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Lyndon Baines Johnson - Former President

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This is one president that is perhaps not so well known but during this term in office, he made some outstanding changes that still stand today and overall he is known as one of the most popular figure heads to rule the United States. Born on 27th August 1908 in central Texas – close to Johnson City, he was unfortunately enough to feel the strain of poverty but he later got a job at the Southwest Texas State Teachers College where he learned compassion for the poverty of others by educating students of Mexican descent.

Throughout the 2nd World War, he served for a brief period in the Navy before choosing a life of politics. After a successful six terms within the House he was elected to the senate in 1948. In 1960, Johnson was the running mate of John F. Kennedy and was subsequently voted vice president. When Kennedy was assassinated on 22nd November 1963, Johnson was sworn in as the president.

One of the most life changing decisions by Johnson was urging the nation “build a great society”; this decree was meant to serve as a place where the meaning of man’s life matched man’s labor. By 1964 Johnson was popular with the local residents of the country and he managed to cling onto the position as president with a massive 61% of the overall vote – this made American history with a margin of more than 15 million votes separating him from his opponent. As his reign continued so did the endless campaigning for peace. Johnson took his fight to Vietnam and by the end of March 1968 there was a lot of controversy over the war and he ordered that bombing over North Vietnam be limited so peace talks could begin. At the same time Johnson chose to withdraw from the re-election campaign and when he left office, peace talks were well under way and he accomplished more than what many others have done during their reign.

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