JBJ and American Liberalism- Chapter 2 Blog Post

Bruce J. Schulman’s book, Lyndon B. Johnson and American Liberalism is a biographical representation of Lyndon B. Johnson life and presidency. Schulman’s depiction of President Johnson is not one widely accepted in the memory of most Americans. Yet, through analysis of Johnson’s political career, Schulman is able to credit the idea of Johnson as being a reliable leader whose influence, “[spanned] both great eras of liberal reform” (36). In Chapter two of Schulman’s book, he focuses on Johnson’s career as a senator, and portrays him as a hardworking and skilled politician.

In a time of liberal recession and backlash against the Democratic Party, Johnson proved to be a, “master of pluralist politics, deftly building coalitions and making deals between contending interests to move legislation through senate” (42). By taking a “cautious middle course,” Johnson was able to appeal to both northern liberalism and southern conservatism in congress.

Although Johnson made concessions to the conservative platform of politicians, Schulman argues that Johnson, “never compromised his bedrock liberal belief that government… must ensure prosperity for all” (43). This adherence to core liberal values can be seen through Johnson’s support of aid to education, higher minimum wage, extended rent control, farming subsidies, public housing, and many other congressional reforms.

Lyndon Johnson was an avid supporter of President John F. Kennedy throughout his political career.

This chapter serves to show how the reputation Johnson built while serving as a senator propelled him to national recognition. This recognition was gained through what Johnson himself called “politics of responsibility,” characterized by his mentality to appeal to both ends of the political spectrum in order to maintain public favorability. Schulman acknowledges that Johnson, “picked his battles carefully.” He would oppose the republicans on domestic policy in the wake of the 1954 economic recession, but stand with them in matters of foreign policy.

Chapter Two’s account of Johnson’s career as a US senator conveys the politician as man loyal to the people. Schulman does concede that Johnson was effected by the nature of politics at the time. He did take steps to achieve success that would mar his reputation and American’s faith in the seat of the presidency. However, when analyzing his role as a senator, Johnson’s dedication to his position enabled legislation to be passed that would help those in need. Ultimately, he worked hard to combat poverty, and improve educational standards.

Psychology in the 1950s- Chapter 1 of The Permissive Society

In the decades since the 1950s, representations of the era have become idealized. Many have grown accustom to the notion that the fifties were America’s zenith of moral and conservative values. However, this is not true. In Alan Petigny’s book, The Permissive Society: America, 1941-1965, he combats the imagination that the “fifties were a solidly conservative era,” by presenting the emergence of a “Permissive Turn,” in American society. Petigny asserts that one characteristic of the fifties that helped establish the Permissive Turn was the advances of modern psychology as well as child-rearing.

Petigny finds the influence of psychology significant in establishing the Permissive Turn because of the rise of humanism throughout the field. Humanism highlights one’s own “intrinsic worth,” as well as expressing their personal abilities and originality. Humanistic Psychologists also acknowledged the idea that people experience, “a loss in happiness through the heightening of the sense of guilt” (16). Essentially discrediting the idea of original sin, as it was thought of in the previously accepted religious philosophies. Humanistic psychology saw mankind as “good,” by nature. Understanding one’s own intrinsic worth and inherent goodness, lead the way for a liberalization of Americans social attitudes and “moral universe.” Modern psychology gained recognition when people began to see the success it was having with treating servicemen. Petigny states that, “60 percent of psychiatric casualties were able to return to the battlefield…” (18). Effective treatment of American soldiers lead to, “waves of psychiatrists… offering therapy to average Americans.” As modern psychology grew, so did the gap between cultural conservatives and a new standard of liberal American values.

A strategy of prompt psychiatric treatment during WWII generated significant results in the treatment of servicemen from disorders like post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and Shell-shock .

Child rearing also helped to promote the liberalization of American values. According to Petigny, the fifties, “embraced a number of nontraditional child-rearing practices” (37). This would end up having a significant impact on how parents related to their children. No longer did professionals advocate for customary views of punishment, but advised parents to be understanding and sympathetic when it came to childcare.

From child rearing to advances in modern psychology, Alan Petigny asserts that, “the morals of the country were being contested in all corners…” (52). Liberalization in these two areas of thought represents a challenge to the traditional and conservative morals of the past. It also shows a shift in attitude, instigated in the fifties. These challenges undermine the idealized depiction of the fifties being the greatest era of conservative morals in American history.

-Whitfield Logan