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Lyndon B. Johnson

Lyndon B. Johnson Quotes

36th U.S. President

Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th President of the United States, served from 1963 to 1969. He assumed the presidency following the assassination of John F. Kennedy and is known for his 'Great Society' programs aimed at reducing poverty and racial injustice.

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Famous Lyndon B. Johnson Quotes

“Each year more than 100,000 high school graduates, with proved ability, do not enter college because they cannot afford it. And if we cannot educate today's youth, what will we do in 1970 when elementary enrollment will be 5 million greater than 1960? And high school enrollment will rise by 5 million. College enrollment will increase by more than 3 million.”

Ifs Years Today School Ability Money Education Millions Greater Youth College High School Increase Educate Graduates 1960s Graduating High School Enrollment Today's Youth

Author:Lyndon B. Johnson

“I'll have those n**gers voting Democratic for the next 200 years.”

Years Next Democratic Democrat Voting Racist

Author:Lyndon B. Johnson

“Americans have always built for the future. That is why we established land grant colleges and passed the Homestead Act to open our Western lands more than 100 years ago.”

Years Land College Built Years Ago Western Presidential Grants Homestead Act

Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson, 1966

Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson, 1966

“Today, 8 million adult Americans, more than the entire population of Michigan, have not finished 5 years of school. Nearly 20 million have not finished 8 years of school. Nearly 54 million - more than one-quarter of all America - have not even finished high school.”

Years Today School America Education Millions High School Adults Population Finished Quarters Michigan

Author:Lyndon B. Johnson

“In addition to our existing programs, I will recommend a new program for schools and students with a first-year authorization of $1,500 million.”

Years Firsts School Education Millions Students Program

Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson, 1965

Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson, 1965

“It will help at every state along the road to learning. For the pre-school years we will help needy children become aware of the excitement of learning.”

Years Children States Helping School Education Excitement Needy School Years Pre School

Author:Lyndon B. Johnson

“For the primary and secondary school years, we will aid public schools serving low-income families and assist students in both public and private schools.”

Years School Education Students Lows Aids Income Primaries Serving Public School Private School Low Income School Years Secondary School

Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson, 1965

Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson, 1965

“For the college years we will provide scholarships to high school students of the greatest promise and greatest need and guarantee low-interest loans to students continuing their college studies.”

Needs Years School Interest Education Study Students College Promise Lows High School Guarantees Continuing Loan Scholarship High School Students College Years

Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson, 1965

Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson, 1965

“In the years since then, those four freedoms - freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear - have stood as a summary of our aspirations for the American Republic and for the world.”

World Want Years Education Four Speech Worship Aspiration Republic Freedom Of Speech Summary

Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson, 1968-1969

Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson, 1968-1969

“First, this law - the National Defense Education Act - ended years and years of debate about one controversial question: 'Shall the Federal Government, with all its massive resources, get directly involved in aiding American education?' The answer this law gave was a loud 'Yes!' - and thus we paved the way for a new era of support for education in America. This law, in fact, helped make possible more than 50 new education laws passed in my administration.”

Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson, 1968-1969

“As it was 189 years ago, so today the cause of America is a revolutionary cause. And I am proud this morning to salute you as fellow revolutionaries. Neither you nor I are willing to accept the tyranny of poverty, nor the dictatorship of ignorance, nor the despotism of ill health, nor the oppression of bias and prejudice and bigotry. We want change. We want progress. We want it both abroad and at homeand we aim to get it.”

Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson, 1966

“We have heard all of our lives how, after the Civil War was over, the South went back to straighten itself out and make a living again. It was for many years a voiceless part of the government. The balance of power moved away from it--to the north and the east. The problems of the north and the east became the big problem of the country and nobody paid much attention to the economic unbalance the South had left as its only choice.”

“In my state, on the basis of the separate but equal doctrine, we have made enormous strides over the years in the education of both races. Personally, I think it would have been sounder judgment to allow that progress to continue through the process of natural evolution. However, there is no point crying about spilt milk.”

“An unfolding technology has increased our economic strength and added to the convenience of our lives. But that same technology-we know now-carries danger with it. From the great smoke stacks of industry and from the exhausts of motors and machines, 130 million tons of soot, carbon and grime settle over the people and shroud the Nation's cities each year. From towns, factories, and stockyards, wastes pollute our rivers and streams, endangering the waters we drink and use.”

“Air pollution is a threat to health, especially of older persons. It contributes significantly to the rising rates of chronic respiratory ailments. It stains our cities and towns with ugliness, soiling and corroding whatever it touches. Its damage extends to our forests and farmlands as well. The economic toll for our neglect amounts to billions of dollars each year.”

“One hundred years ago, the slave was freed. One hundred years later, the Negro remains in bondage to the color of his skin.”

Years Color Hundred Years Ago Skins Remains Slave Bondage

Book:A Time for Action

Source: A Time for Action

“Every citizen will be able, in his productive years when he is earning, to insure himself against the ravages of illness in his old age.”

Years Age Able Citizens Illness Old Age Productive Earning

Book:Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson, 1966

Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson, 1966

“A few years make such havoc in human generations that we soon see ourselves deprived of those with whom we entered the world, and whom the participation of pleasures or fatigues had endeared to our remembrance.”

World Years Humans Age Pleasure Generations Remembrance Participation Deprived Fatigue Havoc

Author:Lyndon B. Johnson

“The American Indian, once proud and free, is torn now between White and tribal values; between the politics and language of the White man and his own historic culture. His problems, sharpened by years of defeat and exploitation, neglect and inadequate effort, will take many years to overcome.”

Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson, 1968-1969

“You do not take a person who, for years, has been hobbled by chains and liberate him, bring him up to the starting line of a race and then say, "you are free to compete with all the others," and still justly believe that you have been completely fair. We seek not just legal equity but human ability, not just equality as a right and a theory but equality as a fact and equality as a result.”

Men Years Believe Has Beens Stills Facts Action Opportunity Lines Results Race Theory Fairs Starting Chains Affirmative Action Affirmative

Author:Lyndon B. Johnson

“We do this in order to slow down aggression. We do this to increase the confidence of the brave people of South Vietnam who have bravely born this brutal battle for so many years with so many casualties. And we do this to convince the leaders of North Vietnam-and all who seek to share their conquest-of a simple fact: We will not be defeated. We will not grow tired. We will not withdraw either openly or under the cloak of a meaningless agreement.”