The Post Kennedy White House

All reports agree that Johnson is a rags to riches story.  His net worth was staggering for a man who began his work career as a school teacher.  I'm not going to spread unfounded information, and in this age of digital history, confirmation is difficult.   Even as a journalist, I try to keep in mind
"If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything . . ."  So rather than post a blank blog about LBJ, I will cover some of the main changes that did take place through his administration and post a couple of memorable photos.

There are few who would not agree that our nation did indeed plummet. through the sixties.   Investments for the Johnson's, however; went well through the sixties . . . And both daughters had big beautiful Washington weddings.

It was no secret that President Kennedy did not intend to escalate the war in Viet Nam.  He inherited the American military presence in South East Asia from President Eisenhower, when he took office,   Although he was a Naval Officer, and accepted his charge from a five star general, history really indicates his vision for America was more of peace and the new frontier of space.  He "dealt" with Viet Nam, but had signed an order in October of 63, ordering the withdrawal of 1000 troops by year's end.  That order was reversed less than one week after his death.  President Kennedy was not even buried when the paperwork began that would ultimately bury over 58,000.  At Kennedy's death there were 16,000 military advisors in Viet Nam.  By 1968, there were over 550,000 combat troops.

President Johnson introduced his concept of a Great Society by announcing the War on Poverty, which has proven nearly as effective as Reagan's war on drugs.  In this time frame, President Johnson dropped the silver standard.  1964 was the last year coins were based upon their weight in silver and the year Kennedy half dollars were minted.  I had no idea what I was actually saying when, having overheard the term, I repeated the phrase coined, "Johnson counterfeit."  1965 introduced the end of a solid economic standard and the base became, "perpetual motion."   Headstart for preschoolers was also birthed through this administration, as was Medicare.  While we complain of Congress kicking the can and the cost of Obama care, I know for a fact there are people using Medicare today that were nearly 50 years old before it was ever established, so the thought of "paid into it" is not so concrete.  Some of us are paying for those still on Johnson care!

Although the Johnson administration was credited with the civil rights progress, there are many, many accounts indicating the forward motion was already in place with President Kennedy, as well as many records indicating Mr. Johnson was not really progressive in regard to desegregation.

The subject of the end of days became a genuine focal point, and topic of general conversation in many religious circles toward the end of his administration.  As a matter of fact, it wasn't until the end of the Johnson administration that speculation was ever introduced that an American President could possibly be the anti-Christ.