It was 40 years ago today that Lyndon B. Johnson passed away at his family ranch in Stonewall at his family ranch.
Johnson served as the 36th President of the United States, Vice President to John F. Kennedy, and served in both houses of Congress as well.
While the Vietnam War and the tumult of the 1960s may have marred Johnson’s presidential legacy during his time, the “Great Society” legislative effort established Medicare, instituted the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and created programs providing education grants for low-income students.
His presidency was one of both contention and progression, and his policies and programs — such as gun control, government-funded healthcare, and voter's rights — are still debated to this day .
Perhaps this quote from Johnson's memoir, "The Vantage Point: Perspectives of the Presidency," sums up his legacy best: We can draw lessons from the past, but we cannot live in it.
Below is a video of President Johnson imploring Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965. If you would like to see more video of LBJ, you may visit the LBJ Presidential Library's comprehensive video archive.
