Lyndon B. Johnson

Johnson was sworn in as President aboard Air Force One after John F. Kennedy's assassination. He pledged continuity and pushed Kennedy's legislative agenda, including civil rights and tax cuts.

Johnson announced the Great Society, a set of domestic programs including Medicare, Medicaid, Head Start, and the Voting Rights Act. These initiatives aimed to eliminate poverty and racial injustice.

Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law, prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. This landmark legislation ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination.

Johnson authorized Operation Rolling Thunder, a sustained bombing campaign against North Vietnam, and committed ground troops. By 1968, over 500,000 US troops were in Vietnam, escalating the conflict.

Johnson announced he would not seek re-election, citing the divisive Vietnam War and his desire to focus on peace negotiations. This shocked the nation and reshaped the 1968 presidential race.