The 1960s

Lyndon B. Johnson

By Jessica Gregory, Allison Moody, Jin Kim, Susima Weerakoon, and Florian Bechtold

Print Culture

     During the 1960s, thinking and questioning were valued, especially among young people. This allowed literature to thrive.

     Some important novels of the decade include In Cold Blood ('66) by Truman Capote, Slaughterhouse Five ('69) by Kurt Vonnegut Jr, Herzog ('64) by Saul Bellow, and The Reivers ('62) by William Faulkner. Other popular novels include the James Bond series by Ian Fleming, Arthur Hailey's Hotel ('65) and Airport ('68), and Valley of the Dolls ('66) by Jacqueline Susann. Some novels we now know as classics also debuted during this time, such as To Kill a Mockingbird ('60) by Harper Lee, Stranger in a Strange Land ('61) by Robert Heinlein, and Dune ('65) by Frank Herbert.

     Increased funding for libraries helped children's books grow in popularity throughout the decade, such as The Outsiders ('67) by S.E. Hinton, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler ('67) by E.L. Konigsburg, and Where the Wild Things Are ('63) by Maurice Sendak.

     There were many changes that took place in the world of literature during the 1960s as well. Making novels into films became increasingly prevalent. As more Americans turned to TV for entertainment and news, sales of general magazines began to decline. But new, specialized magazines thrived, such as Rolling Stone. Comic books also enjoyed popularity, espcially Spiderman, who was created in 1962.

Business &  the Economy

     After a prosperous 1950's, the US economy was now looking into a bright future. With a tremendous rising median family income (from $8,540 to $10,770 by 1969) and a relativly low unemployment rate of 4%, the population now had money to spend on enjoyment rather then live-necessary things such as food and cloths. This wealth was due to a booming US economy domestically as well as abroad, fueled by constant supply of new technologies. With big companies like GM and Ford, America started moving away more and more from an agricultural nation. In fact, by 1965, GM, Ford and Standard Oil of New Jersey (nowadys Exxon) combined surpassed the profits of all US farms. With Johnson also came along a more caring government by expanding social-security benefits.

     But the times weren't all positive. With new economys emerging in Japan and a rebuilding Europe, the US started to feel for the first time the competitive globalizing market, abroad as well as at home. Also the government continued to expand their role as a sozial government through scientific fundings, military expenses, and the Space Race, employing a total of 3.9% of the population by 1970, moving away from the US's general idea of a free market economy. Through these government expenses and Johnsons economic plans, inflation became a major problem by the late 1960's. Lastly, with the Vietman War, Johnson started to increase military spending, partially to boost economy, employing 3.4 million military personals, questioning the intentions of an expanding US economy.

Government & Politics

Domestic:

     At home during the 1960's the US started to extend it's New Deal strategies with the two democratic presidents (Kennedy and Johnson). Ecspecially during Johnson's presidency, concepts from the 1930's such as medicare, aid to education, and housing programs were passed to make the US a more sozialist government. Also, the great democratic victory in 1964 led to an increased power to Johnson, giving him more power to pass bills on his war on povertiy and civil rights legislation. But besides that the proabably greatest political achievments were the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act, following the year later. For the first time, African Americans across the US had equal rights that were ensured by the federal government, bringing an end to white supremacy.

Abroad:

     After WWII, America gained the title of "the single most powerful nation in the world, militarily and economically"(Tompkins, 3). In order to remain in that position, the US attempted to block the expansion in power of the Soviet Union and the PRC (People's Republic of China). Early in the decade, Americans believed this would lead to a war against the UssR, involving the recently tested and developed nuclear weapons (peak ppint: Cuban Missel Crisis 1962). As the 60s progressed though, tension started to be released between Soviet Russia and the "free world" leader, hinting at Nixons relaxation strategies for the countrys' relationship. Besides that though, America started to play a more agressive international role, contradicting to it's previous isolationism strategy during the two world wars. The best example for that would be the Vietnam war, in which Johnson activly declared war against the communist movements in Asia. In 1965, Johnson started bombing Vietnam following the sending of troups later that year. But much to Johnson's dislike, the public started to pay more attention to the issue after this bombing, questioning the US motives in the war. The war thus became a question of America's intentions and place in the world, making it the biggest debating during the 1968 presidential campaign, responding to huge public demonstrations against the war.

