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Lyndon B. Johnson Facts
- President No.: 36th
- When did Lyndon B. Johnson serve? 1963-1969
- What was Lyndon B. Johnson’s party? Democrat
- Where was Lyndon B. Johnson from? Texas
- Who was Lyndon B. Johnson’s wife? Lady Bird Johnson
- When was Lyndon B. Johnson born? August 27, 1908
- When did Lyndon B. Johnson die? January 22, 1973
- Which college did Lyndon B. Johnson attend? Southwest Texas State College, Georgetown University Law School
- What was Lyndon B. Johnson’s Jobs Before President? Teacher, Rancher, Congressman, U.S. Senator
- What was Lyndon B. Johnson’s height? 6 feet, 3 inches
- What was the population when Lyndon B. Johnson was president? 179,323,031
- What hobbies did Lyndon B. Johnson have? Fishing, hunting, riding
- What pets did Lyndon B. Johnson have? Dogs, beagles named Him and Her
- What transportation did Lyndon B. Johnson use? Helicopter, airplane, car
- How did Lyndon B. Johnson communicate? Telephone, typed letter
Lyndon B. Johnson Biography
Lyndon B. Johnson was the 36th President of the United States. He served from 1963-1969. He was born on August 27, 1908 in Stonewall, Texas. His family was not wealthy and he worked his way through `school, then Southwest Texas State Teachers College.
In 1934, Johnson married Claudia “Lady Bird” Taylor. Their courtship was very brief. In fact, Johnson had proposed to Lady Bird on their first date. She was known for her efforts to “beautify” America, especially the American highways.
Johnson was elected to the House of Representatives and stood on a New Deal platform. Johnson served in the Navy as lieutenant commander. He won a Silver Star in the South Pacific. He served six terms in the House.
He moved to the Senate in 1948. He eventually became the Minority Leader of the Senate. (He was the youngest Minority Leader in Senate history). Johnson then became Majority Leader of the Senate when the Democrate gained control of the Senate. He was a masterful politician, known for his abilities to force deals.
Johnson was selected by John Kennedy running mate in 1960. After Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, Johnson was sworn in as President.
Johnson brought with him his own style to the White House. In fact, the “Johnson Treatment” as it was known, resulted when Johnson, who was a tall and big man, used both as a means of physical intimidation. He was also known to use vulgarity as a way to deliberately move or subordinate people to his will. He was a strong man.
Johnson also had a pair of cowboy boots that he took with him wherever he would go from 1961 until his death. He even took the boots with him on a visit to South Vietnam in 1966. Just shows that you could never take the Texas upbringing out of Johnson.
Johnson took over Kennedy’s work. He first worked on a new civil rights bill as well as a tax cut that Kennedy had been working on and used his political skills to get both passed, something even Kennedy might not have gotten done. Johnson ran for President in 1964 against Barry Goldwater and won with 61 percent of the vote and had a very large popular margin with more than 15,000,000 votes.
Johnson’s main agenda as President was “The Great Society” program. This included aid for education, a focus on disease, Medicare, a need for urban renewal, conservation, aid to depressed regions, fighting poverty, controlling crime and preventing it, and removing voting obstacles.
Johnson was known as being a deal maker. That is how he accomplished so much in his “Great Society” program. He worked on environmental protection laws, initiated food stamps programs, public radio and television, and worked on consumer protections. Johnson was driven by trying to help the poor.
During Johnson’s administration, there were great explorations in space. Johnson said, “You’ve taken….all of us, all over the world, into a new era…” when three astronauts went around the moon.
Johnson also had to deal with the increasing racial tension. There was much unrest and rioting in poor black ghettos including riots on Watts and in Detroit. Johnson used his position to fight against segregation but it was difficult and there was no easy solution.
Even though Johnson wanted to end Communist aggression, fighting continued in Vietnam. There was much controversy over the war. Johnson had limited the bombing of North Vietnam so that negotiations could start. In fact, Johnson went so far as to withdraw his name as a candidate so that he could totally devote his full attention to the situation, and not be seen as playing politics.
Johnson was a very pragmatic in passing domestic legislation. He was a master at reaching out and working with congressional leaders. There was a one time when he called one congressman at four o’clock in the morning to get the congressman over to his side. He was said to have said, “Sorry to be calling you so early in the morning”. The Congressman replied, “Oh, that’s all right. I was just lying here hoping you would call.”
When Johnson left office, the peace talks had started. Johnson however, did not live to see peace in Vietnam as he had died of a heart attack at his ranch in Texas on January 22, 1973.
Speeches
Lyndon B. Johnson Inaugural Address
Lyndon B. Johnson State of the Union Addresses
- 1964 State of the Union Address
- 1965 State of the Union Address
- 1966 State of the Union Address
- 1967 State of the Union Address
- 1968 State of the Union Address
- 1969 State of the Union Address
Lyndon B. Johnson Quotes
Come now, let us reason together.
Saying.
I am a free man, an American, a United States Senator, and a Democrat, in that order.I am also a liberal, a conservative, a Texan, a taxpayer, a rancher, a businessman, a consumer, a parent, a voter, and not as young as I used to be nor as old as I expect to be—and I am all of these things in no fixed order.
Winter 1958 Texas Quarterly.
All I have I would have given gladly not to be stand here today.
27th November, 1963. First address to Congress as President.
We have talked long enough in this country about equal rights. We have talked for a hundred years or more. It is time now to write the next chapter – and to write in the books of law.
27th November, 1963. First address to Congress as President.
We hope that the world will not narrow into a neighbourhood before it has broadened into a brotherhood.
22nd December, 1963. Speech at the lighting of the nation’s Christmas Tree.
This administration today, here and now, declares unconditional war on poverty in America. I urge this Congress and all Americans to join with me in that effort.
8th January, 1964. State of the Union Address.
We are trying to build a great society that will make your children and your grandchildren and the people three or four generations from today proud of what we are doing.
17th April, 1964. The first usage of the phrase ‘great society’. Speach in connection with Montana Territorial Centennial in Washington D.C.
In your time we have the opportunity to move not only toward the rich society and the powerful society, but upward to the Great Society.
22nd May, 1964. Speech at University of Michigan.
We Americans know, although others appear to forget, the risks of spreading conflict. We still seek no wider war.
4th August, 1964. Televised speech on Gulf of Tonkin resolution.
This nation, this generation, in this hour has man’s first chance to build a Great Society, a place where the meaning of man’s life matches the marvels of man’s labor.
August 1964. Address on accepting the Presidential nomination.
We are not about to send American boys nine or ten thousand miles away from home to do what Asian boys ought to be doing for themselves.
21st October, 1964. Remarks at Akron University, Ohio.
That’s what happens when you play football too long without a helmet
30th April, 1967. On Gerald Ford.
I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President.
31st March, 1968. Broadcast address to the nation.
I don’t want loyalty. I want loyalty. I want him to kiss my ass in Macy’s window at high noon and tell me it smells like roses. I want his pecker in my pocket.
Quoted in David Halberstam ‘The Best and the Brightest’ (1972). Discussing a potential assistant.
Bettter to have him inside the tent pissout out, than outside pissing in.
31st October, 1971. On J. Edgar Hoover.
So dumb he can’t fart and chew gum at the same time.
On Gerald Ford. Quoted in In Richard Reeves ‘A Ford, not a Lincoln’ (1975)
