Johnsons Great Society Johnson Takes Over Brash ambitious

Johnson’s Great Society

Johnson Takes Over • Brash, ambitious, hardworking Texan – Master of compromise – Kennedy’s cabinet stayed on • Promises: – To increase women’s rights – Appoint women and minorities to high positions – Focus: tax cuts, civil rights, poverty • Pressured Congress to enact Kennedy’s tax program and also to enact the civil rights bills

War on Poverty • The Other America – Michael Harrington – Illustrated social problems • Johnson establishes OEO – Job Corp – work training 16 -21 – Head Start – VISTA – domestic version of the Peace Corp • “Kennedy inspired, Johnson delivered”

Vision for America • Johnson and Humphrey – 1964 – Johnson beats Goldwater by a landslide – Democrats also receive a higher majority in Congress • Great Society – Poverty and racial injustice will end – All children will have access to education – Cities would serve the people

Programs in the Great Society • Medicare – National health insurance for 65 and up • Medicaid – Free health care to needy • Elementary and Secondary School Education Act – 1. 3 Billion in aid to schools in impoverished areas • Omnibus Housing Act • Housing and Urban Development Act – Dept. of Housing and Urban Development

Warren Court • Chief Justice Earl Warren – Brown v. Board – Baker v. Carr » Equal representation – Gideon v. Wainwright » State appointed lawyers – Escobedo v. Illinois » Lawyer present during interrogation – Miranda v. Arizona » Informed of rights at arrest • Controversial decisions strengthened individual rights

Foreign Policy • Inherited Vietnam Conflict • Dominican Republic – Juan Bosch – Replaced coup d’etat with pro-American gov’t with the help of 20, 000 Marines • Inherited Vietnam – 1966 – 18 times more money spent on Vietnam than on poverty – The Great Society… “…shot down on the battlefields of Vietnam” – MLK Jr.