As promised…

…some notes on LBJ, and why I consider him the greatest President of my lifetime (I date back to HST). My measure is achievement, positive achievements for the American people. Let's take a look.

On the environmental front, there was a Clean Air act and pesticide controls. He expanded our public lands, signing bills that created the Compobello International Park, Medicine Bow National Forest, the Ozark Scenic Riverway, Fort Bowie Historic Site, the Fire Island National Seashore and increased the land designated as wilderness.

Seeing education as the key to lifting Americans from poverty to the middle class, he signed the Vocational Education Act, the Indian Vocational Education Act and the Manpower Training Act. He increased federal support for nurse's training, college facilities and library services.

New programs were introduced to support American farmers. Some, like the Food Stamp Act, carried a double impact as part of the War On Poverty that was initiated. Cities were given new support for highways, affordable housing and urban mass transit.

There was of course, the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Did I mention the tax cut?

Compare this record to the loftiest ambitions of politicians since. Understand - this isn't what Lyndon Johnson achieved during his presidency. This is what Lyndon Johnson achieved before he was inaugurated for his own full term.

More to come...