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Domestic Policies

 

President Johnson was following behind a presidency that had begun establishing the roots for racial, economic, and social reform with the Kennedy administration. As vice President, he was sworn into office 22 November 1963 aboard US Air Force One hours after Kennedy's assassination. 

 

President Johnson introduced his program the "Great Society," May 1964. There were three issues addressed by the Great Society: reclaiming urban life, achieving a better quality of life for all citizens, clean water, air, and the natural environment; and guaranteed equal access to quality education. From 1964 to 1965, Johnson worked on over 200 pieces of legislation for the Great Society, some of which included:

  • Civil Rights Act (1964) and Voting Rights Act (1965)

  • Medicare and Medicaid

  • Social Security benefits

  • Building schools in underpriveldged areas

  • Student Loans

  • Head Start programs like pre-school

  • Affirmative Action

  • Immigration Act of 1965 that opened the US up to non-European immigrants

  • Economic Opportunity Act (1965)

  • Tax cuts and deficit spending

  • Environmental protection and regulations; clean air and water initiatives--37 new national parks created

  • Established Corporation for Public Broadcasting 

JOHNSON ADMINISTRATION: FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC POLICY

(November 22, 1963 - January 20, 1969)

Foreign Policies

 

Johnson's successes in domestic policymaking did not necessarily transfer over into success with US involvement in foreign conflict. The Vietnam War especially, tainted the success Johnson had with domestic policy legislation. The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution of 7 August 1964 asked for congressional approval to, yet again, expand the Vietnam War. In public, Johnson projected a determination not to lose the war but in reality he questioned the consequences of further pursuing containing communism in Vietnam.

 

 

Quick video of Johnson's accomplishments and losses while in office.

"The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison men because they are different from other men."

 

-From Johnson's remarks in the Capitol Rotunda at  signing of Voting Rights Act 6 August 1965.

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