JFK or LBJ?

[MIKESOWELL]

I think that Kennedy was a very good president, but I think that LBJ was miles ahead of Kennedy when it came to domestic issues. Johnson's civil rights legacy to me should far outweigh the Vietnam War weight.

[Secretary of Labor Earthling]

Kennedy of course. Escalating the only war we've ever lost vs. preventing nucular war. I'll take the latter.

Iraq wasn't really a win for the US either.

But LBJ wins in my opinion. He probably was a gigantic S.O.B. but he got things done.

[LBJer]

I think that Kennedy was a very good president, but I think that LBJ was miles ahead of Kennedy when it came to domestic issues. Johnson's civil rights legacy to me should far outweigh the Vietnam War weight.

Absolutely--this is what I was going to say.  LBJ was one of the best presidents ever in domestic affairs.  It's extremely difficult to give him an overall ranking, given that Vietnam was such a disaster.  Nevertheless, if someone forced me to at gunpoint I would rank him a "near great" president.  The highest I would go with JFK would be "very good."

[Old Europe]

Had JFK lived, his brother would have pushed him in the right direction on civil rights. Or at least I hope so. In any case, RFK would have been a better president than JFK. Not so sure about Johnson though.

[JulioMadrid]

LBJ, by far. But Ted Kennedy would have been better than him.

[OC]

LBJ obvious due the Civil Rights passage and Marshall on the Supreme Crt. If Kennedy had been prez under a different time when the Vietnam war was waging and he rode the Kennedy antiwar movement to the WH like his brother RFK almost did he would of been the better of the two.

[Tidewater_Wave]

Seriously? Then why didn't Johnson run for re-election? Please explain to me in full detail what Johnson did well without mentioning redistribution of the wealth and socialism. John F. Kennedy was a true leader whom I would've considered voting for had he been there in 1964. He loved this country, believed in serving the country rather than what the country could do for the individual, and had a positive outlook on life. His heroism should never be forgotten from WWII. He may have had some character flaws regarding women but what guy would act differently if he constantly had the most beautiful women in the world throwing themselves at him? Other than Civil Rights, I don't see Johnson as doing well. I'll hold my views on other issues of his era for a different posting.

[OC]

Once the Voting Rights Act was passed, Johnson knew he would lose the South and he felt his duty was to give Blacks equal representation and Destroy the Communist in the Cold War. Sometimes you have do what's best for your country rather than do whats best for your party and both cost the Dems 1968 barring a RFK revival.

[© Tweed the Younger]

cool glitch: "Total Voters" is showing up as 97 while 98 votes are recorded as cast.

[N.i.K.]

cool glitch: "Total Voters" is showing up as 97 while 98 votes are recorded as cast.

There's actually a reason for that, I think. This is my second account, and was merged with my first account. I'm pretty sure that my votes in polls reset, thus allowing me to vote again.

[State Comptroller Atkins]

JFK. I might have even still voted for him if LBJ hadn't escalated Vietnam. 

[Landslide Lyndon]

I always admired LBJ and saw him as something of a reluctant hero/tragic figure. The corrupt southerner who is somehow forced by History to step up, confront his fellow southerners and become the civil rights hero.

I'm still dumbfounded by the fact that the Hollywodd is unable to make a great movie about his unlikely life and career. 

[Senator Clarence]

I always admired LBJ and saw him as something of a reluctant hero/tragic figure. The corrupt southerner who is somehow forced by History to step up, confront his fellow southerners and become the civil rights hero.

I'm still dumbfounded by the fact that the Hollywodd is unable to make a great movie about his unlikely life and career. 

I hope History will remember him that way... however much we talka bout how we define our times- our times define us... LBJ stepped up and I will always be damn proud to have cast my first vote for that man
He had his mistakes but he was a man who faced the challenges of the time with a resolve I wish our leaders had today and we always knew that

[OC]

The Brown V Board of Kansas decision forced concervative dixiecrats like Thomas Clark and Stanley F Reed to accept Blacks as equals and set the stage for Johnson to step up.