LYNDON JOHNSONLYNDON JOHNSONandand

RICHARD NIXONRICHARD NIXONThe Great SocietyThe Great Society

VietnamVietnam

Democrats FragmentDemocrats Fragment

Nixon’s ComebackNixon’s Comeback

Nixon’s FallNixon’s Fall

The Great Society:1965-The Great Society:1965-19661966• War on Poverty: 20% under poverty lineWar on Poverty: 20% under poverty line

– Blacks, elderly, Appalachian, rural whites Blacks, elderly, Appalachian, rural whites

• Office of Economic Opportunity: ShriverOffice of Economic Opportunity: Shriver– Self help: job training, Head Start, educationSelf help: job training, Head Start, education

• Great Society: 89 laws: Low rent HousingGreat Society: 89 laws: Low rent Housing– Education Act: federal grants to poor statesEducation Act: federal grants to poor states– Medicare: Extends SS pay for health careMedicare: Extends SS pay for health care– Medicaid: medical care for poorMedicaid: medical care for poor

Lyndon Johnson: 1963-1969Lyndon Johnson: 1963-1969

Vietnam EscalationVietnam Escalation

• History: Ho Chi Minh, VietminhHistory: Ho Chi Minh, Vietminh• 1964: Diem coup, 16,000 advisors, $50 m1964: Diem coup, 16,000 advisors, $50 m• Gulf of Tonkin Affair: Congress authorizesGulf of Tonkin Affair: Congress authorizes• Operation Rolling Thunder: bombingOperation Rolling Thunder: bombing

– Ho Chi Minh Trial: Soviet & China supplesHo Chi Minh Trial: Soviet & China supples– Viet Cong: pro communist insurgentsViet Cong: pro communist insurgents– Westmoreland fights guerrillas, My Lai villageWestmoreland fights guerrillas, My Lai village

• Ground troops: 184,000 troops in 1965Ground troops: 184,000 troops in 1965– 485,000 troops in 1967, McNamara 485,000 troops in 1967, McNamara

VietnamVietnam

Bombings: 3x WWIIBombings: 3x WWII

McNamara: Sec of DefenseMcNamara: Sec of Defense

Anti-Vietnam ProtestsAnti-Vietnam Protests

War ProtestsWar Protests

• LBJ’s personalityLBJ’s personality

• War takes money from Great SocietyWar takes money from Great Society

• Anti-war protestsAnti-war protests

• Counter-culture: HippiesCounter-culture: Hippies

• Youth movement: SDSYouth movement: SDS

Counter-cultureCounter-culture

Radical MovementsRadical Movements

• Great Society: Self Help to Welfare Great Society: Self Help to Welfare and and – Guaranteed incomeGuaranteed income

• SDS to WeathermenSDS to Weathermen

• Martin Luther King to Black PowerMartin Luther King to Black Power– SNNC and Stokely CarmichaelSNNC and Stokely Carmichael– Black Panthers and Huey NewtonBlack Panthers and Huey Newton– Black Muslims and Malcolm XBlack Muslims and Malcolm X– Riots: hundreds of race riotsRiots: hundreds of race riots– Harlem Riots 1964, Watts 1965Harlem Riots 1964, Watts 1965– Martin Luther King shotMartin Luther King shot

Malcolm XMalcolm X

Black PanthersBlack Panthers

1968 Election: Dems 1968 Election: Dems FragmentFragment• Eugene McCarthy challenges LBJEugene McCarthy challenges LBJ

• LBJ: “I will not seek another term”LBJ: “I will not seek another term”

• Herbert Humphry: LBJ’s VP, too closeHerbert Humphry: LBJ’s VP, too close– To LBJ, war protesters follow himTo LBJ, war protesters follow him

• Robert Kennedy runs: starts to winRobert Kennedy runs: starts to win– Wins California primary: shotWins California primary: shot

• George Wallace: lower class whitesGeorge Wallace: lower class whites

• Riots at Dem convention in ChicagoRiots at Dem convention in Chicago

Nixon’s ComebackNixon’s Comeback

• Nixon Wins 1968: Silent majority, Law Nixon Wins 1968: Silent majority, Law – and order, middle ground, new Nixonand order, middle ground, new Nixon

• Conservative Resurgence: people wantConservative Resurgence: people want– Normal life, conservative populism Normal life, conservative populism

• Personality: a loner, paranoidPersonality: a loner, paranoid

• Détente: arms control w/ SovietsDétente: arms control w/ Soviets

• China: opens up China, KissingerChina: opens up China, Kissinger

• Ends Vietnam: 4 part planEnds Vietnam: 4 part plan

Nixon: SALT TreatyNixon: SALT Treaty

Nixon Opens ChinaNixon Opens China

Nixon Resigns Aug 19, 1974Nixon Resigns Aug 19, 1974

Nixon’s FallNixon’s Fall

• Moderate Domestic Policy: price fixingModerate Domestic Policy: price fixing

• 1972 Reelection: Foreign policy success1972 Reelection: Foreign policy success– ““bring the country together”bring the country together”

• Dems: Eugene McGovern: grow welfare Dems: Eugene McGovern: grow welfare

• Nixon wins landslide: 49 state victoryNixon wins landslide: 49 state victory

• Watergate: break-in, cover up, enemiesWatergate: break-in, cover up, enemies

• Watergate legacyWatergate legacy