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Lyndon B. Johnson
37 Lyndon Johnson 3x4.jpg
Johnson in 1964
36th President of the United States
In office
November 22, 1963 – January 20, 1969
Vice President
Preceded by John F. Kennedy
Succeeded by Richard Nixon
37th Vice President of the United States
In office
January 20, 1961 – November 22, 1963
President John F. Kennedy
Preceded by Richard Nixon
Succeeded by Hubert Humphrey
Senate Majority Leader
In office
January 3, 1955 – January 3, 1961
Whip Earle C. Clements
Mike Mansfield
Preceded by William F. Knowland
Succeeded by Mike Mansfield
Senate Minority Leader
In office
January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1955
Whip Earle C. Clements
Preceded by Styles Bridges
Succeeded by William F. Knowland
Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus
In office
January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1961
Preceded by Ernest McFarland
Succeeded by Mike Mansfield
Senate Majority Whip
In office
January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1953
Leader Ernest McFarland
Preceded by Francis J. Myers
Succeeded by Leverett Saltonstall
United States Senator
from Texas
In office
January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1961
Preceded by W. Lee O'Daniel
Succeeded by William A. Blakley
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 10th district
In office
April 10, 1937 – January 3, 1949
Preceded by James P. Buchanan
Succeeded by Homer Thornberry
Personal details
Born
Lyndon Baines Johnson

(1908-08-27)August 27, 1908
Gillespie County, Texas, U.S.
Died January 22, 1973(1973-01-22) (aged 64)
Gillespie County, Texas, U.S.
Resting place Johnson Family Cemetery
Political party Democratic
Spouse
​
(m. 1934)​
Relations Philip Bobbitt (nephew)
Children
Parents
  • Samuel Ealy Johnson Jr.
  • Rebekah Baines
Education
Occupation
  • Politician
  • teacher
Civilian awards Presidential Medal of Freedom (posthumously, 1980)
Signature Cursive signature in ink
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy
Years of service
  • 1940–1941 (inactive)
  • 1941–1942 (active)
  • 1942–1964 (reserve)
Rank US-O5 insignia.svg Commander
Battles/wars
Military awards Silver Star

Lyndon Baines Johnson (August 27, 1908 – January 22, 1973) was the 36th president of the United States. People often called him LBJ. He became president in 1963 after John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Before that, he was the 37th vice president from 1961 to 1963.

During his time as president, Johnson helped pass many important laws. These laws changed things like civil rights, health care, and education. However, he faced strong criticism for his foreign policy, especially for America's involvement in the Vietnam War.

Early Life and Education

Lyndon B. Johnson - 15-13-2 - ca. 1915
A seven-year-old Johnson at his childhood farmhouse near Stonewall, Texas, in 1915

Lyndon Baines Johnson was born on August 27, 1908. His family lived in a small farmhouse near Stonewall, Texas. He was the oldest of five children. His parents were Samuel Ealy Johnson Jr. and Rebekah Baines.

Johnson grew up in a poor family. His father lost a lot of money. One writer said he was raised "in a land without electricity." It was also a place where the soil was very rocky, making it hard to earn a living.

School Days and Teaching Experience

Johnson finished Johnson City High School in 1924. In 1926, he went to Southwest Texas State Teachers College (SWTSTC). During his college years, he became very good at convincing people and organizing things.

For nine months, from 1928 to 1929, Johnson took a break from college. He taught Mexican-American children at the Welhausen School in Cotulla, Texas. This school was segregated, meaning it was only for certain groups of students. This job helped him save money to finish his education.

He graduated in 1930 with a degree in history. He also earned a certificate to be a high school teacher. He taught briefly at Pearsall High School. Then he taught public speaking at Sam Houston High School in Houston.

Years later, in 1965, Johnson remembered his time teaching. He said he would never forget the faces of the children at the Welhausen Mexican School. He realized that college was closed to almost all of them because they were too poor. He said that experience made him decide that America could not rest while knowledge was out of reach for any American.

Military Service in World War II

Portrait of Lyndon B. Johnson in Navy Uniform - 42-3-7 - 03-1942
Johnson as a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve in March 1942

Johnson joined the United States Navy after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941. He was called to active duty just three days later. He earned the Silver Star medal for his bravery in battle.

He also received other medals for his service. These included the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.

Journey to the Presidency

Johnson started his political career in 1937. He won an election to the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1948, he became a senator. He quickly rose through the ranks. By 1953, he was the Senate Democratic leader. In 1954, he became the Senate Majority Leader.

