LBJ's Great Society

 

In May 1964, LBJ had summed up his vision for America in a phrase: the Great Society. He outlined a legislative program that would end poverty and racial injustice, he also added that he hoped that the legislative program would create not only a higher standard of living and equal opportunity, but also promote richer quality of life for all.

            During 1965 and 1966, the LBJ administration introduced a flurry of bills to Congress. Johnson considered education “the key which can unlock the door to the Great Society.” The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 provided more than $1 billion in federal aid to help public and parochial schools purchase textbooks and new library materials. LBJ and Congress changed Social Security by establishing Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare provided hospital insurance and low-cost medical insurance for almost every American age 65 and older. Medicaid extended health insurance to welfare recipients. Congress also made several important decisions that shifted the nation’s political power from rural to urban areas. By establishing the Department of Housing and Urban Development the administration was able to appropriate money to build 240,000 units of low-rent public housing and help low- and moderate-income families pay for better private housing. The Great Society also brought profound changes to the nation’s immigration laws. The Immigration Act of 1965 opened the door for many non-European immigrants to settle in the United States by ending quotas based on nationality. Consumer advocates also made headway. They convinced Congress to pass major safety laws, including a truth-in-packaging law that set standards for labeling consumer goods. Ralph Nader sharply criticized the U.S. automobile industry for ignoring safety concerns. His testimony helped persuade Congress to establish safety standards for automobiles and tires, these precautions also extended to food. Congress then passed the Wholesome Meat Act of 1967.

            Overall, the LBJ administration passed twenty-four Acts’ from 1964-1967 dramatically changing life in the United States. Issues such as poverty, education, discrimination, the environment, consumer advocacy, and the shape of cities around the country all improved for the better. People can argue whether or not the changes left by the LBJ administration left the nation better or worse, but no president in the post-WWII era has extended power and reach of the federal government more than LBJ.