Government and Politics
The US Presidents from 1965-1969
1965 Politics and Economics:
*Lyndon Johnson is inaugurated for his second term in office; Huber Humphrey is his vice president.
*Riots in Watts cause 35 deaths and millions of dollars in damage.
*Martin Luther King, Jr., leads a Selma to Montgomery march on March 21-25.
*Johnson’s “great Society” opens with the passing of Medicare and the Water Quality Act.
1966 Politics and Economics:
*E.W. Brooke of Massachusetts becomes the first African American in the United States Senate in 85 years.
*U.S. participation in Vietnam escalates.
*The former British colony of Barbados becomes independent.
*Ronald Reagan, future United States President is elected governor of California.
*Robert Weaver becomes the first Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. He is the first black member of the cabinet.
1967 Politics and Economics:
*The Twenty-fifth Amendment is passed on February 10, 1967.
*The first endangered species list is published by the Department of Interior.
1968 Politics and Economics:
*The USS Pueblo is seized by North Korea.
*Martin Luther King Jr., is assassinated.
*President Johnson announces he will not seek re-election.
*North Vietnam launches a massive Tet offensive.
*Robert F. Kennedy, presidential candidate is assassinated on June 5.
*Republican Richard Nixon narrowly defeats Democratic candidate Hubert Humphrey.
1969 Political and Economics:
*Richard M. Nixon is inaugurated as the 37th president; Spiro T. Agnew is his new vice-president.
*Nixon announces plans to withdraw troops from Vietnam. By September, 55,000 *American soldiers leave Vietnam.