AMST 3100 The 1960s LBJ’s Great Society

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AMST 3100 The 1960sAMST 3100 The 1960s

LBJ’s Great SocietyLBJ’s Great Society

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Chapter 5Chapter 5

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Backdrop: Rise of Backdrop: Rise of LiberalismLiberalism In 1946, Cyril Connally helped define In 1946, Cyril Connally helped define

the emerging liberal ideology in his the emerging liberal ideology in his “Ten Indicators of a Civilized Society.”“Ten Indicators of a Civilized Society.”

• 1. Abolition of the death penalty1. Abolition of the death penalty• 2. Penal reform aimed at rehabilitation2. Penal reform aimed at rehabilitation• 3. Slum clearance and “new towns”3. Slum clearance and “new towns”• 4. Subsidized energy/heating4. Subsidized energy/heating• 5. Free medicine, food, and clothes 5. Free medicine, food, and clothes

subsidiessubsidies• 6. Abolition of censorship, 6. Abolition of censorship,

surveillance, and travel restrictionssurveillance, and travel restrictions• 7. Reform of laws against gays, 7. Reform of laws against gays,

abortion, divorce abortion, divorce • 8. Limitations on property ownership8. Limitations on property ownership• 9. Preservation of natural beauty, 9. Preservation of natural beauty,

architecture, the artsarchitecture, the arts• 10. Laws against racial and religious 10. Laws against racial and religious

discriminationdiscrimination

Given the book burnings of the Hitler era, it became unpopular to advocate book burnings after WWII and there was a distinct increase in liberalism in Western cultures. However, there was less of an increase in liberalism in the American Deep South, where conservative religious groups occasionally burned books and rock music records during the 1950s, 60s, and later.

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The new liberalismThe new liberalism• Connally’s ideas represent a shift away Connally’s ideas represent a shift away

from the intellectual search for utopia from the intellectual search for utopia toward the policy-based pursuit of toward the policy-based pursuit of “enlightened hedonism” or humanism. “enlightened hedonism” or humanism.

• His ideas reflected what some in the His ideas reflected what some in the 1960s came to call “the permissive 1960s came to call “the permissive society.”society.”– Virtually everything he called for was Virtually everything he called for was

enacted into law in the 1960s across enacted into law in the 1960s across most Western democracies. These most Western democracies. These 1960s reforms dramatically altered 1960s reforms dramatically altered life in Western cultures. Citizens life in Western cultures. Citizens became more free than they had ever became more free than they had ever been. been.

– While the U.S. headed in this same While the U.S. headed in this same direction, there were relatively more direction, there were relatively more conservatives here that resisted these conservatives here that resisted these reforms. They argued the reforms reforms. They argued the reforms would lead to anarchy, bloated would lead to anarchy, bloated government, overly-restricted government, overly-restricted capitalism, and un-Christian capitalism, and un-Christian lifestyles.lifestyles.

• At the core of the ideological debate in At the core of the ideological debate in the U.S. were two opposing views of the U.S. were two opposing views of government, with liberals more willing government, with liberals more willing to use government as a tool to achieve to use government as a tool to achieve humanistic aims.humanistic aims.

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LBJLBJ• A Southerner, yet a product of the A Southerner, yet a product of the

rising liberalism of the erarising liberalism of the era• A reform liberalA reform liberal• IdealisticIdealistic• Social liberal: Social liberal:

– strong advocate for civil rights, strong advocate for civil rights, tolerant of social diversitytolerant of social diversity

• Economic liberal: Economic liberal: – government can regulate government can regulate

capitalism without harming it, capitalism without harming it, the welfare state as a force of the welfare state as a force of good, we need a war on povertygood, we need a war on poverty

• A hawk on foreign policy issuesA hawk on foreign policy issues– Strong militaryStrong military– Anti-communist Cold WarriorAnti-communist Cold Warrior– Domino theory containment Domino theory containment

policy advocatedpolicy advocated– Imperialism in the name of Imperialism in the name of

freedom is acceptable freedom is acceptable

Lyndon Baines Johnson

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LBJLBJ• To LBJ, civil rights was To LBJ, civil rights was thethe moral moral

issue facing the nation, and the issue facing the nation, and the South could never progress until it South could never progress until it buried Jim Crow.buried Jim Crow.– LBJ was himself a Southerner who LBJ was himself a Southerner who

understood both the South and understood both the South and poverty.poverty.

