Who is lbj's vice president

Overview

Lyndon Baines Johnson, commonly known as LBJ, served as the 36th President of the United States from 1963 to 1969. His presidency began under tragic circumstances when he assumed office on November 22, 1963, following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas. Johnson, who had been Kennedy's vice president since 1961, was sworn in aboard Air Force One just hours after the shooting. This sudden transition marked one of the most dramatic moments in American political history.

The vice presidency during Johnson's tenure reflects unique constitutional and political circumstances. For the first 14 months of his presidency, Johnson served without a vice president, as the Constitution at the time provided no mechanism for filling such vacancies. This situation changed with the 1964 election, when Johnson selected Hubert H. Humphrey as his running mate. Their partnership would shape domestic policy during the turbulent 1960s, particularly through the Great Society programs.

How It Works

The vice presidency under LBJ involved complex constitutional procedures and political considerations.

• Constitutional Succession: When Johnson became president after Kennedy's death, the vice presidency remained vacant until the next election. The 25th Amendment, ratified in 1967, later established procedures for filling vice presidential vacancies. This amendment was partly inspired by the 14-month period when Johnson had no vice president.
• Selection Process: For the 1964 election, Johnson carefully considered multiple candidates before choosing Hubert Humphrey. Humphrey had served as a U.S. Senator from Minnesota since 1949 and was known for his liberal positions on civil rights. Johnson announced his selection at the Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City on August 26, 1964.
• Campaign Role: Humphrey campaigned vigorously for the Johnson-Humphrey ticket in 1964, focusing on civil rights and anti-poverty programs. The ticket won a landslide victory with 486 electoral votes to Barry Goldwater's 52. This gave Johnson the mandate to pursue his Great Society agenda with Humphrey's support.
• Governing Partnership: As vice president, Humphrey chaired several important committees and served as president of the Senate. He played key roles in advancing civil rights legislation, including the Voting Rights Act of 1965. However, Johnson maintained tight control over policy decisions, sometimes limiting Humphrey's influence.

Key Comparisons

Why It Matters

• Constitutional Reform: The vacancy in the vice presidency from 1963-1965 highlighted a critical gap in presidential succession procedures. This experience directly contributed to the ratification of the 25th Amendment in 1967, which has since been used eight times to fill vice presidential vacancies.
• Civil Rights Advancement: Humphrey's vice presidency coincided with landmark civil rights legislation. As a longtime civil rights advocate, Humphrey helped secure passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which increased African American voter registration in the South from 29% in 1965 to 52% by 1968.
• Political Legacy: The Johnson-Humphrey relationship influenced subsequent presidential-vice presidential dynamics. Their partnership, while sometimes strained, demonstrated how vice presidents could advance specific policy agendas. Humphrey's subsequent presidential campaign in 1968 continued Johnson's domestic policy vision.

The vice presidency under LBJ represents a pivotal moment in American governance. It bridged the transition from New Frontier to Great Society policies while exposing constitutional vulnerabilities that required amendment. Looking forward, the lessons from this period continue to inform discussions about presidential succession and the evolving role of the vice presidency in modern American politics. The partnership between Johnson and Humphrey, despite its complexities, helped shape the social programs that define much of America's contemporary social safety net.