Film & Theatre

At the start of the sixties the movie making business was in a slump due to the rise of television. They wanted to find a way to get the attention of television watchers everywhere; they came up with big-budget movies. This was the start of the big-budget blockbuster that we see today. Another idea was to make movies with mature content, that could not be allowed to air on TV, which gave movie makers the edge they needed on television to attract viewers again. But the same edge also became a problem, as religious groups protested the showing of “racy” movies and started to rate the films, and in 1968 the Motion Picture Association cam up with a rating system still used today. Some of the most famous films of our time were made during this time, such as: 2001: Space Odyssey, Psycho, and West Side Story. It became very popular to adapt Broadway plays into movies, and attendance to movie was larger than for the play. And to deal with the dire times beach movies were made, which allowed an escape from the social issues of the times.

Law and Justice:

    The 1960s were a turbulent time from a legal perspective. Ignited by Rosa Parks' brave act of rebellion on a city bus, the Civil Rights movement took off, with brave and compassionate leaders such as Martin Luther King, Jr. Discriminatory justice systems, especially in the South, had their hands full trying to put down the protesters, African American and white alike. 

    Riots and violence broke out everywhere, such as on May 20, 1961, when a white mob attacked a group of bus riders known as the "Freedom Riders." Race riots ignited in July of 1963 in Newark and Detroit, killing 27 and 43 people respectively.  A bomb exploded in the largest African American church in Birmingham, AL, on September 15, 1963, which killed four girls and ignited more violence.

    Many civil rights leaders were murdered, like Malcolm X on February 21, 1965, and Martin Luther King, Jr, on April 4, 1968.

    The police worked to stop the Civil Rights movement, breaking up marches and trying to prevent the integration of schools and other public places. They also arrested many civil rights leaders and activists, and even brutally attacked crowds of peaceful protesters with dogs, clubs, whips, and hoses.

      The Supreme Court made several rulings in favor of civil rights, such as on February 25, 1963, when it ruled in Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. United States that motels and hotels could not turn guests away based on race. On June 12, 1967, in Loving v. Virginia, the court ruled that laws prohibiting interracial marriage were unconstitutional. 

    There were a few victories, however. Civil Rights Act of 1964 finally provided for the desegregation of all public facilities. Thurgood Marshall became the first African American Justice on the Supreme Court.

    There was more going on in the 1960s than just civil rights, however. Criminals such as the 'Boston Strangler' and the Manson "Family" committed gruesome murders, and two beloved political figures, President John F. Kennedy and later his brother Robert F. Kennedy were assassinated. Social unrest was growing due to the public's disapproval of the Vietnam War. In one Supreme Court case, Tinker v. Des Moines, it was ruled that high school students had the right to protest the Vietnam War by wearing black armbands.

Music: 

All types of music gained popularity, and a group of devoted fans. Meanwhile rock, which was still popular from the fifties, split into two groups, soft rock (it sounded a lot like pop) and hard rock (was very rebellious).

Types of Music:

Folk: It became very popular with the rise of Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, it was still the soft acoustic but it was filled with social and political commentary. Through protesting the Vietnam War folk gained popularity and listeners. Dylan and the group Simon and Garfunkel led the way in the folk rock.

Rock (Soft): The Beatles were introduced on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 and led what was called the “British Invasion”. The Who, The Rolling Stones, and The Animals, soon all had number one hits in America. In an attempt to gain similar popularity a television station created a band that was essentially the American version of the Beatles. The Monkees were actors; three out of the four of them could not play instruments, scored many number one hits. The Beach Boys were also popular, as they embodied the beach party feeling of Southern California, giving the pop stations soft songs to play.

Rock (Hard): Hard rock is not what it means now, back then it was a form of musical and artistic expression. The Beatles and the Beach Boys moved from soft rock to hard rock, and led the way for other musicians. Those from San Francisco, California pushed rock to have an even harder edge, and The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, and Janis Joplin helped psychedelic rock. Jimi Hendrix and others experimented with sounds known as acid rock. In addition, two music festivals revealed the highs and lows of the rock and roll subculture: Woodstock (1969) and Altamont (1969).

