Lyndon Baines Johnson (1908 - 1973)

Born 27 Aug 1908 in Stonewall, Gillespie, Texas, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Claudia Alta (Taylor) Johnson — married 17 Nov 1934 in San Antonio, Texas, USA

Descendants

Died 22 Jan 1973 at age 64 in LBJ Ranch, Blanco, Texas, United States

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Lyndon Johnson was the President of the United States. Join: US Presidents Project Discuss: presidents

Preceded by 35th President John F. Kennedy Preceded by 36th Vice President Richard Nixon Preceded by W. Lee O'Daniel

Lyndon B. Johnson 36th President of the United States 1963—1969 37th Vice President of the United States 1961—1963 US Senator (Class 2) from Texas 1949—1961

Succeeded by 37th President Richard Nixon Succeeded by 38th Vice President Hubert Humphrey Succeeded by William A. Blakley

Biography

Lyndon Johnson is Notable.

Lyndon Baines Johnson was the 36th President of the United States. He is one of only four people who served in all four elected federal offices of the United States: Representative, Senator, Vice President, and President.^[1]

Early Life

Lyndon Johnson was a Texan.

Lyndon Baines Johnson was born on August 27, 1908 in Stonewall, Texas, the son of Samuel E. Johnson Jr. and Rebekah (Baines) Johnson. He was the brother of Rebekah Luruth Johnson, Josefa Hermine Johnson, Sam Houston Johnson and Lucia Huffman Johnson.

Historical Marker where children were raised

Marriage

Lyndon married Claudis Alter Tayor on November 17, 1934 in San Antonio, Texas. He was called "LBJ" and her nickname was "Lady Bird". They had two daughters, Lynda Bird, born in 1944, and Luci Baines, born in 1947.

Military

Johnson served on the US Navy from 1941-1942 as a Lieutenant Commander during WWII participating in the Salamaua-Lae campaign. He was awarded a Silver Star.

For most of his political life, Lyndon B Johnson wore a second world war military decoration for valour under fire despite never having seen combat. LBJ was awarded the Silver Star, the third-highest US combat medal, for a 1942 fact-finding mission over the Pacific while he was a Texas congressman and an acting lieutenant commander in the navy.

The citation, issued in the name of General Douglas MacArthur, said the plane, a B-26 bomber, was "intercepted by eight hostile fighters" and that Johnson "evidenced coolness".

In fact, according to surviving members of the crew, the plane developed mechanical problems before reaching its target and never came under fire. No other crew member received a medal for the mission.

The biographer of LBJ, Robert Dallek, said the medal was the outcome of a deal with Gen MacArthur, under which Johnson was honored in return for a pledge "that he would lobby the president, FDR, to provide greater resources for the southwest Pacific theatre".^{[2] [3]}

Politics

LBJ's political career was an exciting one, coming at a time of rapid social and technology change in the US. He steered through to passage the first civil rights bill in 82 years (Civil Rights Act of 1957). As Chairman of the Senate Preparedness Investigating Subcommittee he began hearings on the Space Program. He considered the vitalization of the space program and the passage of the Civil Rights Act to be the highlights of his Senate Career. As Vice President, LBJ was considered the primary influence for Presifent Kennedy's decision to pursue a voyage to the moon.

LBJ is remembered in the minds of most Americans for stepping into the role of President of the United States on during one of the saddest days in our history, the assassination of John F. Kenedy on November 22, 1963.

LBJ Being Sworn in Aboard Air Force One

During his inaguration speech, LBJ declared a war on poverty. He is the architect of the Great Society Program. In May of 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson announced Project Head Start in the White House Rose Garden. He also started the programs Medicare, Medicaid, Food Stamps and Work Study.^[4]

In conjunction with the Civil Rights Movement, Johnson overcame southern resistance and convinced congress to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In 1965, he achieved passage of a second civil rights bill, the Voting Rights Act, which outlawed discrimination in voting, thus allowing millions of southern blacks to vote for the first time. Johnson named Thurgood Marshall, the great-grandson of a slave, to sit on the highest court in the land.^[5] LBJ's accomplishments were soon overshadowed by his most stubborn challenge.

President Johnson was plagued by the War in Vietnam, convinced that it was crucial that South Vietnam win the war. He escalated the war following the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, increasing American military personnel in Vietnam from 16,000 advisors in non-combat roles in 1963 to 550,000 with many in combat roles in early 1968. Despite sustained bombing, the widespread use of Agent Orange and rising American casualties, no progress was made in that war. Public demonstrations followed. This along with serious rising crime problems at home contributed to a poor showing in New Hampshire's 1968 Presidential Primary and he ended his bid for re-election.

President Johnson with Viet Nam Troops

Retirement

Following his presidency, LBJ went home to his ranch in Texas and wrote books, including The Choices We Face,and Vantage Point: Perspectives of the Presidency 1963-1969, his personal memoirs.

Death and Legacy

Lyndon Baines Johnson died at his ranch on January 22, 1973, at age 64 after suffering a massive heart attack. His death came the day before a ceasefire was signed in Vietnam. ^{[6] [7]} "Various sources cite Johnson City or Stonewall as the location of his death, but neither of these is correct. The ranch is in an unincorporated area 2 miles east of Stonewall (an unincorporated settlement), and 15 miles west of Johnson City (the nearest city). The National Park Service, which owns Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park containing the ranch, maintains a visitor center in Johnson City. Senate Resolution 571, 110th US Congress, bends the truth when it states that Johnson 'died at 4[:33PM on January 22, 1973, at his ranch in Johnson City, Texas.'"^[8]

Lyndon B. Johnson Lying in State at the White House

Johnson's was given a state funeral which was held at the National City Christian Church in Washington, D.C., where he had often worshiped as president. He was buried in his family cemetery, a few yards from the house where he was born.

Lyndon B Johnson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, posthumously in 1980.

Presidential Medal of Freedom

Sources

1. Proof of Parentage: "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MC9T-4MC : accessed 30 December 2017), Lyndon Johnson in household of Sam E Johnson, Justice Precinct 1, Blanco, Texas, United States; citing ED 121, sheet 3B, line 90, family 65, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1781; FHL microfilm 1,821,781.

1. ↑ Biography.com: Lyndon B Johnson
2. ↑ [1] LBJ's medal for valour 'was sham' - The Guardian published Friday 6 July 2001
3. ↑ [2] Commentary: A late look at LBJ's medal By PETER ROFF, UPI National Political Analyst published July 9, 2001
4. ↑ Dallek, Robert. "Presidency: How Do Historians Evaluate the Administration of Lyndon Johnson?" History News Network
5. ↑ Davidson, C. & Grofman, B. (1994). Quiet Revolution in the South: The Impact of The Voting Right Act, 1965–1990. p. 3, Princeton University Press
6. ↑ Wikipedia: Lyndon B. Johnson
7. ↑ NY Times Obituary
8. ↑ NNDB