• One of LBJ’s most prideful One of LBJ’s most prideful accomplishments was the passage of accomplishments was the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.the 1964 Civil Rights Act.– From then on, LBJ expected the From then on, LBJ expected the

gratitude of Afro-Americans and gratitude of Afro-Americans and could never grasp why so many could never grasp why so many were angry at him by 1966.were angry at him by 1966.

• By 1966 his Vietnam war policies By 1966 his Vietnam war policies began to compete with his domestic began to compete with his domestic war on poverty programs. Johnson war on poverty programs. Johnson was caught between two wars at was caught between two wars at once, and many felt his domestic once, and many felt his domestic programs suffered.programs suffered.

This is a photo of LBJ being sworn in on the President’s plane soon after the assassination of John Kennedy on November 23, 1963. Johnson had been a key figure in the Senate before becoming Vice President in the Kennedy administration. He was therefore very familiar with the workings of Congress and was masterful at getting legislation passed.

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LBJ vs Barry Goldwater, 1964LBJ vs Barry Goldwater, 1964• A classic campaign that pitted two ideological purists A classic campaign that pitted two ideological purists

against each other: LBJ’s emphasis on equality against each other: LBJ’s emphasis on equality versus Goldwater’s emphasis on individual liberty.versus Goldwater’s emphasis on individual liberty.– Goldwater was more hawkish on foreign policy Goldwater was more hawkish on foreign policy

than LBJ and endorsed a “get tough” policy than LBJ and endorsed a “get tough” policy against reds.against reds.

– LBJ, like most Democrats, feared being labeled LBJ, like most Democrats, feared being labeled “soft” on communism so he too pushed an “soft” on communism so he too pushed an aggressive foreign policy aimed at containing aggressive foreign policy aimed at containing communism.communism.

• In the campaign, LBJ painted Goldwater as likely to In the campaign, LBJ painted Goldwater as likely to start World War III while he painted himself as the start World War III while he painted himself as the candidate of peace and moderation.candidate of peace and moderation.– The The Daisy Girl TV advertisement implied a vote implied a vote

for Goldwater was a vote for nuclear holocaust. It for Goldwater was a vote for nuclear holocaust. It was an effective negative ad that was a harbinger was an effective negative ad that was a harbinger of future media tactics by both political parties.of future media tactics by both political parties.

– LBJ presented himself as the peace candidate, yet LBJ presented himself as the peace candidate, yet in reality he was seriously considering a dramatic in reality he was seriously considering a dramatic escalation of American troop presence in Vietnam. escalation of American troop presence in Vietnam.

• LBJ, a Southerner, took most of the North, East and LBJ, a Southerner, took most of the North, East and West, but failed to take the Deep South.West, but failed to take the Deep South.

Goldwater was an economic conservative. He was opposed to New Deal policies and crusaded against the federal government, welfare policies, and labor unions. But he was not a social conservative and would probably not identify much with the current Republican platform.

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Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, 1964Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, 1964• LBJ used the Gulf of Tonkin incident LBJ used the Gulf of Tonkin incident

(August, 1964) involving (August, 1964) involving dubiousdubious reports reports that U.S. warships had been attacked to that U.S. warships had been attacked to win a congressional resolution giving him a win a congressional resolution giving him a free hand in crafting policy in Vietnam.free hand in crafting policy in Vietnam.– This resolution was passed after less This resolution was passed after less

than 9 hours of consideration by a than 9 hours of consideration by a Congress that did not seriously consider Congress that did not seriously consider the consequences of giving the the consequences of giving the President so much war-making President so much war-making authority. authority. • The Congressional vote was The Congressional vote was

unanimous. It passed by 416 to 0. unanimous. It passed by 416 to 0. The Senate vote was 82 to 2.The Senate vote was 82 to 2.

– At that time, Vietnam was not an area of At that time, Vietnam was not an area of national concern.national concern.

– After securing Congress’s approval with After securing Congress’s approval with this resolution, LBJ dramatically this resolution, LBJ dramatically escalated U.S. involvement in Vietnam.escalated U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

• Subsequent information suggests the Subsequent information suggests the entire incident did not occur and was entire incident did not occur and was manufactured by the Pentagon for the manufactured by the Pentagon for the benefit of LBJ.benefit of LBJ.

