Profile of the Day: Lyndon B. Johnson

On this day in 1908, Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th President of the United States, was born in a small farmhouse in Stonewall, Texas.

Image: Lyndon B. Johnson / Library of Congress

Johnson was the eldest of five children born to Samuel Ealy Johnson, Jr. and Rebekah Baines. His father was a businessman and a politician who served five terms in the Texas House of Representatives. Before pursuing a career in politics, Johnson briefly worked as a teacher.

In 1960, Johnson was elected as Vice President of the United States. When President John F. Kennedy was assassinated three years later on November 22, 1963, Johnson was sworn in as the 36th President of the United States on board Air Force One. During his administration, Johnson made sweeping changes in civil rights, healthcare, and poverty. In 1964, he signed the Civil Rights Act into law, which outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. He also signed into law the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which prohibited racial discrimination in voting. However, as the Vietnam War persisted, Johnson’s popularity plummeted due to his handling of the escalating conflict. In 1968, he announced that he would not seek a second term as President.

After leaving office, Johnson retired to his ranch in Texas. He died on January 22, 1973 at the age of 64.

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