A President's Vision

Lyndon Baines Johnson

36th President of the United States
November 22, 1963–January 20, 1969 

The assassination of John F. Kennedy elevated Vice President Lyndon Baines Johnson to the White House during the turbulent 1960s. Determined to alleviate poverty, ignorance, and racial discrimination, the Texan worked tirelessly to enact programs designed to improve life for all citizens and move the nation “not only toward the rich society and the powerful society, but upward to the Great Society.” A persuasive veteran of Capitol Hill, LBJ rallied Democrats and courted Republicans to pass hundreds of laws. His far-reaching accomplishments include three landmark civil rights statutes to eliminate injustice and racial discrimination: the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the 1965 Voting Rights Act, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968. In just five years as president, LBJ put government to work on behalf of the people by establishing such programs as Medicare, Medicaid, Head Start, and Legal Services and launching initiatives promoting student loans, job training, food stamps, community action, immigration reform, environmental protection, consumer safeguards, and support for the arts, humanities, and education.

After escalating an increasingly divisive war in Vietnam, LBJ ultimately decided not to seek a second term in 1968. Although the war impeded his domestic agenda and eroded his popularity, his visionary Great Society transformed the nation with enduring innovations and reforms.

Teacher Resources

At First Glance Worksheet

A brief worksheet that guides students through an initial examination of the Johnson poster.

Image Analysis Worksheet

A worksheet that asks students to examine closely each image featured on the Johnson poster.

Primary Source Worksheets

Worksheets asking students to examine a primary source and then answer several questions regarding its context, meaning, and significance.

• Lyndon B. Johnson, excerpt from “The Great Society,” delivered at the University of Michigan, May 22, 1964.
• Lyndon B. Johnson and Martin Luther King Jr., excerpt of telephone conversation, January 15, 1965.
• Lyndon B. Johnson, excerpt from “The American Promise,” special message to Congress delivered on March 15, 1965.
• Clark Clifford, letter to Lyndon B. Johnson, May 17, 1965.
• Lyndon B. Johnson, excerpt from “To Fulfill These Rights,” commencement address delivered at Howard University, June 4, 1965.

Spanish Translation of Poster Narrative

A translation of the poster narrative describing Johnson's vision for his presidency.

Classroom Activities, Assignments, and Further Resources

Further activities, assignments, and resources related to the Johnson poster.

TEKS Correlation

This guide shows how the President’s Vision Lyndon B. Johnson materials correlate to the TEKS for social studies.