1908-1973. The 36th president of the USA
1963-69, a Democrat. He was born in
Stonewall, Texas, elected to Congress 1937-49
and the Senate 1949-60. His persuasive powers
and hard work on domestic issues led J F
Kennedy to ask him to be his vice
presidential running mate 1960. Johnson
brought critical Southern support which won a
narrow victory. After the Tonkin Gulf
Incident, the escalation of US involvement in
the Vietnam War eventually dissipated the
support won by his Great Society legislation
(civil rights, education, alleviation of
poverty), and he declined to run for
re-election 1968. Following Kennedy's
assassination, Johnson pushed many pieces of
civil rights legislation through Congress.
His foreign policy met with considerably less
success, however.