Election of 1964

This election was definitely not as heated as its predecessor. After Kennedy's assassination and popular presidency, the vice president, Lyndon B. Johnson inherited the office. The election of 1964 was his re-election after the brief presidency he had held due to Kennedy's death. In this election, he got the nickname "Landslide Lyndon," due to the 90.3% of electoral votes that he had garnered. Johnson ran against Goldwater, whose stance was to use nuclear weapons in Vietnam if it became necessary, cut social programs, end the sale of the Tenensee Valley Authority and make voluntary social security participation rather than mandatory. Johnson wanted to conitnue socail programs, and have limited involvment in Vietnam. His presidency became cotradictory to this statement.

In Johnson's inauguration speech, given on January 20, 1965, Johnson stated:

"Our destiny in the midst of change will rest on the unchanged character of our people and on their faith."

See a color coded map of the drastic landslide here!