Johnson as president

What was Johnson's height and how was his personality described?

6'3", second tallest president; ambitious, politically brilliant, capable of compassion and cruelty; loved practical jokes; used humour and bold antics to influence others.

When did Johnson enter politics and what were his early achievements?

Entered politics in 1930 at 22; elected to House of Representatives in 1937; served in the Navy during WWII; elected to Senate post-war; became Democratic Senate majority leader; gained national reputation for skill and intimidation.

What was the "Johnson treatment"?

A method combining supplication, accusation, persuasion, exuberance, scorn, tears, complaint, and implied threat; rapid-fire delivery; close face-to-face interaction; left targets stunned and compliant.

How did Johnson's work ethic affect his presidency?

Despite a heart attack in 1955 and ongoing ill health, he passed over 60 pieces of legislation during the 89th Congress; managed domestic and foreign policy with forensic attention to detail; relied less on Executive Orders than predecessors.

What was the main focus of Johnson's domestic policy?

Mainly domestic; continuation of Kennedy's New Frontier; aimed to address poverty, urban renewal, environment, healthcare, and education through the Great Society programme.

What inspired Johnson's Great Society programme?

Michael Harrington's The Other America (1962) and Walter Lippmann's The Good Society; declared "unconditional war on poverty" in 1964 State of the Union; ambitious legislative reform across multiple sectors.

How did Johnson's political skill contribute to his legislative success?

Expert at identifying key congressional priorities; used personal influence and persuasion to pass controversial policies; quote to assistant: "I understand power... I know where to look for it and how to use it."

When and where did Johnson first publicly mention the Great Society?

1964 University of Michigan commencement address; emphasised improving American cities, community values, housing, transport, and environment; framed domestic reform as essential for national greatness.

What is a commencement address?

A speech given to graduating students at US universities; used by presidents to introduce policies in an optimistic context.

What were the forerunners of Johnson's 'Great Society'?

Roosevelt's 'New Deal' and Kennedy's 'New Frontier'; both addressed poverty and social inequality in the US.

What gave Johnson the mandate to pursue the 'Great Society'?

His landslide victory over Barry Goldwater in the 1964 presidential election.

What did the 1964 Economic Opportunity Act do?

Created the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) to administer the "War on Poverty."

What was the purpose of the Urban Mass Transportation Act (1964)?

Provided federal funding for public transport.

What did the 1964 Housing Act achieve?

Provided federal funds for public housing and rent subsidies for poorer families.

What was the significance of the Civil Rights Act (1964)?

Outlawed segregation and discrimination based on race, colour, religion, sex, or national origin.

What did the Wilderness Protection Act (1964) do?

Promised that 9 million acres of government land would be protected from development.

What programmes were created by the 1965 Medical Care Act?

Medicaid for the poor and Medicare for the elderly, assisting with medical costs.

What was the purpose of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (1965)?

Provided federal aid to children from poorer backgrounds.

What did the 1965 Voting Rights Act accomplish?

Protected the voting rights of African Americans by outlawing discriminatory practices.

What did the Air and Water Quality Act (1965) do?

Set stricter limits on polluters and gave states responsibility for enforcement.

What changes did the Minimum Wage Act (1965) introduce?

Raised the minimum wage and expanded the groups covered by it.

What was the Higher Education Act (1965)?

Provided federal funding for post-high school education.

What was the purpose of the 1966 Redevelopment Act?

Focused on 150 "model cities" for integrated social care, training, and housing programmes.

What did the 1966 Highway Safety Act establish?

New federal standards for vehicle and road safety.

What was the significance of the Public Broadcasting Act (1967)?

Established National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).

Who was Barry Goldwater?

Republican candidate in 1964; lost badly to Johnson; later served as Senator for Arizona and opposed the rise of the religious right.

Why did Johnson have an advantage in the 1964 election?

Took place less than a year after Kennedy's death; Goldwater was seen as campaigning against Kennedy's legacy.

What was the outcome of the 1964 presidential election?

Johnson won over 61% of the popular vote; catastrophic defeat for Republicans; predicted Southern states (MS, LA, AL, GA, SC) went Republican after Civil Rights Act.

Who was put in charge of the War on Poverty under Johnson?

Sargent Shriver as Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO).

What was the initial budget for the War on Poverty?

$1 billion.

Why did Sargent Shriver struggle to implement the 'Great Society' programmes effectively?

The Vietnam War consumed national funds and Johnson's time, limiting focus on domestic reform.

