Lyndon Johnson was born near Johnson City, Texas in 1908. As a young man
he was graduated from Southwest Texas State Teachers College, and in 1937 he was
elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. During World War II he
served as a naval officer, and in 1948 he was elected to the U.S. Senate.
In 1954 he became Senate Majority Leader. Johnson ran unsuccessfully for
the Democratic presidential nomination in 1960, but ran as Vice-President under
John F. Kennedy. Johnson became President after Kennedy's assassination in
November, 1963. Johnson was elected for a second term in 1964. As
President, Johnson strove to continue the social reforms sought by
Kennedy. He pushed through Congress a wide range of social reforms such as
a civil rights act ending segregation, the establishment of medicare and
medicaid, funding for education, and funding for urban renewal. Toward the
end of his second term Johnson became unpopular because of his administration's
inability to end the Vietnam War. He did not seek re-election in 1968.
Online Lyndon Johnson Resources:
LBJ in the Oval Office - Links to secret recordings of Johnson which were taken while he was in the Oval Office.
Lyndon Johnson Address - This contains online audio of Johnson's address in which he announced that he would not seek re-election in 1968.
Lyndon B. Johnson Library and Museum - This is the official site of the Lyndon Johnson Library, which contains a wealth of information of all types.
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park - Official site of the Johnson Park, which is maintained by the National Park Service.
Speeches by Lyndon B. Johnson - This site contains five of Johnson's most famous speeches.