Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson was born on August 27, 1908, into a family that had settled in Texas before the Civil War. Despite their deep roots, his family faced financial hardship, losing their farm. Johnson attended what is now Texas State University, and after a brief stint as a teacher, he turned his focus to politics. In 1948, he was elected as a Texas senator, and just five years later, he became the youngest minority leader in Senate history. Johnson’s political career continued to rise as he served as Vice President under John F. Kennedy from 1961 to 1963. Following Kennedy’s tragic assassination, Johnson assumed the presidency, leading the nation through a critical period in American history.