Press Releases | Jan, 8 2014
Fifty years ago today, on Jan. 8, 2014, President Johnson declared a war on poverty. Below is a list of events acknowledging this pivotal moment in history.
Taking place today - January 8, 2014
10:30 am EST – Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Members of Democratic Leadership, the Congressional Black Caucus Taskforce on Poverty and the Economy, The Democratic Whip’s Taskforce on Poverty, Income Inequality and Opportunity to mark the 50th Anniversary of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Declaration of the “War on Poverty” with special guest Lynda Johnson Robb.
Speeches on the floor beginning at 12 Noon EST, C-SPAN
3:30 pm EST Senior statesman, U.S. Senator Tom Harkin has reserved one hour of time on the Senate floor to honor President Johnson’s many accomplishments.
6:00 pm CST Larry Levinson on PBS News Hour
In his annual message to the Congress on the State of the Union, Jan. 8, 1964, President Lyndon Johnson outlined his plan to alleviate poverty in America. From his perspective, the social issues of civil rights, joblessness, inadequate schools, housing, and healthcare were symptoms of the impoverished living conditions of one-fifth of American families. Johnson believed that the most effective way to "win the war on poverty" was to introduce legislation, programs, and tax cuts that would result in a Great Society, giving all Americans—not just the poor and underprivileged—a better quality of life.
This address also underscores President Johnson's commitment to bipartisanship as he asks Congress to "to put [their] country ahead of [their] party, and to always debate principles; never debate personalities."
Johnson's efforts in the war against poverty transformed our country. As Joe Califano writes in "What Was Really Great About The Great Society," from 1963 when he took office, until 1970 as the impact of his Great Society programs were felt, the portion of Americans living below the poverty line dropped from 22.2 percent to 12.6 percent, the most dramatic decline over such a brief period in this century."
