The Legacy of President Johnson's 'Great Society': How it Still Impacts America Today

President Johnson's Bold Plan for Social Change: The Story Behind the 'Great Society

In 1964–65, President Lyndon B. Johnson of the United States implemented a series of domestic policies known as the Great Society. Its stated goals were to end poverty and racial inequality. During a speech at Ohio University, President Johnson used the word "Great Society" for the first time, and then announced the outlines of his program at the University of Michigan in 1964. The government's spending priorities will be education, health, urban issues, rural poverty, and transportation. In the 1960s, a Democratic-controlled Congress was in charge of the programs. Many compared the scope of the "Great Society" to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal initiative.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt had put in place a similar program three decades earlier. Some of Johnson's plans were actually expanded versions of programs that were part of President John F. Kennedy's New Frontier initiative. To carry out his plans, Johnson used all of his political persuasion skills and was supported by the people when he was elected by an overwhelming majority in 1964, which also resulted in the election of many liberals to Congress, allowing most of his policies to pass without difficulty. President Lyndon B. Johnson's reputation was harmed by the Vietnam War, which split the Democratic Party and led to the burying of many "Great Society" plans. Nonetheless, a number of projects have been completed and have proven to be satisfactory (Johnson, 1965).  

President Lyndon B. Johnson's reputation was harmed by the Vietnam War, which split the Democratic Party and led to the burying of many "Great Society" plans. Nonetheless, numerous programs, such as Medicare, Medicaid, and various federal education funds, have passed and proven to be successful. Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford increased the "Great Society's" investments in social areas and social security.

Reference list

• Johnson, L.B. (1965). My hope for America. New York: Pyramid Books.