This is a painting of the USS Maddox, the ship involved with the Gulf of Tonkin incident. It was claimed at the time that the Maddox was attacked by three North Vietnamese torpedo boats while in international waters. It has been subsequently learned that the Maddox was actually doing electronic surveillance near North Vietnamese waters and that there probably was never a torpedo attack.

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LBJ’s Great SocietyLBJ’s Great Society• As a reform liberal, LBJ As a reform liberal, LBJ

believed in the power of believed in the power of government to meet social government to meet social needs and to redistribute needs and to redistribute limited resources to the limited resources to the poor.poor.

• LBJ prioritized domestic LBJ prioritized domestic policy initially (1964-65)policy initially (1964-65)– 1. Civil rights (against 1. Civil rights (against

racism)racism)– 2. War on poverty2. War on poverty

• However, by 1966, his new However, by 1966, his new priority was Vietnam and his priority was Vietnam and his domestic policies suffered as domestic policies suffered as he redirected resources he redirected resources toward the war. toward the war. – This priority switch This priority switch

greatly angered civil greatly angered civil rights advocates and rights advocates and doomed LBJ due to the doomed LBJ due to the difficulties of fighting two difficulties of fighting two wars at once.wars at once.

Note the dramatic drop in poverty under the Johnson policies. The war on poverty included many programs, some of which - like food stamps and guaranteed college loans - remain popular today. This war targeted both rural and inner city poverty, and was perhaps more effective at fighting rural poverty. Inner city poverty is partly related to the failure of private capitalists to provided urban jobs, and there is an on-going ideological debate over whether and how government should help with jobs.

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The War on PovertyThe War on Poverty• In 1960, the overall poverty rate was around In 1960, the overall poverty rate was around

21%.21%.• The basic approach of LBJ’s War on Poverty:The basic approach of LBJ’s War on Poverty:

– 1. Outlaw racial discrimination, emphasize 1. Outlaw racial discrimination, emphasize equal opportunity.equal opportunity.

– 2. Use government programs to help the 2. Use government programs to help the poor.poor.• A. Give poor communities resources for A. Give poor communities resources for

them to decide usage. them to decide usage. Ex: Community Action Ex: Community Action programs.programs.

• B. Create new welfare programs tied to a B. Create new welfare programs tied to a perceived “culture of poverty” among the perceived “culture of poverty” among the poor, like job training programs.poor, like job training programs.

– This was the preferred approach. LBJ This was the preferred approach. LBJ wanted to offer the poor wanted to offer the poor opportunityopportunity – not – not money.money.

• Result: Result: – Poverty declined by 1970 to around 12%.Poverty declined by 1970 to around 12%.– The welfare state had grown very large and The welfare state had grown very large and

was expensive.was expensive.– Dramatic upward mobility for some minority Dramatic upward mobility for some minority

groups.groups.– Raised expectations among the poor, some Raised expectations among the poor, some

of which were not met.of which were not met.

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The War on Poverty: programs and The War on Poverty: programs and beneficiariesbeneficiaries

• LBJ’s War on Poverty emphasized LBJ’s War on Poverty emphasized new government resourcesnew government resources– Food stampsFood stamps– AFDC (Aid for Families with Dependent AFDC (Aid for Families with Dependent

Children)Children)– Medicaid (medical care for the poor)Medicaid (medical care for the poor)– Public housingPublic housing– Jobs programsJobs programs– School and child programsSchool and child programs– College loansCollege loans

• The beneficiariesThe beneficiaries– The poorThe poor– Minority groupsMinority groups– The aged The aged

• In 1960, 40% of seniors were poor. In 1960, 40% of seniors were poor. • By 1970, 25% were poor. By 1970, 25% were poor. • By 1974, 16% were poor.By 1974, 16% were poor.

– StudentsStudents

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Consequences of the War on Consequences of the War on PovertyPoverty• The War on Poverty raised the expectations The War on Poverty raised the expectations

of blacks, and when many remained poor – of blacks, and when many remained poor – especially in the ghetto – their continued especially in the ghetto – their continued poverty contributed to anger and rioting.poverty contributed to anger and rioting.

