Lyndon B. Johnson
By
Jevon
Years in office:1963-1969
Early Biography
Lyndon Baines Johnson was born on August 27, 1908, in Stonewall, Texas.
Johnson's father, Sam Early Johnson, Jr., had served in the Texas
legislature. After he lost a large sum of money trading cotton, he struggled
to raise his two sons and three daughters. Johnson's mother was a gentle
woman who encouraged her children to love books and gave them a sense
of duty and responsibility. Johnson graduated from Southwest State
Teachers College in San Marcos, Texas, with a bachelor's degree. While in
college, he had combined his studies with a job teaching Mexican American
children.
In 1931 Johnson went to Washington, D.C., and worked as secretary to Texas
congressman Richard Kleberg (1887–1955). Almost immediately Johnson's
talent for attracting affection and respect became visible. He was elected
speaker of the "Little Congress," an assembly of congressional secretaries
on Capitol Hill. On November 17, 1934, he married Claudia (Lady Bird)
Taylor (1912–) of Karak, Texas. With her, Johnson found constant strength,
love, and support. At age twenty-seven Johnson returned to Texas to
become the state director of the National Youth Administration.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Lyndon Baines Johnson (August 27, 1908 – January 22, 1973), often
referred to as LBJ, was a US politician who served as the 36th President of
the United States (1963-1969) after his service as the 37th Vice President
of the United States (1961-1963). He is one of four people who served in all
four elected federal offices of the United States: Representative, Senator,
Vice President and President. Johnson succeeded to the presidency
following the assassination of John F. Kennedy, completed Kennedy's term
and was elected President in his own right, winning by a large margin in the
1964 Presidential election. Johnson was greatly supported by the
Democratic Party and, as President, was responsible for designing the
"Great Society" legislation that included laws that upheld civil rights, Public
Broadcasting, Medicare, Medicaid, environmental protection, aid to
education, and his "War on Poverty." He was renowned for his domineering
personality and the "Johnson treatment," his coercion of powerful politicians
in order to advance legislation.
FACTS THAT ARE INTERESTING
• That he became president after JFK was
assassinated.
• He had no vice president during 19631965 because was vice president made
president
• He did not run for president again because
the people did not like him supporting the
Vietnam War.
Question I would ask
• How did you feel about becoming
president because JFK was killed?
• Why did you want to become president?