Lyndon B. Johnson: 36th President of the United States

Lyndon B. Johnson: 36th President of the United States Compiled and Published by United States Information Service (USIS), 1963 28 pages Lyndon Baines Johnson (August 27, 1908 - January 22, 1973), often referred to by his initials LBJ, was an American politician who served as the 36th president of the United States from 1963 to 1969. He had previously served as the 37th vice president from 1961 to 1963 under President John F. Kennedy, and was sworn in shortly after Kennedy #39;s assassination. A Democrat from Texas, Johnson also served as a U.S. representative, U.S. senator and the Senate #39;s majority leader. He holds the distinction of being one of the few presidents who served in all elected offices at the federal level. Johnson assumed the presidency amid a healthy economy with steady growth and low unemployment, and with no serious international crises. Therefore, he focused his attention on domestic policy, until escalation of the Vietnam War began in August 1964. Johnson was quickly sworn in as president on Air Force One in Dallas on November 22, 1963, just two hours and eight minutes after John F. Kennedy was assassinated, amid suspicions of a conspiracy against the government. He was sworn in by U.S. District Judge Sarah T. Hughes, a family friend. In the rush, Johnson took the oath of office using a Roman Catholic missal from President Kennedy #39;s desk, despite not being Catholic, due to the missal being mistaken for a Bible. Cecil Stoughton #39;s iconic photograph of Johnson taking the presidential oath of office as Mrs. Kennedy looks on is the most famous photo ever taken aboard a presidential aircraft. Johnson was convinced of the need to make an impression of an immediate transition of power after the assassination to provide stability to a grieving nation in shock.