LBJ’s Legacy: Historic Legislation Civil Rights Act of 1964 Signed into law after the longest filibuster in the history of the U.S. Senate, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 banned racial segregation and “discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex or national origin.” LBJ’s Great Society The Great Society was a series of legislation and programs passed by President Johnson to eradicate poverty and racial discrimination in the U.S. Many of the Great Society programs still exist today, including Medicare, Medicaid and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Catherine Robb
Voting Rights Act of 1965 Enacted Aug. 6, 1965, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 overruled state and local laws throughout the U.S. that inhibited African-Americans for nearly 100 years from exercising their constitutional right to vote. Medicare/Medicaid Enacted in 1965, Medicaid provides financial assistance for 65 million Americans. Passed in 1966, Medicare is a national health-insurance program for the elderly and the disabled. As of 2014, nearly one in six Americans was covered by Medicare. Both programs are at risk of running out of funding within the next 15 years. Mark Updegrove
Visit the LBJ Library to learn more about President Johnson and the groundbreaking legislation and programs that are his historic legacy. Exhibits
Photos by Dustin Meyer.
Civil Rights Take an in-depth look at the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other civil-rights legislation passed by LBJ in the Civil Rights exhibit at the LBJ Presidential Library. Some of the highlights of this exhibit include the desk on which LBJ signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 into law, an interactive table that shows the process through which legislation becomes law and letters from people who have benefited from LBJ’s civil-rights programs. The Legacy Gallery From the Great Society programs to PBS, Medicare and financial aid for college, LBJ’s legacy has likely played some sort of role in your life. This exhibit offers a detailed look at the vast array of legislation passed under the Johnson administration and its legacy today. Social Justice Gallery Reflect back on LBJ’s social-justice legislation in this wide-reaching exhibit that includes graphics and descriptions of the Civil Rights Act, Consumer Protection Act, Medicare, the War on Poverty and many more.
Participate in educational and informative events held at the LBJ Presidential Library. Friends of the LBJ Library Help support the LBJ Presidential Library’s public programming and new exhibits by joining Friends of the LBJ Library, a membership organization whose membership dues help fund the library. Membership benefits include free admission to all 13 presidential libraries throughout the country and invitations to the Evening With speaker series, which has included President Barack Obama advisor David Axelrod, Karl Rove and many others. LBJ Future Forum Founded in 2002 by Catherine Robb, granddaughter of President Lyndon Johnson and Austin-based First Amendment lawyer, the LBJ Future Forum seeks to encourage younger generations to get involved in the LBJ Presidential Library, the community and discuss current local, national and international public-policy issues. Since its inception, it has grown to nearly 140 members and offers access to a wide array of speakers, debates and programming.
Fiftieth Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the LBJ Presidential Library is teaming up with the Travis County Tax Office to host a nonpartisan voter-registration drive. The drive will be held at the LBJ Presidential Library and seeks to boost civic participation in local, state and federal elections. The event takes place Aug. 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the LBJ Presidential Library, 2313 Red River St. Visit lbjlibrary.org for more information on the LBJ Presidential Library and the LBJ Future Forum.
Destiny for Democracy In his latest book, Mark Updegrove, director of the LBJ Presidential Library, DEST INY o f offers an up-close look at D E MO C R AC Y the historic Civil Rights Summit held last year at the LBJ Presidential Library to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, with presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter in attendance.
the civil rights summit at the lbj presidential library
MARK K . UPDEG ROVE
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FOREWORD BY
JOHN LEWIS
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