8.9 The Great Society

The Great Society was Lyndon B. Johnson's domestic reform agenda in the 1960s. It expanded federal action on poverty, health care, education, civil rights, immigration, and the environment while also facing limits from the Vietnam War and conservative backlash.

Newspaper headline of the assassination of JFK. Image courtesy of Business Insider

What to Know About the Great Society

• After Kennedy's assassination, Johnson brought extensive congressional experience and strong political skills to the presidency.
• Johnson declared a war on poverty in 1964 and created the Office of Economic Opportunity to run programs that expanded educational and economic opportunities.
• Between 1964 and 1966, Congress passed nearly 200 major laws as the Great Society expanded federal action on civil rights, health care, education, and the environment.
• The 1965 immigration law replaced national-origin quotas with a preference system and increased immigration from Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
• Poverty rates fell between 1963 and 1968, but Vietnam War funding limits, conservative criticism, and social unrest challenged the Great Society.

Kennedy's Assassination and Johnson's Ascension

On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald while riding in a motorcade in downtown Dallas, Texas. The nation witnessed the shocking events unfold on television:

• The president's murder in Dallas
• Oswald's killing by Jack Ruby two days later
• Jackie Kennedy's dignified presence at the state funeral
• The Warren Commission's investigation and conclusion that Oswald acted alone

Lyndon Johnson entered the presidency with vastly different personal qualities and political skills than Kennedy:

• Exceptional legislative experience from decades in Washington
• Forceful personality and persuasive abilities known as the "Johnson treatment"
• Intimate knowledge of congressional procedures and relationships
• Less charismatic but more effective at navigating Congress

Addressing Poverty in America

Despite postwar affluence, poverty remained a persistent national problem that gained new attention in the early 1960s. Michael Harrington's influential book "The Other America" highlighted that approximately 40 million Americans lived in poverty, challenging the narrative of universal prosperity.

In 1964, Johnson declared an "unconditional war on poverty," establishing the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) with a billion-dollar budget. The OEO administered programs designed to provide educational and economic opportunities:

The Great Society Vision

Johnson's Great Society extended far beyond anti-poverty measures, seeking comprehensive social reform. Building on Roosevelt's New Deal legacy, Johnson's liberalism reflected a firm belief in the government's ability to achieve positive social change. It also rested on opposition to communism overseas, so liberals paired a confident Cold War stance abroad with strong faith in federal power at home. Between 1964 and 1966, Congress passed nearly 200 major pieces of legislation, including:

Other key initiatives included:

• Child Nutrition Act: expanded school lunch program to include breakfasts
• Public Broadcasting Act: created Corporation for Public Broadcasting
• Highway Safety Act: established national safety standards for highways and automobiles

Immigration Reform

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 marked a significant policy shift that transformed American immigration patterns:

• Replaced the national-origins quota system with a preference system
• Emphasized family reunification and needed skills
• Eliminated discrimination against Southern and Eastern Europeans
• Increased immigration from Asia, Africa, and Latin America
• Created more opportunities for immigrants seeking political, social, and economic opportunities

Legacy and Limitations

The Great Society achieved significant successes but faced growing challenges by the late 1960s:

• Reduced poverty rates from 22% to 13% of Americans between 1963 and 1968
• Expanded access to healthcare for elderly and poor Americans
• Increased federal support for education at all levels
• Encountered funding limitations due to Vietnam War escalation
• Faced criticism from conservatives regarding effectiveness and cost
• Complicated by urban riots and growing social unrest

The Great Society represents a pivotal moment in American liberalism—when faith in government's capacity to solve social problems reached its zenith before facing the political and economic challenges that would emerge in the 1970s.