Other: While the rock revolution was in full swing, another type of music was busy getting hit after hit: Motown. Motown started in Detroit, Michigan and was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. It combined gospel, jazz, rhythm and blues (R&B), and rock and roll and took in young and promising acts from the area. Acts such as Diana Ross, the Supremes, Smokey Robinson, the Miracles, the Temptations, the Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder, who all got their start in Motown.

Sports and Games:

     Vince Lombardi, the extremely successful coach of the Green Bay Packers (won NFL championships in his 9 years with them) once said, "Winning is not everything; it is the only thing". This single quote summarized the idea and perspective of sports during this decade. Before this period, amateurism had always been seen as an important thing, a way to build yourself up before entering the pros. It had been about both mental and physical greatness, the idea that you should have a good balance between the two. However, this decade changed things. This idea of mental and physical balance was seen as "naive" as sports businesses grew larger and more powerful. 

     The main reason for this impacting change was the idea of sponsorship. Big brand name companies had to have a way to advertise their new products, logos, and ideas. They had started with other methods, but soon sports would become the main component for advertisement. And so with advertisement going up, the pressure to perform well went up. You had to succeed for more attention and media, and with more attention and media came more exposure. So with more exposure, more advertisement opportunities came.

     WIth the pressure of higher performance came the pressure of doing better than others. And in order to be top in your class, you had to either train harder, or use drugs to enhance your performance. The first one everyone thinks of is steroids. Steroids in this decade were huge, as many people did not know about the long term medical threats to your health. All they knew was that it had bad side effects, but nothing like we know of it today.

     Gambling also became a huge factor, because higher publicity meant that you could gamble with higher prices. Many referees were arrested for fixing games, and suspicion of fixing games grew much higher.

     The fans grew in numbers during the 1960's. As technology, mainly the T.V., grew in popularity and lowered in price, average families and more Americans were able to get access to the newfound exciting sports. Americans would never ditch their beloved baseball, but they soon found that it would not offer the drama of a football game or the excitement of a basketball game. College sports grew in popularity because they were much cheaper to broadcast, but college directors were behind in negotiations with tv broadcasters when compared to professional leagues.

Food and Drinks:

     During the 1960's, the famous drink known as Sprite emerged. Sprite first came out in 1961, greatly impacting the American society. When it first came out, it was not widely known. However, we now all recognize it one of the main drinks of our society, behind only Coke. Society helped in the development of these two companies, further enhancing the prosperous economy.

Fashion

     The 60’s were a time of transition and the “move from conservative Jacqueline Kennedy dress suits, large American-made cars with tail fins and gargantuan engines, built-to-last American modern sofas, and pure-form glass-box buildings to thigh-high miniskirts and dirty blue jeans, small foreign cars, pink disposable plastic chairs, and gaudy Las Vegas-inspired building” clearly defines a decade in American history where the fashion trends were moving from conservative to liberal.

     After World War Two America had mounds of wealth and they were financially secure so money seemed to be at an unlimited supply and people were more than willing to spend money on new outfits.

     Businesses enjoyed this desire to spend that was engraved into Americans, and businesses started making clothes that were more disposable than before with synthetic materials that were cheaper than the materials that had been previously used. Before, clothes lasted a long time and women could stay relatively in fashion from season to season without buying new clothes. But now businesses were making clothes that were not long lasting and ‘faddish.’ This brought consumers in more frequently and helped the synthetics industry boom.

     During the early 60’s Jacqueline Kennedy was a major style icon that showed women to be stylish simply and conservatively. But that changed in 1964 when a young British designer, Mary Quant, swept the scene. She became very popular and known for the mod look which included: “mini-skirts, brightly colored shift dresses, dark eye makeup, and wild ties, blouses, and stockings.” As well as the “space age” look which was inspired by the new advances in science and technology. Also men started to pay more attention to their style. Instead of the gray flannel suit and a buzz cut, more and more men experimented with wilder patterns and colors and went to styling salons rather than barbershops. Some men began to wear their hair much longer.

     With the mod look came more fashion freedom for women. The social rules of what women could and could not wear were beginning to fade away. The panty hose, made from strong synthetics, was introduced so women stopped wearing garter belts. Some women even went bra less. Also pants for women were a huge revolution. Even though they were wearing pants at home and in sports for a long time it was in the 60’s where pants for women were becoming high fashion. “After a good deal of opposition from country clubs, fine restaurants, and other establishments, women were largely emancipated from the requirement that they wear skirts.”

