The Era of Federal Social Services: The New Frontier and the Great Society
President Truman had attempted to develop healthcare coverage for the American population, but this was not popular with the GOP. In 1964, when President LBJ was elected, and the Democrats controlled both parties in Congress, an amendment to Social Security was passed to create Medicare and Medicaid. President LBJ signed the bill on July 30, 1965. Watch this ceremony to get a feel for the victory.
299359-1/president-johnson-signs-medicare-bill” class=”external” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>https://www.c-span.org/video/?299359-1/president-johnson-signs-medicare-bill (Links to an external site.)
The Republican Party fought Medicare as a “socialist” program and terrible program for the United States. Ronald Reagan, an increasingly conservative actor, became a spokesperson for the conservative movement and the Republican Party. Listen to a part of this broadcast to get the flavor of the argument against Medicare.
Another strong initiative of the Johnson administration was the War on Poverty. He ran in 1964 to eliminate poverty, and this was one of his main campaign messages.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2MtIZscFX8 (Links to an external site.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=f3AuStymweQ (Links to an external site.)
Being a Southerner, LBJ picked up the Kennedy mantle after the assassination to pass the Civil Rights Act (1964). The law did not go far enough – and did not include the right to vote for the black community. He knew that this would lead to the Democrats losing the southern white population’s support, but he thought it was the right thing to do.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=sQjNESlx5Zc (Links to an external site.)
MLK and the black community wanted to address voting as a right, but this was not popular. After “Bloody Sunday” in Selma, Alabama, and the disturbing images that were broadcast around the world, voting rights became a focus on the 1965 legislation to enhance voter rights. This pressured LBJ to pass the Voting Rights Act (1965).
com/news/selma-bloody-sunday-attack-civil-rights-movement” class=”external” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>https://www.history.com/news/selma-bloody-sunday-attack-civil-rights-movement (Links to an external site.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bnmc_8pA1tY (Links to an external site.)
Contemplate these videos, and post your comments to your colleagues.
What do you think of Medicare? Do you view this as socialists? What about the war on poverty? Do you support this type of focus or initiative? Do you think a campaign commercial-like LBJ’s would be effective today? What about the Civil Rights Act (1964) and the Voting Rights Act (1965)? Did these go far enough? Do you think this led to the defection of many southern whites from the Democratic Party?
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