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A review by yoav
The Fierce Urgency of Now: Lyndon Johnson, Congress, and the Battle for the Great Society by Julian E. Zelizer
4.0
A comprehensive historical study, written in a relatively accessible way, about the period of Lyndon Johnson in the White House, who took office after Kennedy's assassination and after two years of work, was elected by a huge majority to the presidency and swept Congress and the Senate into a huge liberal revolution (after years that Congress was ruled by a Coalition of conservatives).
In less than six years he initiated the enactment of the civil rights act, which effectively abolished racial segregation, particularly in the workplace (and the way it was done by chance, also anchored women's rights to equality in the law); Prevent discrimination in voting; brought hundreds of federal laws and programs on social issues, the most important being Medicare, which regulated federal health insurance for the elderly and disabled; And initiated a comprehensive plan to combat poverty.
The book describes how Johnson's attempt to stay politically hawkish and continue the war in Vietnam increased the loss of left wing and young supporters and caused an economic spiral. On the other hand, continuing black riots in the north and east led to the loss of support for the liberal center-right, and ultimately led to his decision not to run again despite his amazing achievements.
Despite strong opposition to the plans of Johnson when they were presented - especially desegregation and Medicare - the were assimilated into the American way of life and the Republican presidents who followed (some objected to his policies), expand and deepened them.
This is a comprehensive book (sometimes exhausting due to tendency to go into the details of the work of Congress) that paints an impressive and coherent picture.
In less than six years he initiated the enactment of the civil rights act, which effectively abolished racial segregation, particularly in the workplace (and the way it was done by chance, also anchored women's rights to equality in the law); Prevent discrimination in voting; brought hundreds of federal laws and programs on social issues, the most important being Medicare, which regulated federal health insurance for the elderly and disabled; And initiated a comprehensive plan to combat poverty.
The book describes how Johnson's attempt to stay politically hawkish and continue the war in Vietnam increased the loss of left wing and young supporters and caused an economic spiral. On the other hand, continuing black riots in the north and east led to the loss of support for the liberal center-right, and ultimately led to his decision not to run again despite his amazing achievements.
Despite strong opposition to the plans of Johnson when they were presented - especially desegregation and Medicare - the were assimilated into the American way of life and the Republican presidents who followed (some objected to his policies), expand and deepened them.
This is a comprehensive book (sometimes exhausting due to tendency to go into the details of the work of Congress) that paints an impressive and coherent picture.