     Hippies were also an important fashion trend, although ironically they advocated “anti-fashion.” This was a belief that all fashion was a “suspicious alignment with establishment materialism and moral failing.” So, hippies opted for secondhand clothing, dirty T-shirts, unkempt hair, torn blue jeans, and costumes from other ethnicities that were not western, which were believed to be less corrupt.

Religion

     In the beginning of the decade the protestant churches held their dominance over society but towards the end of the decade those churches were losing their membership.

• When JFK was elected president it was an important day for American Roman Catholics because it was the first time a protestant was not president.
• Due to assimilation the Jewish community was feeling a loss of identity in the beginning of the decade but in 1967 when Israel won the Six Day war against Egypt, Jordan and Syria their pride in their heritage was renewed.
• Mormons were spreading west into the U.S. and around the world. Their membership grew from “1,486,887 in 1960 to 1,930,811 in 1968 [making] it one of the fastest-growing religious groups during the decade.” In 1969 a new church was built in Washington D.C. symbolizing the arrival of church in the center of American society.
• New faiths were also appearing. When immigration restrictions were lessened Islam gained popularity and “with the expansion of the black nationalist movement of Elijah Muhammad's Nation of Islam” one of their most famous speakers, Malcolm X, was assassinated in 1965.
• Religions from Asia also gained followers in the U.S. Such as the Krishna consciousness movement which opened up in California.
• The Metropolitan Community church was organized by Troy Perry in 1968, which later organized as the Universal Fellowship of Community Churches, that served a majority of homosexuals.

The Way We Lived

The 1960s was a time of protesting and civil unrest, there were several movements including: the civil rights movement, the gay liberation movement, and the women's movement. Everyone who participated found that their lives were changed by what they saw and who they met, which expanded their horizons and led to changes in the world that they were trying to change. While all of these movements were taking place, one changed America the most and that was the youth movement. The youth movement had no real leader or purpose; it was more of a trend that the youth should live free without responsibilities.  

Civil Rights: Led my Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., the civil rights movement was a peaceful protest of discrimination and segregation in America, which was met by violent forces. Sit-ins and boycotts were staged and they were met by violent resistance, which caused the government to step in. The most famous act of non-violent resistance was the March on Washington in 1963, where thousands of African Americans and other races gathered to fight discrimination.

Women’s Movement: After the women saw the success of the civil rights movement, they joined together to gain the rights that they believed were rightfully theirs. The amendment that they proposed did not pass, but they did gain rights in abortion, divorce, and in the job market.

Youth Movement: Many youths joined this movement; the most popular among the college students was the antiwar protests, they would gathering on college campuses and peacefully protest Vietnam. All around the United States youths were rejecting the old American values, and they were becoming “hippies” where they dropped out of college and took the beliefs of free-love, drug use, and shared property. Drug use was on the rise, the most popular being marijuana and LSD, which killed many, including rock stars such as Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin.

President's Name

Lyndon B. Johnson

Where I Live(ed):

Stonewall, Texas (TX); Johnson City, Texas (TX); Cotulla, Texas (TX); Washington D.C.;

Website: Official White House Biography

Date of Birth:

August 7, 1908 in Stonewall Texas

Date of Death:

January 2, 1973 in Stonewall Texas; of a heart attack on my Texas Ranch

Political Views:

I support the Democrats

Religious Views:

Protestant

Years Served as President:

1963-1969

Occupations:

American president, Legislator, Congressperson (U.S. federal government), Writer, Teacher, Congressional Secretary, Clerk for an Attorney, Texas state director of the National Youth Administration, Lieutenant Commander in the Navy, Vice President

Interests/Hobbies:

• Golf
• Poker
• Helping the poorly treated lower class
• Spending time with Lady Bird
• Supporting the civil rights movement

Education:

• Johnson City High School; graduated one of six in a class

• Southwest Texas State Teacher's College (SWTSTC)

   

Friends:

• Sam Rayburn
• Richard Kleberg
• Claudia Alta ("Lady Bird") Taylor
• John F. Kennedy
•  Senator Edward ("Ted") Kennedy
• Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Hubert Humphrey
• Everett Dirksen

Sports:

• Golf

• Poker

During my stint as president, the political, social and economic factors and challenges that I had to deal with (at home) included:

