American Experience . The Presidents . Lyndon B. Johnson

The Election of 1964
Vice president Lyndon Johnson gained the presidency after the assassination of John F. Kennedy. In 1964, Johnson sought from the American people a clear mandate that they saw him as a leader in his own right, not just the keeper of JFK's legacy. A divided Republican party presented conservative Barry Goldwater as Johnson's opponent.

Here are some of the hot issues in the 1964 election... Choose the positions you favor:

Dealing with Communism
Cold War tensions continued during the mid-1960s. The candidates held differing opinions as to how to contend with the threat of communist expansion.

	Candidate #1: Argues that a tough, but flexible, approach to the Soviet Union is the best way of controlling the spread of Communism.
	Candidate #2: Declares that negotiation with the Soviet Union weakens the U.S., and contends that the U.S. should act without regard to the opinions of our nations.

Civil Rights
As protests and demonstrations increased throughout the South, opinions varied as to what role the federal government should play in guaranteeing the rights of African Americans.

	Candidate #1: Believes that the federal government should play a role in securing, and enforcing, the civil rights of all its citizens.
	Candidate #2: Feels that civil rights matters should be left to the discretion of individual states.

Government Activism
What role should the federal government play in the conduct and welfare of individuals and businesses?

	Candidate #1: Feels that the federal government should play an expanded role in addressing the needs of its citizens.
	Candidate #2: Opposes the growth of federal power, believing it threatens personal freedom.

Now find out which candidate you agree with most, and see how your opinion stacks up to the popular and electoral vote tallies for the 1964 election.

I do not wish to vote but would like to see the current results

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American Experience

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