Lyndon Johnson's Presidential Legacy - HISTORY

Lyndon Johnson's presidency is remembered in part for his handling of the Vietnam War, but he also advanced civil rights and equality throughout the nation.

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When President Lyndon Johnson lifted his beagle, Him, by its ears to pose for an A.P. photographer, he set off a nationwide barrage of protests from animal lovers. In this April 29, 1964, telephone call with Senator Mike Mansfield, Johnson briefly discusses the civil rights bill, which is awaiting a vote in the Senate, then complains about how Senator Everett Dirksen is focusing on the incident with the dog.

On January 20, 1965, Lyndon B. Johnson began his first elected term as president of the United States. In his inaugural address, Johnson calls for the nation to unite toward a common goal.

Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as president on Air Force One the day after the assassination of John F. Kennedy. He became the 36th President of the United States. His unique approach to leadership took some in the White House by surprise.

After receiving news that the bodies of three missing civil rights workers were found in Mississippi on August 4, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson calls Civil Rights Counselor Lee White and asks him to inform the families of the victims.

On June 23, 1964, two days after three civil rights workers disappeared in Mississippi, President Lyndon B. Johnson telephones Senator James Eastland for help with the matter, but Eastland denies trouble and declares the event a publicity stunt.

In a secretly recorded telephone conversation with Democratic Senator Vance Hartke of Indiana on January 23, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson pressures Hartke to vote for his excise tax bill, which is hung up in the Senate. On June 21, 1965, Johnson signed the Excise Tax Reduction Act into law.

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