Political:

• After Kennedy was assassinated, I was able to push much of his legislation through in his memory.
• The Civil Rights Movement produced legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to guarantee African American rights. It forbade discrimination by race in public places or by employers, and protected African Americans' right to vote.
• I created social programs such as Great Society and War on Poverty. The Economic Opportunity Act authorized ten programs involving everything from volunteering to helping deprived children and the unemployed to allowing poor people to have more of a say in government. 
• I tried to reform everything I could. I created Medicare, federally supported health services for the elderly and disabled, and I signed into law many acts for education, like the Education Act of 1965 to aid primary and secondary schools, finance colleges, provide scholarships to needy students, and more. I even created the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities. 
• My War on Poverty helped improve housing for the poor by constructing thousands of low-rent homes, subsidizing rent for low-income families, and passing acts to develop rural areas and improve and rebuild urban areas as well.
• Public opinion turned against me in the midst of the Vietnam War, as inflation and strikes were rising, and my Great Society program was losing momentum. Riots and the threat of race war grew more and more intense as various cities exploded in violence, and I became a national scapegoat. There was intense dissent against me and extremely vocal opposition, especially from college students. Chanting protesters made me so unwelcome in public that I was practically stuck in the White House.

Social

• As the Vietnam war waged on, Americans saw on their televisions the war and the people being killed. Protesters lined the streets chanting things like "Hey, hey, LBJ. How many kids did you kill today?" and they blamed me for a war that I didn't even start. More and more people began joining in the protests, and my approval rating plummeted, it got so bad that I had to back out of the race in 1968.  

                                     

• I also had to deal with the protests against segregation, and when Kennedy was killed, I had to take over for the passing of the civil rights bill. I pushed it through and it was passed, but still there was plenty of opposition, mainly from the south. Discrimination was still alive and well, as the black communities went to register to vote, they were met by angry racists. It was in Selma, Alabama, where the most violent and disgusting of acts were taking place, as members of the town's police force (led by the Sheriff) fought the peaceful protests with violence, and an innocent volunteer was killed. I was angry and demanded that the Voting Rights Act of 1965 be passed immediately, which would offer federal protection to anyone who wanted to vote, but had been denied before.

                                                    

Economic

• During the 1960's, the economy was at the dawning point.

• The average Americans income had increased greatly, with it going from $8,540 in 1963 to $10,770 by 1969.

• Technology expanded, new comapnies were formed, and big industries became more common.

• Historians Louis Galambos and Joseph Pratt even noted that "It was a good time to be in business in the United States, an era when American efficiency and entrepreneurship were the wonder of the world."

• Big industries gained huge revenues, by 1965 General Motors (GM), Standard Oil of New Jersey (Exxon today), and Ford had larger gross incomes than all the farms in the United States.

During my stint as president, the political, social and economic factors and challenges that I had to deal with (abroad) included:

Political

• The Vietnam War and the expansion of communism were the main issues of the 1960's (for further explaination, see the paragraph above under Government & Politics).

• Power expansion of the PRC and the UssR, starting to threat Americas number one position in the world.

  

• The Space Race with the UssR for who could first land on the moon. This issue was mainly political as a way of demonstrating the countrys power and greatness, just like the Olympic games for example. If America didn't win the race, the UssR would have gotten the admiration and respect of the world for their accomplishment, which may have swaded the one or other country towards communism.

Social

• An escalating war in Vietnam
• Restoring relations with Panama and negotiating a new canal treaty
• Beginning peace talks with Paris in November 1968

Economic

• The Vietnam War was one of the biggest economic factors during the 60's. By the end of 1966, the US employed 400,000 soldiers stationed in Southeast Asia, accounting for 56% of the federal budget and 10% of the GNP. Without it, my succersor would have to fill a deep whole in the US economy. Thus, the issue that results is our dependency on war as a mean to keep up our economy and maintain growth in GNP.

• On the 16th November 1960, former president Eisenhower orders "the ending of overseas spendings..."(Tompkins). This set the US into a position of low foreign investments, thus ignoring non-domestic markets of high potential.

