Election of 1964

Democrat-LBJ (Tx)

Republican-Barry Goldwater (Senator, Arizona)

Johnson wins 61% of the popular vote!

Electoral Votes-LBJ-486Goldwater-52

LBJ receives a mandate to do something big!

The Great Society• “For in your time we have

the opportunity to move not only toward the rich society and the powerful society but upward to the great society.”-LBJ• Poverty & Racism would end• All Children would have

access to education• Every City would have cultural

aspects• Saw this as an extension to

the Bill of Rights

The Great Society cont

• 1. Medicare-a Natl. Health Insurance Program for people over 65• Medicaid-free health care for the needy

• 2. Elementary and Secondary School Act• $1.3 Billion to poor schools

• 3. Voting Rights Act (1965)• Brought entire registration process for voting under federal control (Literacy

Tests)• "We have lost the South for a generation.”-LBJ

The Great Society cont

• 4. Department of Transportation created• Began to regulate interstate and intrastate travel!

• 5. Housing and Urban Development (HUD)• Cabinet level position w/billions of low-income housing programs• 1st African-American Cabinet member

• Robert C. Weaver