Biography of Lyndon B. Johnson

Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ) was born August 27, 1908. He was the 36th President of the United States and served from 1963 to 1969. He also served as the 37th Vice President of the United States under John F. Kennedy from 1961 until 1963.

Johnson succeeded to the presidency directly after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and was elected president during the landslide victory in 1964. He was a major leader for the Democratic Party and was responsible for the "Great Society" legislation which included many civil rights, Medicare, Medicaid, education funding, and the "War on Poverty." He also escalated the American involvement in the Vietnam War, raising the number of troops from 16,000 to 550,000 during his four years in office.

Johnson served as a United States Representative from Texas from 1937 until 1949 then served as a U.S. Senator from 1949 to 1960 which included six years as U.S. Senate Majority Leader, two years as Senate Minority Leader, and two years as Senate Majority Whip.

After his 1960 campaign for Democratic nomination for presidency failed, he was selected by JFK to be his running-mate. Once he took office after the JFK assassination, his popularity declined. His reelection bid in 1968 fell short due to the Democratic party opposing the Vietnam War. He withdrew his election bid and concentrated on peacemaking. He was renowned for his personality and the "Johnson treatment," his persuasion techniques of powerful politicians.

Johnson died after suffering his third heart attack, on January 22, 1973.

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