Lyndon B. Johnson and William J. 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 JohnsonÆs leadership, astronauts orbited the moon, the Great Society akin to RooseveltÆs New Deal was constructed, and the Civil Rights Act was passed. Under President ClintonÆs 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.
There were many reasons for the power enjoyed by Lyndon B. Johnson, power that was considerable and enabled him to pass the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act as well as implement programs like Medicare, Federal Housing, Job Corps, Head Start, VISTA and others. There are three main reasons that explain the power held by Johnson that enabled so many of his Great Society plans to become reality. The first reason was JohnsonÆs long-term service in the Senate, where he was previously Senate majority leader. Jo...