The Great Society: Notes

The Great Society

Introduction

• The Great Society was President Lyndon Johnson's vision, representing the largest expansion of the welfare state since the New Deal.
• Its primary aims were to eradicate racial inequality and eliminate poverty.
• Johnson proposed extensive spending programs focusing on:
  • Equal education for all.
  • Universal medical care.
  • Urban renewal.
  • Combating rural poverty.
  • Improving transportation.
• Johnson initially presented the plan in Ohio on May 7, 1964, and later elaborated on it in a speech at the University of Michigan on May 22, 1964.
• The Great Society's goals were eventually overshadowed by foreign policy issues, particularly the Vietnam War, which strained its funding.
• Despite challenges, the Great Society's ideas persisted and influenced subsequent administrations.

Johnson's Political Background

• Johnson served as a senator and Senate majority leader from 1955 to 1961.
• He was known for his political skill and effectively used his influence to pass legislation.
• As president, he leveraged his understanding of party politics to push Great Society programs through Congress.
• Maintaining party unity proved difficult; Johnson aimed to surpass the New Deal but faced challenges as a party leader.
• Opposition to the Vietnam War and the rise of youth movements weakened Johnson's control over the Democratic Party.
• Ultimately, Johnson chose not to seek reelection in 1968.

The American Presidency Project

• According to a speech given at the University of Michigan on May 22, 1964 found online on The American Presidency Project website, the purpose of protecting the life of the nation and preserving the liberty of citizens is to pursue the happiness of the people.
• Success of the persuit mentioned above is the test of the nation's success.
• The country labored for a century to settle and subdue a continent.
• For half a century unbounded invention and untiring industry were called upon to create an order of plenty for all people.
• The challenge of the next half century is whether there is wisdom to use wealth to enrich and elevate national life and to advance the quality of American civilization.

Building the Great Society

• The Great Society is based on abundance and liberty for all, demanding an end to poverty and racial injustice.
• It envisions:
  • A society where every child can access knowledge to enrich their mind.
  • Leisure time is used for reflection and personal growth.
  • Cities that serve both practical needs and the desire for beauty and community.
  • Renewed contact with nature.
  • A society that values creation and understanding.
  • Emphasis on the quality of goals over material possessions.
• The Great Society is portrayed not as a final achievement but as a continuous challenge.

Three Key Areas

• Johnson outlined three critical areas for building the Great Society:
  • Cities:
    • Anticipated a population of 400 million Americans by the near future, with four-fifths in urban areas.
    • Projected a doubling of urban population and city land, requiring extensive construction.
    • Referenced Aristotle's view of cities as places not just for living, but for living the good life.
    • Addressed urban issues such as decay, inadequate housing and transportation, vanishing open land, and loss of community.
    • Stressed the need for urban innovation to make American cities desirable places to live.
  • Countryside:
    • Emphasized the importance of preserving America's beauty.
    • Raised concerns about pollution affecting water, food, and air.
    • Highlighted issues of overcrowded parks and disappearing forests.
    • Warned against an "ugly America" and the irreversible loss of natural splendor.
  • Classrooms:
    • Emphasized the critical role of education in shaping children's lives.
    • Stressed the importance of freeing minds to explore thought and imagination.
    • Cited statistics on Americans with limited education.
    • Highlighted the challenge of educating a growing youth population.
    • Addressed issues of overcrowded classrooms, outdated curricula, and underpaid or unqualified teachers.
    • Advocated for equal access to education and using education as a means to escape poverty.

Focus on Education

• More classrooms and teachers are needed, but improvements should be made to make education grow in excellence as it grows in size.
• This calls for better training for teachers and preparing youth to enjoy leisure as well as labor.
• New teaching techniques are also needed to stimulate a love of learning.

Collaborative Solutions

• Johnson acknowledged that the government did not have all the answers but promised to gather the best ideas from around the world.
• He planned to establish working groups and White House conferences to address challenges in cities, natural beauty, education, and more.
• Solutions require cooperation and creative federalism between national and local leaders.

Call to Action

• He also adds that everyone sent out of the university should be a man of his nation as well as a man of his time.
• Johnson urged the younger generation to address emerging problems and lead America toward a new age.
• He emphasized the opportunity to build a society where moral and spiritual needs are met.
• He asked for citizens to join in the fight for equality, to give every citizen an escape from poverty, and to make it possible for all nations to live in enduring peace.

Conclusion

• Johnson requested support for building the Great Society, proving that material progress is the foundation for a richer life of mind and spirit.
• He countered those who doubted the possibility of success, asserting the power to shape civilization.
• He called for the public's will, labor, and heart to build that kind of society.
• He sought to realize the vision of those who came to the land, building more than just a new country, but a new world.
• He expressed belief that men will look back and say that it was then, after a long and weary way, that man turned the exploits of his genius to the full enrichment of his life.