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LBJ, Vietnam, and the Great Society

LBJ, Vietnam, and the Great Society. Lyndon Johnson (LBJ). President Nov. 1963; elected 1964 Democrat – continued JFK’s “New Frontier” Domestic policy: The Great Society Medicare – health care for elderly Medicaid – health care for the poor Civil Rights Act of 1964

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LBJ, Vietnam, and the Great Society

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  1. LBJ, Vietnam, and the Great Society

  2. Lyndon Johnson (LBJ) • President Nov. 1963; elected 1964 • Democrat – continued JFK’s “New Frontier” • Domestic policy: The Great Society • Medicare – health care for elderly • Medicaid – health care for the poor • Civil Rights Act of 1964 • War on Poverty: goal to eliminate poverty • Economic Opportunity Act (1964) – federal antipoverty programs

  3. The Great Society • Job Corps • VISTA (modeled on Peace Corps): volunteers help Americans • Education: Elementary and Secondary Education Act and Higher Education Act – federal funding of public schools • Head Start program; scholarships to kids in poverty

  4. The Great Society • Arts and Culture: • Public Broadcasting • National Endowment for the Arts • National Endowment for the Humanities

  5. Vietnam • French colony of Indochina • Ho Chi Minh leads rebel movement after WWII • French leave, 1954 • Vietnam divided at 17th parallel • South Vietnam requests help from U.S. to fight rebel movement – the Viet Cong; Eisenhower and JFK send ‘advisers’

  6. Vietnam • Johnson fears fall of government – the “domino effect” • Incident in the Tonkin Gulf • Tonkin Gulf Resolution authorizes president to use “all necessary measures” • Sends U.S. troops in 1964; steady escalation to 1968 • Guerilla warfare • Tet Offensive, 1968 – Americans realize that the war will last for a long time

  7. Vietnam • Anti-war protests on college campuses and in cities • Draft evasion – draft dodging

  8. Political Polarization • Hawks: those favoring the war • Pledge of help to Vietnam • U.S. commitment to region at stake • Fear of the Domino effect in Southeast Asia • Doves: those opposed to war • North Vietnam was fighting for nationalist reasons • Vietnam not vital for U.S. interests or security • War is unjust

  9. Election of 1968 • LBJ does not run – very unusual • Nixon vs. Hubert Humphrey • George Wallace – third party • Nixon considered the “hawk” • Nixon promises “law and order” and continuation of Great Society

  10. Election of 1968 – realigning election • Post Civil War: Republican Presidency to 1932 • 1932-1968 Democratic Presidency (7 out of 9 times except Eisenhower) • 1968-2008 Republican Presidency (7 out of 10 times except Carter and Clinton)

  11. Party Realignment • Democratic party lost white Southerners in the 1960-1990’s • Reaction to Civil Rights, Vietnam War, and the “culture wars” • Today’s Democratic Party: urban, minorities, liberal, union workers • Today’s Republican Party: rural, conservative voters

  12. Presidents Nixon, Ford, and Carter

  13. Richard Nixon • Re-elected 1972 • Gradually draws troops out of Vietnam – “Vietnamization” of the war • “Détente” period in US-USSR relations, a de-escalation of tension (SALT I) • Recognizes communist China makes first visit to that country • Disgraced and resigns as a result of Watergate - not impeached

  14. Richard Nixon • First Oil Crisis, 1973 • OPEC embargos sale of oil to America for its support of Israel in the Yom Kippur War • Leads to rationing, shortages of fuel oil and gasoline

  15. Gerald Ford • Speaker of the House, becomes president after Nixon’s resignation • 1974-1976 • 1975: Democrats in Congress pressure Ford to withdraw from Vietnam • Saigon falls, Vietnam under control of communists

  16. Jimmy Carter (1976-1980) • Iranian Revolution – Ayatollah Khomeini • Hostage Crisis – Americans held in Tehran embassy for > 400 days • Second Oil Crisis – long lines, rationing (panic as a result of

  17. Jimmy Carter (1976-1980) • Soviet invasion of Afghanistan • Middle East – Camp David Accords • Peace between Egypt and Israel • US takes lead as mediator in Mid East • Economy: “stagflation” – slow growth, high interest rates and inflation

  18. Soviet invasion of Afghanistan • USSR invades Afghanistan, 1979 • WHY? Influence in Persian Gulf Region • American CIA supplies arms and intelligence to the resistance • USSR installs puppet government • Afghan people resist; Soviets withdraw in 1989 – Taliban gain control; rule until 2002

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