But LBJ's cowardly sneaking out of being nominated again clearly defines what LBJ was all about. He fell into the Presidency, undeserved, and remained undeserved till its very end.
Yukon Jack, I think LBJ was one of the greatest presidents in 20th century, his accomplishments are grossly underrated.
Most of the legislation he passed (many times with bipartisan support) is still with the Americans, they are still living by it. Civil Rights legislation, Voting Rights Act, The Great Society program, Medicare, Medicaid, war against poverty, appointment of first black Supreme Court justice, setting up of National Endowment of Arts, space program, the list goes on and on.
LBJ accomplished more in four years than most presidents accomplish in eight years. Any president would be proud to have done even a fraction of what LBJ managed to do. Obama is struggling to pass the heath care legislation and it will be considered a great victory for him if he does so. Health care was but a small part of Johnson legacy.
His problem was that his presidency was tarnished by Vietnam war. But on domestic front, he was easily the greatest president ever, USA is still enjoying the fruits of LBJ’s labours. No president in US history has had such a long lasting impact, lasting over several decades now (and at least several decades to come).
