President Lyndon B. Johnson

Lyndon Baines Johnson grew up in rural poverty in central Texas. He attended the Southwest Texas State Teachers College (now known as Texas State University at San Marcos). Johnson married Claudia (Lady Bird) Taylor in 1934.

In 1937 Johnson was elected to his first term in the US House of Representatives. He served six terms in the House (during this time he also briefly served in World War II). He was elected to the United States Senate in 1948. In 1953 he became the youngest minority leader in the Senate’s history. In 1954 the Democrats took over the Senate and he became the majority leader.

In 1960 Johnson was nominated as John F. Kennedy’s running mate, and was elected Vice President. Johnson served as Vice President from 1961 until Kennedy’s death on November 22, 1963 when Johnson was then sworn in as President.

Johnson was elected President in 1964 – winning the election by 15,000,000 votes (the largest in the country’s history).

Johnson signed many laws during his presidency, and his domestic policies were quite successful. During his presidency the Great Society was created as well as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voters Rights Act of 1965 (which Johnson later said was his greatest accomplishment). The Great Society was composed of a great deal of legislation, including the Economic Opportunity Act (The “War on Poverty”), the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (this law created Head Start), and the creation of both Medicare and Medicaid in 1965.

Johnson also continued President Kennedy’s desire for a national space program, funding the program and he saw the first American spaceship orbit the moon during his presidency.

Although Johnson’s Presidency was very successful domestically, it is most commonly remembered for the turmoil of the Vietnam Conflict.

Johnson did not seek re-election in 1968.