  

• Newly emerging companies overseas start to make exports, as well as domestic markets decline for American businesses. The best example of this would be Volkswagen (VW), a German car company, in which British and American investors lost interest in due to destroyed factories and limited model plans after WWII (Tompkins). By 1968 though, with the aid of the German government, the little "Bug" was able to conquer a peak value of 68% of all foreign imports that steadily grew during the decade, forcing GM to start developing smaller cars that are of interst to the younger population.

Looking back at my presidential career, I had to wear several "hats."  Wearing these different "hats," these were my most significant achievements and failures:

Commander-in-Chief

When I became President I had to take over the county during a time of great war, Vietnam. I was very hesitant to do anything in Vietnam, but I was convinced that, in order to “save” Vietnam, we had to stay. I made the choice to send more troops due to the escalating war, which sent the number rising to about 180,000 by the end of the year. By the end of 1967 between 500,000 and 550,000 had been sent. This caused my popularity to plummet, and it eventually caused me to back out of the race in 1968, because my numbers were so low.

Chief Executive

As Chief Executive I had the ability to affect nearly all aspects of national government which can be seen during the first two years of my presidency. I've been tols that I had "one of the most extraordinary bursts of legislative activity in American history." By the end of 1965 the my administration had pushed through Congress two major civil-rights acts, legislation providing for government-funded health care for the elderly, consumer and environmental legislation, several acts expanding federal aid to schools and universities, and legislation granting massive federal aid to cities. I also declared a "war on poverty," with the goal being nothing less than to eradicate poverty in America.

Chief Diplomat

During my term, I mainly focused on communist countries and trying to eliminate them. I strongly opposed communism, and used that as an excuse to go to war with Vietnam. I also drew up the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution as a domestic solution, and was heavily involved with Asian countries. However, my main focus was on communism and Vietnam. I didn't really focus on anything else.

Ceremonial Head of State

I was seen by many as a legendary, larger-than-life titan. I had a forceful personality and considerable knowledge of politics, which I used to my advantage. I challenged Americans to care about those less fortunate than them, and I worked desperately to have a glorious presidency that would be remembered for something other than being "Kennedy's successor."

I knew what to say and do to get things done. I was an excellent negotiator who thrived on reaching a consensus and working across party lines.

One thing was for sure, I definitely brought a new style to the White House. Some were offended by my Texas drawl and rather coarse humor. I ate American fare rather than luxurious state dinners, and I presented a macho image. I was an energetic workaholic who tried desperately to be embraced by the people, but was disappointed when they did not idolize me or love me as they had Kennedy and Roosevelt.

Manager of the Economy 

Wearing my hat of “manager of the economy” was probably one of my negative roles. With my expensive war program in Vietnam, I caused a relatively big increase in federal deficit, while trying to fund both my social programs related to the new deal and the war against communism. As a result, inflation would become one of the biggest issues of the late 60s, early 70s. And while the 60s were a time of great public wealth and high standard of living, the inflation rate would climb faster then our nations GNP towards the end of the decade…

Party Leader

In the Senate, I was minority leader for 2 years and majority leader for 4. I became well known as a legislative giant with a strong voice and had a penchant for reform. I saw Franklin D. Roosevelt as a role model.  I was the keeper of the urban liberal base of the Democratic party.

I was never completely a 'Party Leader' since the Democratic Party became split into my fans and fans of Kennedy. After his assassination, many of Kennedy's devoted fans saw me as a 'usurper' and an unworthy successor to their hero. I never earned their respect, but I did manage to gain a following of my own. At first, I was tied to Kennedy's reputation for my popularity. I hated being in his shadow.

By the end of my term, my hold on the party had weakened so much due to my unpopularity that I did not even attend the Democratic National Convention.

National Leader

Besides my obvious roles as a key dipolatic figure or an important business character, I was also articulating one of our nations most valued ideals during the 1960s: democracy. Throughout the Vietnam war, I continued to hold up this ideal of the American people to fight for equal rights for everyone in Southeast Asia. I did not turn away from the issue but helped defend the freedom of all through my decisons and motivations, or in President Kennedys words: "Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hard-ship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty"(Kennedy). I thus portrayed America as a believer in democracy and a keeper of liberty throughout the war.

Favorite Quote About Me by a Famous Historian:

"When all the returns are in, perhaps President Johnson will have to settle for being recognized as the greatest American president for the poor and for the Negroes, but that, as I see it, is a very great honor indeed."-- Ralph Ellison

Positive Political Cartoon

Negative Political Cartoon

The question: How did Culture and the Role of the President Shape Post-WWII America?

