• Research Paper on:
    Bruce J. Schulman's Lyndon B. Johnson and American Liberalism

    Number of Pages: 6

     

    Summary of the research paper:

    In six pages this text is summarized and critiqued with an assessment of the author's arguments also presented. Four sources are cited in the bibliography.

    Name of Research Paper File: D0_JGAlbjam.doc

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    Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
    dreams, accomplishments, and frustrations, it also strives to herald the rise and fall of what we could call our modern "American liberalism." Schulman considers Johnson to be the "principal  champion" of liberalism, and proceeds to study the man and the ideology simultaneously. This is, no doubt, an arguable proposition and ambitious task at best. Although Schulmans case  that Johnson and liberalism was one and the same, it is not necessarily true. It seemed throughout his career that Johnsons habit of liberalism was nothing more than a  convenience in order to advance his career. As is the wont of almost any United States President, Johnsons first priority was to advance his own career and, perhaps,  in light of his New Deal connections, to make himself more accessible to Franklin Roosevelt. Johnson certainly had nothing to lose and all to gain as he was able  to reap the rewards of choosing wisely which way to bend with the wind. It is well-known, and noted in the book, that Brown and Root, the main beneficiary of  government construction contracts in LBJs district, contributed heavily to the political campaigns of Johnson and his friends. It was easy to see that Johnson was liberal when it was politically  advantageous; otherwise, his liberalism perhaps was not so strong, such as in voting against labor in Taft-Hartley in the 1940s, supporting Texas oil and gas interests in the 1950s, and  opposing civil rights laws 1937-1957. What Schulmans book does not do is confront these disparities head on and note them for what they were. On the positive side, the  book is an excellent history of Johnsons paths, and covers the entire Johnson legacy as well as noting his great ambition, strong work habits, and good old boy type stories. 

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