Political Cartoons

President Johnson (1963-1969) 

Lyndon B. Johnson's critics use to tell him that he would never be able to save the poorer Americans of this country or the ones who were discriminated against; fortunately, he didn't believe them and instead followed his dream. Since Johnson was a great believer in equality he successfully contributed to the Civil Rights Movement and equal rights. He was determined to provide equality for every American, and he did when he enforced the Civil Rights Bill, which guaranteed African-Americans their Civil Rights. He additionally fought for Americans' rights when he urged for the Voting Rights Act to be passed knowing that it was vital for every American to have a voice and input on decisions made for their country. He was so invested in equality and rights that he declared a War On Poverty consisting of large job programs, college investments, and job training programs.

Lyndon B. Johnson was inaugurated November 22, 1963 after former president, John F Kennedy was assassinated that same day in Dallas, Texas. Due to the beloved President's murder, America was in shock and it was up to President Johnson to help them move on, and he did. He gave America hope. This particular political cartoon doesn't portray an issue relevant to President Johnson;  contrarily, it actually depicts him shaking the hands of people. He is not just shaking the hands of "people" but of ALL people. Johnson believed in equality which is why he fought for the Civil Rights Movement. Closely, you can see that he is shaking the hands of farmers, African Americans, Native Americans, and of course, the White folk. 

When President Johnson was inaugurated he had to continue what former president, John F. Kennedy had done with America. However, first he introduced his own social plan,  the Great Society which was ultimately and unfortunately, unsuccessful. This political cartoon portrays president Johnson as if he had given more importance to the Vietnam war than he did to Americans and their well being. However, Johnson's intentions were all in favor of the American people. He wanted equality to existed among them which is the main reason that he came up with his social plan, and the only reason that it wasn't as successful as it could have been is that the foreign policy that had already been established and laid when he became president.

President Johnson

President Johnson

I am Lyndon Baines Johnson and I was the 36th president of the United States of America. I became the president when John F. Kennedy was assassinated, and even though I was an unlikely president, I was still as passionate and liberal as him. The assassination of the former president left the country in shock and fear, I knew it was my duty to help them heal and with hard work and determination I did. I was definitely the most successful president in having led the country through the Cold War. I was a great believer in equality and equal rights. I was so determined to provide equality for every American that I enforced the Civil Rights Bill, which guaranteed African-Americans their Civil Rights. I also urged for the Voting Rights Act to be passed knowing that it was vital for every American to have a voice and input on decisions made for their country, their home.

As president I was aware that my priority was to keep America safe. My social plan was called the Great Society. With this plan I’d aid in the creation of medicare and medicaid for elderly and less fortunate citizens, job corps and other job programs to benefit those who became hopeless. My intentions were positive, I even declared a War On Poverty consisting of large job programs, college investments, and job training programs. Unfortunately, due to my involvement in the Vietnam War my social programs were not as successful as planned. This was due to the foreign policy that had already been established and laid when I became president. Thanks to Truman’s Containment Policy and Domino Theory, Eisenhower’s Massive Retaliation strategy and belief in the Missile Gap, and Kennedy’s Flexible Response I had little choice as to how to proceed in Vietnam. Had the foreign policy been established differently, the Vietnam War would not have destroyed my plans for America, this is the sole fault of the former three presidents.