidential nomination, Johnson announced that he would not seek another term and would, instead, retire.Lyndon B. Johnson (born August 27, 1908, Gillespie county, Texas, U.S.—died January 22, 1973, San Antonio, Texas) was the 36th president of the United States (1963–69). A moderate Democrat and vigorous leader in the United States Senate, Johnson was elected vice president in 1960 and acceded to the presidency in 1963 upon the assassination of Pres. John F. Kennedy. During his administration he signed into law the Civil Rights Act (1964), the most comprehensive civil rights legislation since the Reconstruction era, initiated major social service programs, and bore the brunt of national opposition to his vast expansion of American involvement in the Vietnam War. (Read Lyndon Johnson’s Britannica entry on Sam Rayburn.) ## Early life Lyndon B. Johnson Johnson, the first of five children, was born in a three-room house in the hills of south-central Texas to Sam Ealy Johnson, Jr., a businessman and member of the Texas House of Representatives, and Rebekah Baines Johnson, who was a daughter of state legislator Joseph Baines and had studied at Baylor Female College (now the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor), Baylor University, and the University of Texas. Sam Johnson had earlier lost money in cotton speculation, and, despite his legislative career, the family often struggled to make a living. After graduating from high school in 1924, Johnson spent three years in a series of odd jobs before enrolling at Southwest Texas State Teachers College (now Texas State University) in San Marcos. While pursuing his studies there in 1928–29, he took a teaching job at a predominantly Mexican American school in Cotulla, Texas, where the extreme poverty of his students made a profound impression on him. Through his later work in state politics, Johnson developed close and enduring ties to the Mexican American community in Texas—a factor that would later help the Kennedy-Johnson ticket carry Texas in the presidential election of 1960. ## Career in Congress After graduating from college in 1930, Johnson won praise as a teacher of debate and public speaking at Sam Houston High School in Houston. That same year he participated in the congressional campaign of Democrat Richard Kleberg (son of the owner of the King Ranch, the largest ranch in the continental United States), and upon Kleberg’s election he accompanied the new congressman to Washington, D.C., in 1931 as his legislative assistant. While in Washington, Johnson worked tirelessly on behalf of Kleberg’s constituents and quickly developed a thorough grasp of congressional politics. In 1934, in San Antonio, Texas, Johnson married Claudia Alta Taylor, known from childhood as “Lady Bird.” A recent graduate of the University of Texas, where she had finished near the top of her class, Lady Bird Johnson was a much-needed source of stability in her husband’s life as well as a shrewd judge of people. Martin Luther King, Jr. (center), with other civil rights supporters lock arms on as they lead the way along Constitution Avenue during the March on Washington, Washington, D.C., on August 28, 1963. Lyndon B. Johnson: 1937 campaign posterIn Washington, Johnson’s political career blossomed rapidly after he was befriended by fellow Texan Sam Rayburn, the powerful chairman of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce and later Democratic leader of the House of Representatives. Following two years as director of the National Youth Administration in Texas (1935–37), he ran successfully for a seat in the House as a supporter of the New Deal policies of Democratic Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt. He represented his district in the House for most of the next 12 years, interrupting his legislative duties for six months in 1941–42 to serve as lieutenant commander in the navy—thereby becoming the first member of Congress to serve on active duty in World War II. While on an observation mission over New Guinea, Johnson’s plane survived an attack by Japanese fighters, and Gen. Douglas MacArthur awarded Johnson the Silver Star for gallantry. Johnson proudly wore the decoration in his lapel for the rest of his life. Johnson ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the United States Senate in a special election in 1941. Running again in 1948, he won the Democratic primary (which in Texas was tantamount to election) after a vicious campaign that included vote fraud on both sides. His extraordinarily slim margin of victory—87 votes out of 988,000 votes cast—earned him the nickname “Landslide Lyndon.” He remained in the Senate for 12 years, becoming Democratic whip in 1951 and minority leader in 1953. With the return of a Democratic majority in 1955, Johnson, age 46, became the youngest majority leader in that body’s history.The trusted destination for professionals, college students, and lifelong learners. Penguin, ship, mountain, atlas shohei ohtani, plants, andy wharhol art Mobile During his years in the Senate, Johnson developed a talent for negotiating and reaching accommodation among divergent political factions. Despite a severe heart attack in 1955—which he would later describe as “the worst a man could have and still live”—Johnson became a vigorous and effective leader of his party. By methods sometimes tactful but often ruthless, he transformed the Senate Democrats into a remarkably disciplined and cohesive bloc. At the Democratic convention in 1956, Johnson received 80 votes as a favorite-son candidate for president. With an eye on the presidential nomination in 1960, he attempted to cultivate his reputation among supporters as a legislative statesman; during this time he engineered the passage of two civil rights measures, in 1957 and 1960, the first such legislation in the 20th century. ## At a glance: the Johnson presidency ## Vice presidency At the Democratic convention in 1960, Johnson lost the presidential nomination to John F. Kennedy on the first ballot, 809 votes to 409. He then surprised many both inside and outside the party when he accepted Kennedy’s invitation to join the Democratic ticket as the vice presidential candidate. Overcoming his disappointment at not heading the ticket himself, he campaigned energetically, and many observers felt that without his presence Kennedy could not have carried Texas, Louisiana, and the Carolinas, states that were essential to his victory over the Republican candidate, Richard M. Nixon.

• Lyndon B. Johnson | whitehouse.gov

  + Inside the White House - West Wing Tour - Eisenhower Executive Office Building Tour - Video Series - Décor and Art - Holidays - See All + History & Grounds - Presidents - First Ladies - The Vice President's Residence & Office - Eisenhower Executive Office Building - Camp David - Air Force One + Our Government - The Executive Branch - The Legislative Branch - The Judicial Branch - The Constitution - Federal Agencies & Commissions - Elections & Voting - State & Local Government - Resources ## History & Grounds Presidents First Ladies The Vice President's Residence & Office Eisenhower Executive Office Building Camp David Air Force One # Lyndon B. Johnson Lyndon B. Johnson In the 1960 campaign, Lyndon B. Johnson was elected Vice President as John F. Kennedy's running mate. On November 22, 1963, when Kennedy was assassinated, Johnson was sworn in as the 36th United States President, with a vision to build "A Great Society" for the American people. "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.

• Lyndon B. Johnson

  The White House Historical Association The White House Historical Association ### What can we help you find? Main Content # Lyndon B. Johnson A "Great Society" for the American people was the vision of Lyndon Johnson. As president, he obtained passage of one of the most significant legislative programs in the nation's history, but found his presidency overwhelmed by opposition to his war in Vietnam. 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. 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 Senate minority leader, and in 1955, when the Democrats won control, majority leader. 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 measures President Kennedy had been urging at the time of his death — a major 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 over Arizona senator Barry Goldwater by more than 15 million votes. In 1965, with a heavily Democratic Congress, Johnson enacted legislation augmenting federal aid to education and the creation of Medicare. He advocated for urban renewal and conservation efforts. On August 6, 1965, Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act, which removed legal obstacles preventing African Americans from exercising the right to vote. Under Johnson, the country made spectacular explorations of space in a program he had championed since its start. He strongly supported NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) as both a senator and president. In 1973, NASA’s Center for Human Spaceflight was renamed the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center.

• Gender

  male

• Educated At

  West Point School District

• Instance Of

  Q5

• Occupation

  American football player

• Citizenship

  United States

• Date Of Birth

  5/23/1994

• Place Of Birth

  West Point