Lyndon Baines Johnson

Attended the public schools of Blanco County, Texas; graduated from Southwest Texas State Teachers College at San Marcos in 1930; taught high school 1928-1931; served as secretary to Congressman Richard M. Kleberg in Washington, D.C., 1931-1935; attended the Georgetown University Law School, Washington, D.C., 1934; State director of the National Youth Administration of Texas 1935-1937; elected as a Democrat to the 75th Congress (10 Apr 1937) and reelected to the five succeeding Congresses (served 10 Apr 1937 - 3 Jan 1949); served as lieutenant commander in the US Navy 1941-1942; was not a candidate for renomination to the 81st Congress in 1948; elected to the US Senate (served 3 Jan 1949 - 3 Jan 1961); reelected in 1954 and 1960; Democratic whip 1951-1953; minority leader 1953-1955; majority leader (3 Jan 1955 - 3 Jan 1961); elected Vice President of the United States in November 1960, on the Democratic ticket with John F. Kennedy; on the death of President Kennedy took the oath of office aboard the presidential plane, Air Force One, at Dallas' Love Field at 02:38 p.m. 22 Nov 1961; succeeded in convincing Congress to pass legislation concerning civil rights, tax reduction, an antipoverty program, and conservation; elected President of the United States in 1964 with an unprecedented popular majority of more than 15 million votes; succeeded in passing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 aimed against racial segregation and discrimination, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which outlawed the literacy tests used to prevent blacks from voting; increased U.S. intervention in South Vietnam leading to escalation of war; did not seek reelection in 1968; retired to his ranch near Johnson City, Texas.