     Our world view is shaped by those around us, the ones who lead and the ones who follow. The ones who lead guide the way; they are the fearless overseers who care more about the people than they do about themselves and display that through their selfless actions. The president is an example of one of these leaders. He takes the problems of the country and tries to fix them, while others would simply give up. He helps those in need, because he knows that no one else will, and after World War Two, social interests, such as civil rights, began to be more of a problem after the war, a problem that the president doesn’t shy away from, but greets with open arms and a willingness to help. The followers of this leader also play an important role in the way our world is shaped, they are the ones that live in what the leader creates, and it is up to them to stop what they don’t like, and support what they do. They get people to see it their way, they don’t force it, but they present their argument and allow people to make their own choices. That argument affects those who listen, in either a good way or a bad one, but one thing is for sure, the culture that the followers, and the leader, create is one that will affect everyone in some way.

     Post-World War II America was an uncertain place undergoing turbulent change. Its culture could no longer be easily defined, since as more minorities became a part of the rich texture of America's identity, the nation itself faced something of an identity crisis. The president both led and personified this change. For in choosing a president, the people of America choose not just a leader, but a cultural icon, a national spokesman, a King and a father and a Prime Minister all in one. The leader the American people elect reflects how they wish to be remembered and judged by history. Thus, choosing Johnson provided a portrait of a nation still mourning Kennedy, hoping for an experienced leader with sound judgment to help them through the tumultuous times that lay ahead. In his inaugural address, Johnson declared, "For every generation there is a destiny. For some, history decides. For this generation the choice must be our own." This belief of his both sculpted the events of the 1960s and, through the people's responses, also changed the culture. For example, Johnson led the great strides made in the 1960s to improve America and help other nations. This inspired Americans to desire change, to break racial and social boundaries, to take risks and persevere and reach for the stars. Yet his unpopular actions also brought out their rebellious, vocal side, the side that longed for peace and an end to bloodshed. He affected American culture by both calling for change himself and inspiring further change as a response to his actions. And like any president in Post-WWII America, he left an indelible tattoo upon American culture and society.

      After World War II came a new and rich time for America. a moment of new prosperity and change in both society and economy. In society terms, the definition of sports greatly changed, new music was being introducted, and technology advancements forever changed this period. In economic terms, new industries, more job opportunities, and more money meant huge improvements. The idea of unemployment was quickly gone, and the road to a new period of success was paved. The new culture came with these new changes, as the decade quickly evolved into something new. And without doubt, the president played a huge role. He was the one that set acts into motion, and was the one who set the regulations for policies. He blazed the path for new revolutionary changes, with an idea of moving foward and spreading out to other nations. It was an extraordinary time for the United States.

     But not just did Johnson redifine how America looked at herself, but also did he help to take pride in her values in ideals. With the Vietnam War, Johnson helped reinforce America's new active role in the world. While before WWII, America was largly based on isolationism, holding it's value safe within federal boundaries, American ideals started to spread more and more with the Vietnam War, defending virtues such as democracy and liberty throughout the world. This on the other hand helped Americans to more appericiate their rights and freedom, if they had them. While the white society profited enormly from the new economic boom, African Americans, as well as other minortities started to once more question the phrase "...with liberty and justice for all". But instead of ignoring this questioning, or beating it down, the American president listened, somthing that was totaly new in all the world. What we nowadays take for granted was made possible through the culture and American head of state who accepted their faults to mold a new US that listened more then it ignored. An America in a sense that was there for everyone, be it the freedom seeking refugees of Southeast Asia or the minorities at home.

     Some have descibed the change in American culture like that of a pendulum swing, moving from conservative to avant-grade and then back again. The 60's clearly illustrated that swing as well as the role of the president. JKF was the first Roman Catholic to become president which was unheard of before. He was an inspriation to many and with his election the gears were set in motion and post WWII America was radically changing. Even after his death change continued, more civil rights were being gained, science, technology and innovation was advancing dramtically. The new president LBJ reached out to Americans with his "war on poverty" and dedication to making life better. But that ideal was a double edged sword that caused many to critize and question his actions. None the less the president and the culture of the time propelled post WWII america into the pendulum swing.

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