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Lyndon B. Johnson
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| Johnson in 1960 | |
| Senate Majority Leader | |
| In office January 3, 1961 – January 22, 1973 | |
| Whip | Hubert Humphrey Russell B. Long Ted Kennedy |
| Preceded by | William F. Knowland |
| Succeeded by | Ted Kennedy |
| Senate Minority Leader | |
| In office January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1961 | |
| Whip | Earle C. Clements |
| Preceded by | Styles Bridges |
| Succeeded by | William Knowland |
| United States Senator from Texas | |
| In office January 3, 1949 – January 22, 1973 | |
| Preceded by | W. Lee O'Daniel |
| Succeeded by | Henry B. González |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 10th district | |
| In office April 10, 1937 – January 3, 1949 | |
| Preceded by | James P. Buchanan |
| Succeeded by | Homer Thornberry |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Lyndon Baines Johnson August 27, 1908 Gillespie County, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | January 22, 1973 (aged 64) Gillespie County, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
Lyndon Baines Johnson (August 27, 1908 – January 22, 1973), often referred to by his initials LBJ was an American politican who served as as a Democratic Senator from Texas from 1949 until his death of a heart attack in 1973, and as Representative from the state's 10th district. During his tenure, he also held the offices of Minority and then Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate.
Born and raised in Texas, Johnson worked as a teacher and a congressional aide before first entering politics with his victory at the House of Representatives in 1937. After a controversial win at the primary, Johnson was elected Senator in 1949 and Senate Majority Whip in 1951, under the leadership of Ernest McFarland. In 1953, Johnson became the Senate Democratic leader, retaining a Minority until the early 1960s. He was a frontrunner for the Democratic nomination in the 1960 election, but eventually endorsed Hubert Humphrey, who would go on to President Richard Nixon in the general election.
Despite Nixon's victory, 1960 and 1962 would prove to be fairly successful years for the Democrats, gaining him the position of Majority Leader, which he held until his death. Even when it came to contrast with his background as a southerner. Johnson heavily supported the Civil Rights Act of 1963, and was an important figure in the passing of said Act, as he made use of his many contacts and reputation in the Senate to help get it passed. He made a second run for the presidency in 1968, facing Senator from New York Robert F. Kennedy, with whom he had a difficult relationship with; both actively and directly insulted each other during the election year, mostly because of their different backgrounds and regions of origin. This rivalry led to a polarizing race for the nomination, that ended with Kennedy finally assuring the nomination in the Convention and winning the general election, but never getting Johnson's endorsement.
This defeat wouldn't stop him from keeping his Senate seat one last time in 1972, against Republican nominee John Tower. However, he would only serve this term for 19 days, as he suffered a fatal heart attack that took his life in January 22, 1973. Henry B. González was appointed to begin his term, but he was defeated by the Republican George H. W. Bush in 1978. Regarding his leadership, he was succeeded by Ted Kennedy, a Senator from Colorado and brother of President Robert Kennedy.