Personality & Power of Lyndon Johnson & Bill Clinton

The personality, power, and persuasion of United States presidents are often directly related to their popularity with people and their ability to get things accomplished. Under both President Lyndon B. Johnson and William J. Clinton many achievements were had that were primarily the result of the personality, power, and persuasiveness of each leader. Under President Johnson's leadership, astronauts orbited the moon, the Great Society akin to Roosevelt's New Deal was constructed, and the Civil Rights Act was passed. Under President Clinton's leadership, America enjoyed its lowest unemployment rate in a decade, its lowest inflation rate in three decades, the highest rate of home ownership in its history, declining crime rates and reduced welfare roles (William U.S., 2002, 1). Yet both men would face enormous challenges. Johnson endured the Vietnam War, racial violence, and other issues during his administration that threatened to divide the country in two. Clinton was continually attacked by Republicans and allegedly involved in a number of scandals and sexual peccadilloes, most infamously the Monica Lewinsky affair that resulted in impeachment efforts. Despite such crises, both men were adept as using the media and the force of their own personality and charisma to achieve their ambitions and weather a number of storms that might have seen lesser personalities fall.