Johnson and Civil
Rights
1963-8
, Johnson’s history of civil rights
Before the presidency:
- He was a teacher and a staunch advocate of civil rights in schools; he taught at “one of the crummiest little schoo
and inspired the 28 Mexican-American students he had under his wing.
- He became aide for Robert Kleberg in 1931, then became Texas director for the National Youth Administration. T
support to 28 000, but refused to take an African American deputy.
- When he became a Congressman in the House, he needed to appeal to the majority of Texas (it was only 15% bla
Hispanic). Civil rights did not feature in his ascent to Senate, but numbers were fiddled with.
- By the mid-50s, Senator Johnson was in favour of the BROWN decision and (as of 1953) he became the Minority
Senate. He used this position to force through the Civil Rights Bills, although he diluted some of the clauses most
Southerners.
- As VP he was in charge of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and although he didn’t want t
was forced to take it. It was underfunded and Kennedy blamed Johnson entirely, but it did increase African Amer
employment into federal roles by 17% in 1962 and 22% in 1963.
- When he became president in 1963, Kennedy had put in place the beginnings of machinery for the Civil Rights Bi
of the Birmingham Bombing. Johnson wanted to continue this.
Rights
1963-8
, Johnson’s history of civil rights
Before the presidency:
- He was a teacher and a staunch advocate of civil rights in schools; he taught at “one of the crummiest little schoo
and inspired the 28 Mexican-American students he had under his wing.
- He became aide for Robert Kleberg in 1931, then became Texas director for the National Youth Administration. T
support to 28 000, but refused to take an African American deputy.
- When he became a Congressman in the House, he needed to appeal to the majority of Texas (it was only 15% bla
Hispanic). Civil rights did not feature in his ascent to Senate, but numbers were fiddled with.
- By the mid-50s, Senator Johnson was in favour of the BROWN decision and (as of 1953) he became the Minority
Senate. He used this position to force through the Civil Rights Bills, although he diluted some of the clauses most
Southerners.
- As VP he was in charge of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and although he didn’t want t
was forced to take it. It was underfunded and Kennedy blamed Johnson entirely, but it did increase African Amer
employment into federal roles by 17% in 1962 and 22% in 1963.
- When he became president in 1963, Kennedy had put in place the beginnings of machinery for the Civil Rights Bi
of the Birmingham Bombing. Johnson wanted to continue this.
