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1. How did Johnson rise to power?

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About this Lecture

Lecture

In this module, we think about Lyndon Johnson came to power, focusing in particular on: (i) Johnson's family background and early life; (ii) his early career: teaching training college, teaching in Cotulla, legislative secretary to Richard M. Kleberg, head of the National Youth Administration in Texas; (iii) Johnson's political ideology; (iv) move into national politics: congressman in 1937, senator in 1948, senate minority leader in 1953, senate majority leader in 1955; (v) his decision to run for the democratic nomination in 1960, his loss to John F. Kennedy, but his selection as Kennedy's vice-presidential running-mate; (vi) Johnson's time as vice-president and, after Kennedy's assassination on 22 November 1963, his elevation to the presidency.

Course

In this course, Professor Mark White (Queen Mary, University of London) explores the life, political career and presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson through five key questions: (1) How did Johnson rise to power?; (2) Why did Johnson go to war in Vietnam?; (3) Why could Johnson not win in Vietnam?; (4) Why did Johnson launch the Great Society and how successful was it?; and (5) What was Johnson's legacy?

Lecturer

Mark White is Professor of History at Queen Mary, University of London, specialising in US foreign policy in the Cold War and the US presidency since 1945. His recent publications include Against the President: Dissent and Decision-Making in the White House (2007) and The Presidency of Bill Clinton: The Legacy of a New Domestic and Foreign Policy (2012)