Lbj's Decision example essay topic

The rise and fall of Power of Lyndon B. Johnson The 36th president of the United States was the first president to take the oath of office in an airplane. This president is known as Lyndon B. Johnson. LBJ was born on August 27, 1908 near Stonewall, Texas in a small farmhouse on the Pedernales River. LBJ's father, Sam, was a successful lawyer while his mother, Rebekah, was a house wife. As a child Johnson wanted to stand out from the rest and that's exactly what he did. Politics played an important role of his growing up.

His father was active in politics. Sam never lost an election running for legislature six times and winning every time. You will soon discover after reading this that Johnson's presidency was filled with many ups and downs. That is why I'm going to tell you about the rise and fall of power of Lyndon B. Johnson.

Lyndon B. Johnson accomplished many things. His most important era in his presidentency (1963-1968) was his progress of Civil Rights for blacks. One of Johnson's most prized bills was the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In this bill was the nondiscrimination of blacks in public accommodations. The next bill LBJ attained was the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

This bill provided elaborate and more effective federal machinery for registering voters and also assuring the right to vote in certain areas of the nation. While LBJ was in office he also appointed a number of blacks to higher office. He wanted to make a difference in the nation and wanted to give equal rights to everyone. As LBJ took over the presidency that Kennedy had left behind, one of LBJ's first actions was to fully commit himself to the civil rights bill. He believed it would help heal the nation in the wake of Kennedy's assassination (The Presidents and their Decisions, pg. 119). LBJ was determined to rise above his own limitations on race and to bring the country with him, "I'm going to be the President who finishes what Lincoln began", (The Presidents and their Decisions, pg. 120).

LBJ had seen the civil rights reform as an essential to the well being of his native region. He saw the personal gain from pressing ahead with the civil rights legislation. On November 25, LBJ told the nations government that he expected bipartism approval of the bill in the house. "The real problem will be in the senate". On June 10th, the 75th day of debate, the senate voted. LBJ and his officials had predicted 69 votes.

With the final tally of 71 to 29, LBJ took full satisfaction as this had been a historic gain. On July 2nd, LBJ signed the bill in front of a national television audience. LBJ had his doubts about he new law and how the South would take the change. "Johnson did more for the cause of black civil rights than any previous president", remarks Steven F. Lawson.

Through LBJ's early decision to commit himself to the cause of racial equality resulted in the passage of 3 landmark laws: the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Voting Rights Act of 1965, and Civil Rights Act of 1968. LBJ had spent his final months remembering the struggles he went through to achieve civil rights. He was still aware that there was much to be done with the civil rights law after he left office. LBJ stated that he thought the bills that were passed had very little or no effect on the blacks that were located in the ghettos or in the rural poverty areas. As Johnson ordered bombing raids and sent small numbers of combat troops to Vietnam in August of 1964, he made the most fateful decision of his presidentency in July 1965.

This was known as one of his most fateful decisions because he authorized sending 175,000-200,000 troops to Vietnam and promised to send more if needed. The American people were outraged by this increase. Throughout June and July of 1965, the question of Americanizing the war was at the center of all foreign discussion. With this as a possible action, LBJ had clearly decided to Americanize the war by changing the context of commitment. McNamara urged LBJ to ask the congress to permit calling up 235,000 reservists to active service and to provide a supplemental appropriation to cover the increased costs of the war (Presidents and their Decisions, pg. 161). Loge vall insists that the decision to escalate was primarily Johnson's and was mostly motivated by a need to secure his personal credibility withdrawal from Vietnam because it would have been a personal humiliation and a threat to Johnson's sense of his own manhood (Presidents and their decisions, pg. 175).

LBJ would sometimes say in private that he couldn't with draw from Vietnam because it would lead to his impeachment, but he was too smart as a politician to believe such a thing (Presidents and their decisions, pg. 184). Johnson made his decision to Americanize the war in July. Americanization of the war sparked the first sustained antiwar protests in the United States. Almost 1,000 demonstrators took a page from the manual of the Civil Rights Movement and held a sit-in outside of the White House.

LBJ halted the bombing with a well-publicized diplomatic offensive. He sent envoys to European, Asian, African, and Latin American capitals carrying a message of America's desire for peace. At the end of January 1966, LBJ judged the costs of getting out of the war higher than the costs of staying in (The Presidents and their Decisions, pg. 190). He then authorized additional increases in American troop levels to almost 400,000 by the end of 1966, nearly 2 million during the following year.

When the end of 1967 approached the American public support for the war had dropped to only 39%. The president's performance was not being approved by the American public. Johnson made it clear of his decision to de-escalate the war and withdraw from the presidential race in a speech on March 31, 1968. Tonight, I renew the offer I made last August-to stop the bombardment of North Vietnam.

We ask that talks begin promptly, that they be serious talks on the substance of peace. We assume that during those talks Hanoi will not take advantage of our restraint. We are prepared to move immediately toward peace through negotiations. So, tonight, in the hope that this action will lead to early talks, I am taking the first step to deescalate the conflict.

We are reducing-substantially reducing-the present level of hostilities. And we are doing so unilaterally, and at once. Tonight, I have ordered our aircraft and our naval vessels to make no attacks on North Vietnam, except in the area north of the demilitarized zone where the continuing enemy buildup directly threatens allied forward positions and where the movement of their troops and supplies are clearly related to that threat. The area in which we are stopping our attacks includes almost 90 percent of North Vietnam's populated areas, or in the food-producing areas of North Vietnam... I believe that a peaceful Asia is far nearer to reality because of what America has done in Vietnam.

I believe that the men who endure the dangers of battle-fighting there for us tonight are helping the entire world avoid far greater conflicts, far wider wars, far more destruction, than this one... Through all time to come, I think America will be a stronger nation, a more just society, and a land of greater opportunity and fulfillment because of what we have all done together in these years of unparalleled achievement. Our reward will come in the life of freedom, peace, and hope that our children will enjoy through ages ahead. What we won when all of our people united must not now be last in suspicion, distrust, selfishness, and politics among any of out people.

Believing this as I do, I have concluded that I should not permit the Presidency to become involved in the partisan divisions that are developing in this political year. With America's sons in the fields far away with America's future under challenge right here at home, with our hopes and the worlds hopes for peace in the balance everyday, I do not believe that I should devote an hour or a day of my time to any personal partisan causes or to any duties of the office-the Presidency of your country. Accordingly, I shall not seek, and I will not accept the nomination of my party for another term as you president. LBJ's decision not to run for reelection had stunned the nation. LBJ believed that removing himself from the presidential race would ruin the passage of his domestic programs, help resolve the Vietnam War, and "heal" the wounds now separating the country (Joseph A. Califate, pg. 212). After researching and learning new interesting facts about Lyndon B. Johnson, I believe he was a strong president.

He was successful in passing new bills and bringing together the South, the importance of this research was to inform you of the rise and fall of power of LBJ. I believe I did this through the struggles of the Vietnam War. One last quote of Johnson's to close this research, "We believe that all men are created equal. Yet many are denied equal treatment"-Lyndon B. Johnson, 1964.