How would you rate President Kennedy and President Johnson on domestic issues?

Both President Kennedy and President Johnson had lofty ambitions for their domestic programs. While both men made accomplishments with their goals, President Johnson had more success than President Kennedy.

While President Kennedy was in office, several things were accomplished. Minimum wage increased to $1.25. Women’s rights were expanded. The Presidential Commission on the Status of Women was created. The Equal Pay Act of 1963 was passed. Jobs were creating in the defense industries and in the field of space exploration.

President Johnson accomplished much more. President Johnson wanted to have a legacy similar to the legacy of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Many programs were passed as a result of his Great Society program. Health insurance was provided to the elderly through the Medicare program. Poor people got health insurance with the Medicaid program. The Head Start program allowed disadvantaged kids a chance to start school at an earlier age. The Neighborhood Youth Corp and the Job Corps provided jobs for young people. The VISTA program allowed people to work in underdeveloped regions of the United States to help improve the lives of the people living in these regions. More money was given to public schools as a result of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

Under President Johnson, three important civil rights laws were passed. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 ended segregation in public facilities. The Voting Rights Act ended the practice of using poll taxes and literacy tests to deny African-Americans the right to vote. The Civil Rights Act of 1968 ended discrimination in housing sales and rentals.

There are reasons why President Johnson got more accomplished than President Kennedy. President Johnson knew how to work with Congress. President Kennedy didn’t campaign for Democrats running for Congress in 1960. Thus, these representatives didn’t feel they owed anything to President Kennedy, especially when it came to some of the controversial issues such as civil rights. President Johnson, however, had done many things for other elected officials. He knew how to apply pressure to them to get his ideas passed. President Johnson expected help on key issues because he had helped these people in the past. Another issue that was significant was the assassination of President Kennedy. He had less time in office than President Johnson had to accomplish all of the goals of his domestic agenda.

Both President Kennedy and President Johnson had many goals for their domestic agenda. While both men had accomplishments with their domestic agendas, President Johnson got more accomplished than President Kennedy did.