• The execution of the War on Poverty was The execution of the War on Poverty was sloppy in many cases, and some policies sloppy in many cases, and some policies were more harmful than helpful.were more harmful than helpful.– Example: public housing projects were Example: public housing projects were

probably more harmful than helpful in probably more harmful than helpful in cities like Boston.cities like Boston.

• Conservatives and many moderates were Conservatives and many moderates were upset at the rise of the liberal welfare state, upset at the rise of the liberal welfare state, arguing that it cut into individual initiative arguing that it cut into individual initiative and created a class of welfare dependents.and created a class of welfare dependents.– This is a valid point, yet in virtually all This is a valid point, yet in virtually all

other Western democracies, the welfare other Western democracies, the welfare state was much more developed and did state was much more developed and did not seem to cut into productivity. not seem to cut into productivity.

• The war on poverty, while costly, did indeed The war on poverty, while costly, did indeed ultimately reduce overall poverty by more ultimately reduce overall poverty by more than 43%, but it did not eliminate ghettos.than 43%, but it did not eliminate ghettos.

The 1965 Watts riots reflected the anger and frustration of inner city racial minorities who were frustrated by years of racism, poverty, and neglect. The civil rights movement was a decade old by now and the war on poverty was already under way. Their expectations had been raised, yet little had changed in their lives.

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1960s Riots1960s Riots• By 1964 American cities, especially in By 1964 American cities, especially in

the Northern industrial regions, were the Northern industrial regions, were filled with racial and class tensions.filled with racial and class tensions.

• The inner cities were The inner cities were disproportionately racial minorities. disproportionately racial minorities. This is because industrial jobs were This is because industrial jobs were concentrated here and offered racial concentrated here and offered racial minorities a chance for upward minorities a chance for upward mobility.mobility.

• In the 1960s, industry began to close In the 1960s, industry began to close down these inner city jobs as they down these inner city jobs as they migrated their factories to the migrated their factories to the suburbs, the South, and to foreign suburbs, the South, and to foreign countries seeking cheaper labor. As a countries seeking cheaper labor. As a result, unemployment in the inner result, unemployment in the inner city shot up to as high as 50%. city shot up to as high as 50%.

• Yet at the same time, the civil rights Yet at the same time, the civil rights movement had raised the hopes of movement had raised the hopes of urban blacks living in these ghettos. urban blacks living in these ghettos.

• As blacks saw little change in their As blacks saw little change in their conditions, they rioted in frustration.conditions, they rioted in frustration.

• The most significant riots were the The most significant riots were the Harlem riot (1964), the Watts riot Harlem riot (1964), the Watts riot (1965), Detroit (1967), Newark (1965), Detroit (1967), Newark (1967) and Washington (1968). (1967) and Washington (1968). Between 1964 and 1971 there would Between 1964 and 1971 there would be hundreds of riots – as many as 750 be hundreds of riots – as many as 750 by some counts.by some counts.

The Detroit riots of 1967 were among the worst in the nation’s history. The causes included police racism and brutality, lack of inner city jobs, lack of affordable housing, urban renewal projects that were bulldozing black neighborhoods, and rising black militancy, among others. The War on Poverty had not produced enough tangible effects in the inner cities, and by 1967, Johnson had shifted his attention to the Vietnam conflict, angering inner city residents.

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LBJLBJ• To LBJ, the Great Society was a To LBJ, the Great Society was a

culture of equal opportunity in culture of equal opportunity in which a beneficent government which a beneficent government created new resources to raise created new resources to raise the standard of living for all, rich the standard of living for all, rich and poor, black and white. and poor, black and white.

• Between 1964-1965 LBJ Between 1964-1965 LBJ succeeded in passing more succeeded in passing more legislation than many Presidents legislation than many Presidents pass in their entire careers. pass in their entire careers.

• His accomplishments were His accomplishments were unprecedented, yet as he unprecedented, yet as he increased U.S. involvement in increased U.S. involvement in Vietnam he could no longer Vietnam he could no longer sustain his promise for the Great sustain his promise for the Great Society.Society.

• Frustration and anger among the Frustration and anger among the poor, students, liberals, and poor, students, liberals, and minority groups would rise and minority groups would rise and LBJ’s remaining tenure would be LBJ’s remaining tenure would be conflict-ridden as he increasingly conflict-ridden as he increasingly devoted the bulk of U.S. devoted the bulk of U.S. resources to the war in Vietnam resources to the war in Vietnam by 1966.by 1966.

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