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Essay / Ranking Presidents by Domestic Policy and...
Ranking by Domestic PolicyRank President Explanation1 Lyndon B. Johnson During Johnson's presidency, the federal government greatly expanded its domestic responsibilities in an attempt to transform the nation toward what Johnson called the "Great Society", in which poverty and racial intolerance ceased to exist. An unprecedented number of laws were passed during this period; many laws have been passed to protect the environment, ensure consumer safety, reduce educational inequities, improve housing in urban areas, provide more assistance to the elderly in health care and other policies aimed at improving well-being. Johnson called for a "war on poverty" and allocated more funds to help the poor; government spending on the poor increased from six billion in 1964 to twenty-four and a half billion dollars in 1968. Not only did Johnson improve the American economy and significantly reduce poverty, but he also advocated for equality racial; he successfully convinced Congress to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964, making segregation illegal in public places and institutions. He also signed into law the Voting Rights Act of 1965, banning literacy tests in areas where the number of voters was below a certain number, which forced many Southern states to allow more blacks to vote . Through his presidency, the poor and minorities enjoyed significant benefits through more favorable legislation and more effective American legislation.2 Harry S. Truman Truman's domestic policy accomplishments were impressive, considering the difficulties that the nation was going through during World War II. ended, as did the resistance of Congress (which was largely composed of Republicans and conservatives) to liberalism. The president was able to pass...... middle of paper ......(accessed May 3, 2014).10. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library. “The Second American Revolution: Reaganomics.” Reagan Foundation. http://www.reaganfoundation.org/nomic-policy.aspx (accessed May 2, 2014).11. United States Senate. “Lyndon Baines Johnson.” United States and Senate: art and history. https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/Lyndon_Johnson.htm (accessed May 2, 2014).12. US Department of State. "A Brief History of the State Department: Foreign Policy under President Eisenhower." » Historian's office. https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/short-history/eisenhower (accessed May 2, 2014).13. US Department of State. “A Brief History of the State Department: Nixon’s Foreign Policy.” Historian's Office. http://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/short-history/nixon-foreignpolicy (accessed May 3, 2014).