The Installation in Office of Lyndon B.johnson, Following Jfk’s Assassination, LED to Increased Civil Rights
JFK: A Ploy and Political Power
The death of JFK on November 22, 1963 is unlike any other assassination of an American president or leader figure (Martin Kelly). The death of the United State’s 35th president not only shocked the political rule of America, but also devastated the families who once related all too well with the First Family. Along with the familial aspect of JFK, without his assassination, Johnson would not have entered office. Johnson was a large supporter of the civil rights movement, thus with Johnson not been inaugurated into office, the civil rights movement may not have taken off quite as successfully as it did. John F. Kennedy was an influential man towards America as a country and also America as a family.
The traditional American family did not become stereotypical until Kennedy had taken office. Kennedy grew up in a wealthy family attending prep school throughout his childhood (Martin Kelly). Because JFK was the first younger president of the United States, many American families felt drawn to him. Kennedy’s family was large, wealthy, and powerful. JFK had 8 siblings total, consisting of three brothers and five sisters (Martin Kelly). Because of this, families all over America felt drawn to him as a political leader. Because the assassination of the 35th president of the United States was during the Civil War, many Americans became wary as to whether or not the assassination was a plot against the United States as a whole, or whether it was a citizen of the United States itself. The assassination of John F. Kennedy allowed the diverse population of the United States to come together as one in sorrow and speculation as the killer was searched for. Though the assassination of John F. Kennedy was tragic and frightening to most Americas, it also allowed the Civil Rights Movement to be put into action by his successor, Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ Presidential Library).
Though Americans were able to connect to their past president, John F. Kennedy, the predecessor, Johnson, was able to initiate the Civil Rights Movement that would not have been put into place had JFK had not been assassinated. Though there are many tragic outcomes that progressed due to JFK’s assassination, there are also a few positives. Johnson was able to put the Civil Rights Movement into progression after JFK was assassinated (LBJ Presidential Library). This not only showed Americans that Johnson was able to take charge as a leader of their country, but that JFK was not as efficient as many had originally thought.
Though Johnson was able to take charge of his country in turmoil and depression, the question still remained as to whether or not the assassination of a beloved American president was a cover-up or planned murder (LBJ Presidential Library). The American people’s faith in their government, for one of the very first times, began to wane. Presidents and the government were always seen as a political and superior power prior to the assassination of JFK. However, following the assassination of one of America’s beloved presidents, the American people became and still remain skeptical of the American government they once learned to trust and relate to.
Though many distrust the American government today, there are both positives and negatives that resulted out of the assassination of the 35th president of the United States. Had Johnson not taken the presidency after Kennedy, the Civil Rights Movement would not have been implemented (LBJ Presidential Library). This movement proved vital, not only to the United States, but also as encouragement to other countries who had recently, and were thinking about abolishing racism. Because they were one of the last countries to outlaw racism, the Civil Rights Movement created a much more equal and safe environment for Americans overall.
