LBJ: The Great Society Visionary & The Turmoil of 1960s Politics

1. LBJ and Nixon CHA3U - Harris

2. LBJ • LBJ different from charismatic JFK • Stereotypical Texas politician • Loud, crude, loved to shock people • Had been Senate majority leader – position gave him great influence over legislation • Master of compromise –sought middle ground where most people could agree

3. LBJ • Saw himself as caretaker for both JFK’s policies and his people • Asked JFK cabinet and advisers to continue serving under him • On first day in office, learned of JFK’s antipoverty initiative • Advisors wanted to implement program slowly – instead LBJ wanted to be big and bold

4. War on Poverty • January 8, 1964 – declares War on Poverty • $1 billion to series of new programs aimed at ending poverty • Job Corps – work training program for young people • Head Start – preschool for low income families

5. The Great Society • JFK inspired, LBJ delivered • LBJ pushed legislation through Congress • 1964 presidential race – called vision of nation’s future The Great Society • Republicans nominate conservative Senator Barry Goldwater • Goldwater seen as extreme

6. The Election of 1964 • Goldwater – “Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice…” • Goldwater bumper sticker – “In your heart you know he is right.” • LBJ bumper sticker – “In you gut you know he’s nuts.” • LBJ campaign produced “Daisy Girl” TV commercial • Implied Goldwater could not be trusted w/ nation’s nuclear arsenal • Daisy Girl

7. The Election of 1964

8. The Great Society • LBJ moved quickly to make vision reality • Civil Rights, health care, education, urban renewal were part of Great Society programs • 1965 – est. Medicare (health insurance for people over 65) and Medicaid (free health care to needy) • Elementary and Secondary Education Act (1965) gave $1.3 billion to schools in poor areas

10. Failure of The Great Society • By spring of 1965 LBJ had shifted focus to Vietnam • 1966 spending on Vietnam was 18x greater than spending on War on Poverty • MLK – “The Great Society was shot down in the battlefields of Vietnam.”

11. The Election of 1968 • After Tet Offensive ¾ of American disproved of LBJ’s handing of war • Early 1968 – Democratic Senator Eugene McCarthy challenged LBJ for presidential domination • McCarthy almost defeated LBJ in New Hampshire primary • McCarthy’s strong showing drew Robert F. Kennedy into race

12. RFK • Former senator and U.S. Attorney General • Strong national following among poor, Hispanics, and African-Americans • Anti-war critic • Shocked by split within his own party, LBJ announced he would not seek reelection • Wanted to spend last months in office trying to end war

13. The Election of 1968 • McCarthy, RFK and V.P. Hubert Humphrey went head to head in several state primaries • RFK won most of them including crucial California primary in June • Seemed destined to receive Democratic nomination

14. The Assassination of Bobby Kennedy • After winning California primary on June 5, 1968 – Kennedy addressed supporters in ballroom • Led through kitchen after speech – shaking hands • Sirhan Sirhan a Palestinian immigrant emerged from crowd and shot RFK three times

15. Assassination of Bobby Kennedy • RFK lay wounded, Juan Romero, dishwasher, cradled his head and placed rosary in his hand • RFK asked Romero, "Is everybody safe, OK?" • RFK died next day

16. 1968 Democratic Convention • Democrats meet in Chicago to select nominee • V.P. Humphrey wins nomination • LBJ manipulates convention and Humphrey’s victory from his Texas ranch • Does not want a nominee critical of his war policy

17. 1968 Democratic Convention • 10 000 anti-war protestors massed in Grant Park across from hotel where delegates were staying • Chicago Mayor Richard Daley was furious • Ordered police to clear protestors • August 28 – police clubbed and used tear gas on protestors • Hundreds jailed and injured • Media widely broadcast unrest

18. The Election of 1968 • Republicans nominate Richard Nixon • Appealed to patriotism of mainstream America • Promised he had a secret plan to end the war – revealed no details • Promised a law and order crackdown on urban crime • Former Alabama Governor George Wallace runs as third party candidate

19. The Election of 1968

20. Richard Nixon • Wanted to cut costly programs of Great Society • Had support from middle class voters tired of unrest of 1960s • Silent Majority • Would face domestic and foreign policy crisis

21. Stagflation • Occurs both unemployment and inflation rose • Nixon imposed freezes on prices, rents and wages to fight inflation • Worked in short term

22. Apollo 11 • July 20, 1969 – Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed Apollo 11 lunar module on Moon • “That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.” • b/w 1969-1973 U.S. launched six more Apollo missions • Space program led to many innovations adapted for everyday life

23. Oil Embargo • Arab nations imposed oil embargo in reaction to Yom Kippur War • Agreed not to ship oil to U.S. and certain other countries who supported Israel • U.S. was dependent on foreign sources for 1/3 of its oil needs. • Embargo caused serious problems throughout U.S. economy

24. Watergate • After Pentagon Papers Nixon told aides “Do whatever has to be done to stop these leaks…” • White House organized secret unit called “the plumbers” • Plumbers were to carry out illegal activity in name of national security • Activities grew into full scale war to guarantee Nixon’s reelection

25. Watergate • June 1972 – 5 men arrested breaking into Democratic National Committee headquarters in Watergate office and apartment complex in Washington D.C. • Carrying wiretap equipment • Discovered men were being paid from Nixon campaign fund – “Committee to Re-elect the President”

26. Watergate • Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein investigated and discovered truth • Led to senate investigation of criminal charges and alleged cover up • Hearings televised • Clear White House deeply involved • Former White House Attorney John Dean testified Nixon had been directly involved in cover up

27. Saturday Night Massacre • Surprising revelation that Nixon had secretly recorded conversations • Justice Department Special prosecutor Archibald Cox demanded tapes • Nixon refused and ordered Attorney General to fire Cox • Attorney General refused and resigned • Assistant Attorney General resigned • Saturday Night Massacre

29. Watergate • “People have a right to know whether or not their president is a crook. We’ll I am not a crook. • July 1974 – Supreme Court rejects Nixon’s argument that tapes were protected by executive privilege • House Judiciary Committee begins hearings on whether or not to impeach Nixon

30. Watergate • Release of Nixon tapes – truth revealed • Nixon had directed Watergate cover-up and authorized illegal activities • Facing certain impeachment Nixon resigned on August 9th 1974 • Only president to reign from office • Gerald Ford was sworn in as the 38th president

31. Watergate

32. Nixon Pardon • September 1974 – president Ford granted Nixon full pardon for any crimes he may have committed • Many suspected pardon had been agreed upon in advance in exchange for Nixon’s resignation • A week later Ford offered clemency to Vietnam draft evaders • Controversial decisions likely cost Ford 1976 election

33. Legacy of Watergate • Fueled growing sense of disillusionment in America • Shook faith in government • Many people were cynical and suspicious of government • Contributed directly to Jimmy Carter’s election in 1976 and Reagan Revolution of 1980s