Happy LBJ Day [View all]

[Dorn]

Lyndon Baines Johnson was born on August 27, 1908. He is often known as “LBJ” and was the 36th president of the United States, serving from 1963-1969. In 1963 Johnson took on the role as the nation’s president after president John F Kennedy was assassinated. In an address before Congress Johnson pledged support for Kennedy's legislative agenda that included civil rights and education legislation.

In conjunction with the civil rights movement, Johnson overcame southern resistance and convinced Congress to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed many forms of racial segregation. Johnson signed it into law on July 2, 1964. In 1965, he achieved passage of a second civil rights bill, the Voting Rights Act to outlaw discrimination in voting and to allow many African Americans in the southern states to vote for the first time. In 1965 the "Great Society" program became the agenda for Congress:

Aid to education.
Protection of civil rights (including the right to vote).
Urban renewal.
Medicare.
Conservation and beautification.
Control and prevention of crime and delinquency.
Promotion of the arts.
Consumer protection.

https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/lyndon-baines-johnson-day