Lyndon Baines Johnson (August 27, 1908 – January 22, 1973), often referred to by his initials LBJ, was an American politician who served as the 36th president of the United States from 1963 to 1969. He had previously served as the 37th vice president from 1961 to 1963 under President John F. Kennedy. A Democrat from Texas, Johnson also served as a U.S. representative, U.S. senator and the Senate's majority leader. He holds the distinction of being one of the few presidents who served in all elected offices at the federal level.
Born in a farmhouse in Stonewall, Texas, to a local political family, Johnson worked as a high school teacher and a congressional aide before winning election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1937. He won election to the United States Senate in 1948 after narrowly winning the Democratic Party's nomination. He was appointed to the position of Senate Majority Whip in 1951. He became the Senate Democratic leader in 1953 and majority leader in 1954. In 1960 Johnson ran for the Democratic nomination for president. During the convention he came into conflict with the Democratic front-runner, fellow senator John F. Kennedy. The two men compromised and the Kennedy-Johnson ticket won in the 1960 presidential election. Vice President Johnson would assume the presidency on November 22, 1963, after President Kennedy was assassinated. The following year Johnson was elected to the presidency when he won in a landslide against Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater. Johnson received 61.1% of the popular vote in the 1964 presidential election; this makes his victory the largest share of the popular vote of any candidate since James Monroe's victory in 1820.
Johnson's domestic policy was aimed at expanding civil rights, public broadcasting, Medicare, Medicaid, aid to education and the arts, urban and rural development, and public services. In 1964 Johnson coined the term the "Great Society" to describe these efforts. In addition, he sought to create better living conditions for low income Americans by spearheading a campaign unofficially called the "War on Poverty"; assisted by a strong economy, this helped millions of Americans rise above the poverty line during his administration. Johnson followed his predecessor's actions in bolstering NASA and made the Apollo Program a national priority. He enacted the Higher Education Act of 1965 which established federally insured student loans. Johnson signed the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 which laid the groundwork for U.S. immigration policy today. Johnson's opinion on the issue of civil rights put him at odds with other white, southern Democrats. His civil rights legacy was shaped by signing the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Civil Rights Act of 1968. During his presidency, the American political landscape transformed significantly, as white southerners who were once staunch Democrats began moving to the Republican Party and black voters began moving to the Democratic Party. Because of his domestic agenda, Johnson's presidency marked the peak of modern liberalism in the United States.Johnson's presidency took place during the Cold War and thus he prioritized halting the expansion of communism. Prior to 1964, the U.S. was already heavily involved in the Vietnam War by providing weapons, training, and aid to South Vietnam in their fight against the communist North. Following a naval skirmish with North Vietnam, Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which granted Johnson the power to launch a full scale military intervention. The number of American military personnel in Vietnam increased dramatically. As the war progressed, casualties soared among U.S. soldiers and Vietnamese civilians. In 1968, the Tet Offensive inflamed the anti-war movement, including among draft-age students on university campuses, and public opinion dramatically turned against America's involvement in the war.
At home, Johnson faced further troubles with race riots in major cities, and increasing crime rates. His political opponents seized the opportunity and raised demands for "law and order" policies. Johnson began his presidency with near universal support, however his approval declined throughout his presidency as the public became frustrated with both the Vietnam War and domestic unrest. Johnson initially sought to run for re-election, however following disappointing results in the New Hampshire primary he withdrew his candidacy. The war was a major election issue and the 1968 presidential election saw Republican candidate Richard Nixon defeat Johnson's vice president Hubert Humphrey. At the end of his presidency in 1969, Johnson returned to his Texas ranch and kept a low profile until he died of a heart attack in 1973.
Johnson is one of the most controversial presidents in American history; public opinion of his legacy has continuously evolved since his death. Historians and scholars rank Johnson in the upper tier because of his domestic policies; his administration passed many major laws that made serious advancements in civil rights, health care, and welfare, although he is criticized for escalating American involvement in the Vietnam War.
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Some of their strengths
Lyndon B. Johnson has many admirable traits.
Based on spiritual traditions from around the world, they are someone who can be described as Confident, Extroverted, Sophisticated, Organized, Passionate, Bold, and Energetic.
Smart and Sophisticated
According to Mysticism’s Astrology tradition, Lyndon B. Johnson is someone who is a smart, sophisticated, and organized person who displays kindness and grace in every day interactions, and who also has a passionate soul. A person who looks for jobs that tend to reflect their identity.
Strong and Resilient
Based on Daoism’s Ba-Zi or ‘Chinese Zodiac’ tradition, people who know Lyndon B. Johnson well know them as someone who can be strong, expansive, and stable like a big tree.
Independent and Organized
According to Hinduism’s Jyotisha or ‘Vedic Astrology’ tradition, many would also describe Lyndon B. Johnson as someone who is independent, organized, inventive, and generous.
A person who is curious and a loves learning, who seems to always know what to say, who has an optimism that can overcome any difficult situation, and who seems to be able to master almost any skill.
Realistic and Skillful
Based on the Mayan Tzolk’in or ‘Mayan Astrology’ tradition, Lyndon B. Johnson is someone who is able to separate emotions from reality, see the world in terms of right or wrong, and who is very good at getting things done.
They are also someone who is curious, dynamic, and positive, and who enjoys inspiring and communicating with other people.
Altruistic and Purposeful
According to Judaism’s Kabbalah tradition, Lyndon B. Johnson tends to be someone who has a desire to be of service to a higher calling and who is always trying to perfect things. Who can be practical and polished, reserved and methodical, and who tends to trust internal judgment before trusting anyone else at face value.
Some of Lyndon B. Johnson's challenges
While Lyndon B. Johnson has many strengths, nobody is perfect. They also have some challenging traits they need to manage.
For example, Lyndon B. Johnson can be Arrogant, Difficult, Perfectionist, Status-seeking, Domineering, Impatient, and Selfish.
Difficult and Perfectionist
One of Lyndon B. Johnson's key challenges is that they are someone who can be difficult and too much of a perfectionist.
Lyndon B. Johnson must also exercise caution as they can be short-tempered and aggressive.
Domineering and Impatient
Lyndon B. Johnson is someone who can be demanding, egotistical, and controlling, can have a lack of judgment regarding personal finances, be argumentative and stubborn, and who can have a tendency to be withdrawn and spend time in self-imposed isolation.
Critical and Bossy
Finally, Lyndon B. Johnson also can be too focused on the small details of life, try to control whatever is happening, and be finicky and demanding.
