There’s nothing more rewarding than visiting historical places of people who have really made a difference in our lives. One such person who made dozens of contributions while he had office was President Lyndon B. Johnson. There is a library dedicated to him, his life, and his wife in Austin, Texas. Before we get into his great accomplishments and what he achieved, it’s important to understand who he was and where he came from.
Lyndon B. Johnson was born in central Texas and worked his way through poverty and Southwest Texas State Teachers College. He saw how important it was to help those in his shoes and so he ran for House of Representatives in 1937. He was aided by his wife, Lady Bird, who he married in 1934. He was elected to the Senate in 1948 and became the most commanding Majority Leader of the 1900s. He ran alongside President John F Kennedy during the 1960 election and was voted as his Vice President. After the fateful day Kennedy was assassinated, Johnson became the 36th President.
After taking office, Johnson pushed through two bills which had begun under Kennedy. The first one became the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the other was a tax cut act. Because of his already outstanding achievements during his short term as president, he was quickly voted back in during the 1964 election. Throughout this term, he passed more than 60 education bills, began an urban renewal campaign, tackled the crime and delinquency rate, and initiated the fight against poverty and so much more. One of his other greatest contributions was the Medicare Amendment.
Before his untimely death in 1973 from a heart attack, he had just heard word that peace was within reach in Vietnam. This man lived an incredible life full of amazing things. He loved his country so much and gave so much to it. Give back by celebrating his life and contributions to the world by visiting his museum and library. You will learn so much more about him through the exhibits and events held at the center. So load up the family Ford and head on down to Austin. There is something for everyone to do here. Happy travels from Johnson Brothers Ford.
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Image by Blue Genie Art via Flickr Creative Commons
