American Experience (1988)

Episode Overview

Lyndon B. Johnson began his political journey in 1938 when he was elected to Congress at a remarkably young age. In 1948, he secured a Senate seat amidst controversy, winning by a mere 87 votes. By 1954, with the Democrats gaining control of the Senate, LBJ made history as the youngest majority leader at just 46. In 1957, he successfully pushed through the first civil rights legislation since the Reconstruction era, although it was riddled with compromises and lacked strong enforcement. By 1960, LBJ was eager for the presidency, but John Kennedy claimed the position first and chose Johnson as his running mate.