LBJ

Lyndon Baines Johnson, commonly LBJ, was an American politician who served as the 36th president of the United States from 1963 to 1969. Born August 27, 1908, in Stonewall, Texas, he began his career as a teacher before entering politics in the Texas Democratic Party. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1937 to 1949 and then in the Senate from 1949 to 1961, where he became Senate Majority Leader from 1955 to 1961. Known for his legislative skill and his persuasive, sometimes coercive, style—often referred to as the Johnson treatment—he played a key role in passing many reform bills.

He was elected vice president in 1960 and became president following John F. Kennedy's assassination on November 22, 1963. His presidency was defined by sweeping domestic reform through the Great Society.

Landmark achievements include the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, Medicare and Medicaid (both enacted in 1965), and the establishment of agencies like the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The aim was to reduce poverty, improve education, and expand access to health care.

In foreign policy, Johnson oversaw an expanded U.S. commitment to the Vietnam War after the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution in 1964, leading to prolonged involvement and widespread domestic and international criticism over the war.

Johnson did not seek reelection in 1968 and left office in January 1969. He remained a controversial figure, credited with significant civil rights and social policy advances while facing enduring conflict over the Vietnam War.