In 1960, Johnson tried to become president. However, Senator John F. Kennedy won the Democratic nomination. Kennedy then asked Johnson to be his running mate for vice president. The Kennedy-Johnson team won the election.

Vice President Johnson became president in 1963. This happened after President Kennedy was assassinated. Johnson was sworn in on Air Force One just hours after Kennedy's death.

Presidential Years (1963–1969)

During his time as president, Johnson wanted to improve life for all Americans. He focused on expanding civil rights, public broadcasting, and access to health care. He also worked on education, arts, and urban and rural development.

The Great Society and Fighting Poverty

Johnson launched a plan called the "War on Poverty". He wanted to create better living conditions for Americans with low incomes. As part of this effort, he signed the Social Security Amendments of 1965. This law created Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare helps older Americans with health care costs. Medicaid helps low-income families.

Lyndon Johnson signing Medicare bill, with Harry Truman, July 30, 1965
Former president Truman and his wife Bess watch Johnson sign the Medicare Bill in 1965. Lady Bird and Hubert Humphrey are also watching.

During Johnson's presidency, the number of Americans living in poverty dropped a lot. It went from 23% to 12%.

He also signed the Higher Education Act of 1965. This law created federal student loans to help more people go to college. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 also became law. This act shaped how the U.S. handles immigration today.

Civil Rights Achievements

Johnson's biggest achievements were in civil rights. He signed three very important laws:

These laws helped end segregation and protect the voting rights of all Americans.

Space Program Progress

Lyndon Johnson and Spiro Agnew watch the Apollo 11 liftoff
Former President Lyndon B. Johnson (center left) and Vice President Spiro Agnew (center right) watch the launch of Apollo 11 in 1969. Apollo 11 was the first mission to land people on the Moon.

During Johnson's time, NASA made great progress in space. The Gemini program sent astronauts into space. The powerful Saturn V rocket was developed. NASA also got ready for the first crewed Apollo program flights.

In 1967, a fire during a test killed the entire crew of Apollo 1. This was a terrible tragedy. Johnson strongly supported the Apollo program even after this accident. The program recovered and continued. The first two crewed Apollo missions, Apollo 7 and Apollo 8, were completed before Johnson left office. Apollo 8 was the first crewed flight to the Moon.

On July 16, 1969, Johnson watched the launch of Apollo 11. This was the mission that first landed humans on the Moon. He was the first former or sitting U.S. president to see a rocket launch.

The Vietnam War

Johnson's foreign policy focused on stopping the spread of communism. This included the ongoing Vietnam War. When Kennedy died, there were 16,000 American military members in Vietnam. They were helping South Vietnam fight against North Vietnam, which was communist.

Johnson believed in the "Domino Theory". This idea said that if one country fell to communism, others nearby would follow. He decided to increase America's involvement in the war. After the Gulf of Tonkin Incident in 1964, he sent many more American troops to Vietnam. The number of U.S. soldiers and Vietnamese civilians who died increased greatly.

By 1968, the communist Tet Offensive made many Americans turn against the war. The anti-war movement grew stronger. Public opinion shifted, and people became frustrated with the war.

In October 1968, Johnson announced that he had ordered a complete stop to bombing North Vietnam. He hoped this would lead to peace talks. A week later, Richard Nixon won the 1968 presidential election. Johnson decided not to run for re-election because of the war's unpopularity and disappointing primary results.

Life After the Presidency (1969–1973)

Lyndon B. Johnson 1972
Johnson with longer hair during an interview in August 1972, five months before his death

After leaving the presidency in January 1969, Johnson returned to his ranch in Stonewall, Texas. He worked on his memoirs, The Vantage Point: Perspectives of the Presidency 1963–1969, which came out in 1971.

That same year, the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum opened. It is on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin. Johnson later left his Texas ranch to the public in his will. He wanted it to remain a working ranch, not just a museum.

Death and Legacy

Lyndon Baines Johnson grave cropped
Johnson's grave

Lyndon B. Johnson died on January 22, 1973, from a heart attack. He was given a state funeral. He was buried in his family's private cemetery at the house where he was born.

Many places and things are named after Johnson to honor him:

In 1980, Johnson was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom after his death. Texas also created a state holiday on August 27, his birthday, called Lyndon Baines Johnson Day.

Key Laws Signed by President Johnson

Johnson signed many important laws during his presidency. Here are some of them:

Important Changes Made

  • 1968: The FCC created the national emergency number 9-1-1.

Books Written by Johnson

  • National Aeronautics and Space Act (1962)
  • Choices We Face (1969)
  • The Vantage Point (1971)

Images for kids

See also

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