Freedom's Pragmatist

Lyndon B. Johnson made several major contributions to the black freedom struggle during his time in the White House. He provided much-needed moral leadership on racial equality; secured the passage of landmark civil rights acts that ended legal segregation and ensured voting rights for blacks; pushed for affirmative action; introduced antipoverty, education, and health programs that benefited all; and made important and symbolic appointments of African Americans to key political positions. This examination of Johnson’s life from childhood through his lengthy career in politics argues that place, historical context, and personal ambition are the keys to understanding his stance on civil rights. Johnson’s viewpoint, in turn, is essential to understanding the history of civil rights in the United States.
Sylvia Ellis, professor in American history at the University of Northumbria in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, is the author of Britain, America, and the Vietnam War and Historical Dictionary of Anglo-American Relations.