How much was spent on the 'Great Society' programmes between 1965 and 1973?

$15.5 billion.

How much was spent on the Vietnam War in the same period?

$120 billion.

By 1976, what impact had Medicare and Medicaid achieved?

Provided healthcare to 20% of the US population.

What was the purpose of the Head Start programme?

Provided free nursery schooling for disadvantaged children.

What was VISTA and its role in the 'Great Society'?

Volunteers in Service to America encouraged young people to engage in community service among the poor.

How significant was Johnson's civil rights legislation?

Most important civil rights legislation since the Civil War.

How did 'Great Society' welfare legislation compare to Roosevelt's New Deal?

More welfare legislation was passed under Johnson than in the New Deal.

What was the change in the number of poor families from 1959 to 1968?

Reduced from 40 million in 1959 to 25 million in 1968.

What criticisms were made of the 'Great Society'?

Milton Friedman argued it damaged the economy; Thomas Sowell claimed it harmed African-American families; politicians like Nixon and Reagan criticised it as forcing Americans to subsidise the poor.

What is meant by the term 'silent majority'?

A large group of Americans who did not publicly express opinions, often conservative and frustrated with social change.

What principle of the DEO (Directed by Shriver) caused political headaches?

Maximum feasible participation of the poor, giving them a right to one-third of seats on local poverty program boards.

What was the long-term effect of the 'Great Society' anti-poverty programmes under Shriver?

Despite funding delays and the Vietnam War, more Americans were lifted out of poverty than during any similar period in US history.

Who did Johnson keep in his cabinet after Kennedy's assassination?

Bobby Kennedy as Attorney General, Robert McNamara as Defense Secretary, and Dean Rusk as Secretary of State.

How did Johnson handle Kennedy's policies?

He continued many of Kennedy's policies, including the tax cut, Civil Rights Bill, and the New Frontier, which he renamed the 'Great Society'.

What action did Johnson take to honour Kennedy's legacy at NASA?

Issued an Executive Order on 29 November renaming NASA's launch centre at Cape Canaveral as the John F Kennedy Space Centre.

How did Johnson use Kennedy's death politically?

He appeased Kennedy's supporters, upheld the legacy, and passed substantial controversial legislation before winning his own mandate in the 1964 election.

Who did Johnson appoint to investigate Kennedy's assassination?

Earl Warren to head the Warren Commission.

What did the Warren Commission report conclude?

Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in killing Kennedy, and Jack Ruby acted alone in killing Oswald.

Why has Kennedy's assassination continued to inspire conspiracy theories?

Ruby's links to organised crime and Cuba, along with the controversial circumstances, have fueled conspiracy theories.

What is a conspiracy theory?

A theory suggesting a group, organisation, or government secretly planned or covered up an illegal or harmful event.

What does Gross National Product (GNP) measure?

The total value of goods and services provided by a country, equal to GDP plus income from foreign investments.

What economic inheritance did Johnson receive from Kennedy?

A strong economy recovering from the Eisenhower recessions.

How did Johnson contribute to economic growth early in his presidency?

He pushed through Kennedy's proposed tax cut, stimulating the economy and generating $4-5 billion in extra revenue.

What was the inflation rate in Johnson's early presidency?

Relatively low at just under 2 per cent.

By how much did Gross National Product (GNP) grow under Johnson in the early years?

GNP grew by $9 billion.

What was the unemployment rate in the early years of Johnson's presidency?

1.4 per cent.

What economic challenge emerged by 1966-1967?

A mini-recession and rising unemployment, reaching 3.8 per cent by early 1967.

What measure did Johnson request from Congress to tackle inflation in 1967?

A temporary 6 per cent income tax surcharge.

How did Congress respond to Johnson's proposed tax surcharge?

They tied it to a $6 billion reduction in domestic spending, affecting the 'Great Society' budget.

What was the average annual growth rate during Johnson's presidency?

4.1 per cent per year.

How did Johnson's National Debt compare to when he inherited it?

Reduced to around 40 per cent from the 60.4 per cent inherited from Kennedy.

What was Johnson's inflation situation by the end of his presidency?

Inflation was at 4.7 per cent and rising.

How do historians generally rank Johnson in terms of domestic welfare and civil rights?

In the top third for progress made.

What criticism do historians and commentators often highlight regarding Johnson's presidency?

Failures in handling the Vietnam War and inability to demonstrate the full value of his domestic policies.

What analogy did PJ O'Rourke use to describe giving power to government?

"Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys."