Johnson as president Flashcards
Johnson as president: his personality and policies?
he was seen to be very ambitious and would also have great cruelty.
He would enter politics in 1930 at the age of 22 and also had a seat on the House of Representatives in 1937. He would serve in the navy during the war, he would also, in 1960 become the democratic majority leader of the senate. He would be good at intimidating people and would give people the “Johnson treatment”, he would also be known for making aids uncomfortable. He would have an immense worth ethic, even when he would suffer a heart attack in 1955 and he would suffer from ill health through out his presidency. He would be able to pass 60 pieces of legislation and he would also need to use Executive orders far less frequently. He would use executive orders at 62.9 compared to 75.5 for Kennedy.
Johnson’s Policies?
The policies of Johnson would be largely domestic and this would be classed as the “war on poverty”, he would also remain committed to the principle of containment.
what would be the significance of Johnson and his pursuit of the Great Society?
The issues that would be raised in the other America book would be forefront to what would be mentioned in the Great Society, in his 1954 address to congress he would announce the unconditional war on poverty, there would be key areas that he would want to focus on for example urban renewal and education. Johnson would say that he would “know how to use power”.
what would be the significance of the great society programmes?
His landslide victory in 1964 would give him the mandate to pursue the Great Society.
what would be the key acts of 1964?
Economic Opportunity Act- this would create the office of Economic opportunity, the OEO and would administer the “war on poverty”.
The Urban Transportation Act- provides federal money for public transport
Housing Act- provides federal funds for for public housing along with rent subsidies for poorer families.
Civil Rights Act- this would be designed to encourage African American people to become more a part of society, though sexual discrimination would not be added until later.
Wilderness Protection Act- promises that 9 million acres of government land would be protected from development.
what would be the key acts of 1965?
Medical Care Act- creates the medicaid and medicare to help the poor and the elderly respectively with the cost of medical treatment.
Elementary and Secondary School act- grants federal aid to poorer children.
Voting Rights Act
Air and Water Quality Act- sets tougher limits on polluters and gives states the responsibility to enforce the quality controls
Minimum wage act
Higher education act
what would be the key acts of 1966/67?
66:
Redevelopment act- would focus on 150 model cities where there would be trialled programmes of social care, training and housing.
HIghway safety act
67:
Public Broadcasting Act- establishes the NPR and the PBS.
What would be the significance of the 1964 presidential election?
This would take place less than a year after the death of Kennedy, this would give Johnson an advantage as his opponent Barry Goldwater would be seen to be campaigning against the legacy of Kennedy. The result of the election would be catastrophic for republicans as Johnson would win over 61% of the PV. Johnson would also have a 10-1 victory in the electoral college.
Though the states of the deep south such as Alabama would turn to the Republican Party after the signing of the CRA64.
The campaign advertisement of Johnson would prove to be memorable, it would present a little girl in Vietnam- it would present Johnson as a peace maker and a moderate.
how successful were the great society programmes?
Sargent Shriver would be put in charge of the OEO with the budget of $1 billion. The cost of Vietnam would affect the budget for this, he would say that the Vietnam War would kill the war on poverty. Between 1965-73 $15.5 billion was spent on the great society whilst $120 billion would be spent on Vietnam.
the 1976 Medicare/aid act would provide 20% of the population with healthcare.
There would be free nursery schooling for disadvantaged children and VISTA would also encourage service amongst the poor.
The CRA would also be very important.
There would be more welfare acts passed than in the new deal in 1959 there would be 40 million poor families and in 1968 this number would be 25 million.
There would be key criticism from economists that would accuse Johnson of damaging the economy. Thomas Sowell would accuse Johnson of destroying the the AA family through liberal welfare and civil rights legislation. Politicians such as Nixon and Reagan would also say that there would be a silent majority among America. The AMA would say that politicians would be fearful of the erosion of their power through the extension of federal involvement. king would also suggest that whilst $500,000 was being spent to kill one doctor only $35 was made available for each poor American.
what was the impact of the Kennedy legacy?
The country would be in shock and much of the Kennedy cabinet would remain to keep that continuity. The Dixiecrat members would be suspicious of his failure to sign the southern manifesto.
Johnson would also continue with Kennedy and his key policies this would include the Civil Rights Bill, on 29th November Johnson would issue an executive order that would rename the Nasa centre to the JFK Space centre, this would please the Kennedy family.
what was the significance of the Warren Commission report?
This would conclude that Lee Harvey Oswald had acted alone in the killing of JFK, Jack Ruby would also kill Oswald would also act alone- Ruby and his connections to Cuba would create conspiracy theories.
what would be the significance of the economic developments?
Johnson would inherit a strong economy from Kennedy.
Johnson would push through Kennedy’s tax cuts this would give the administration $4-5 billion extra in revenue.
Inflation would also stay low at 2%, this would begin to pick up in 65 and by 1968 Nixon would be left with an inflation problem.
GNP grew by $9 billion and unemployment would stand at 1.4%- this would give Johnson the confidence to fund the Vietnam war that he wanted to.
in 1966 growth would be at 9% and though in 1967 unemployment would rise to 3.8%- this would begin a mini recession.
Johnson would ask congress to impose a temporary 6% income tax surcharge but Congress would insist that this would be tied to a $6 billion budget reduction.
There would be an average growth of 4.1% per year and national debt would be down to around 40% from the 60% of the Kennedy presidency.
Despite the increasing inflation and the expenses of Vietnam it would be surprising that Johnson would be able to get through his presidency without a significant recession.
what would be the significance of Kennedy and his death?
He would address congress in the joint session on the 27th November 1963:
He would establish the legacy of Johnson he would also carry on the legacy that JFK left.
what would be the significance of Johnson and his great society speech?
University of Michigan- key speech to the next generation.
22nd May 1964- election year
The key idea that the great society is a focus on all of the United States.
what would be the significance of Johnson and his approval ratings?
Johnson would win 486 of the electoral college and he would also win 61% of the PV.
His approval rating would start of high at 78% but by the end of his presidency this would be around 45% - Johnson would see a dip around the Vietnam years.
