Work

Lyndon Baines Johnson: A Great Health Equity President

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Lyndon B. Johnson was an enigmatic character. Raised in rural Texas surrounded by poverty and racial segregation, Johnson spent his early political career aligned with the Southern bloc supporting anti-civil rights policy. However, after becoming president following President Kennedy’s assassination, he changed course. Within his first week in office, Johnson shocked the nation by declaring his support for the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He then used that momentum to usher Medicare and Medicaid through Congress the following year; a task that previous presidential administrations had struggled to complete. These and other actions have made Johnson one of the most impactful health equity presidents in United States history. But his early bigoted ways cannot be ignored. It is impossible to know Johnson’s true motivations, but perhaps his change in policy support can provide us with hope that with open conversation and scientific data, leaders and communities may change their opinions.

Source: Equity Neuroscience

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuros.2025.100017

Authors: Amanda Malingagio, Libby Kelley, Lewis B. Morgenstern

Institutions: University of Michigan, Michigan Medicine

Language: English

Topic: Healthcare Policy and Management

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $1,200