Ronald Reagan and Lyndon B. Johnson were great presidents who served America after the war (Darman, 18). Reagan was a Republican who served between 1981 and 1989 after his term in office came to an end. Johnson was a Democrat who became president in 1963 and left in 1969. Reagan was famous for his hands-off style of leadership, whereas Johnson was a hands-on kind of leader. Reagan did not have a vast understanding of the United States economy. He delegated most of his work (Darman 38). Mostly he let other people do the work for him. Johnson took things into his hands and got the job done.
Though Reagan did not have the legislative understanding that Johnson had, he was a man of the people (Cannon and Carl 53). He talked in a language that people could easily understand. He leveled with the average citizen, bringing the government closer to them (Ritter & Medhurst 43). It made the citizens identify with him. It can be argued that this is why he was re-elected, and he left the office when his term came to an end. Johnson preferred to work behind the scenes. Far from the public eye, though, as president, he had established a different relationship with the citizens.
Johnson brought about a lot of changes in the government (Hudson and Gareth 243). He was keen to follow the advice of his chief advisor and of the task force he had established. Johnson kept the work of the task force away from the public (Peter 33). These helped avoid political pressures, which would have resulted in the formation of unsound policies biased towards one side of the political divide. This tactic also assisted him to remain composed in governing Americans, who they believed in him (Gallup 56). The task force job was to come up with proposals on how to better domestic policies. They came up with reports about the economy and the American society as a whole.
They both fought two wars, at home and in foreign countries. Johnson wanted to see an end to poverty within the United States (Aune & Medhurst 375). He wanted to establish a state where everyone could sustain themselves. He established laws that upheld human rights and pushed for education, as a way to end poverty. These were all integrated with the “Great Society” legislation. He fought against communism in the Vietnam. Reagan fought against Roosevelt’s and Truman’s liberal government domestically. Reagan fought against communism. He saw communism as a hindrance to development (Aune & Medhurst 375).
The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) during Johnson’s time was higher than when Reagan was in office. It can be argued that it was due to the great recession that took place during Reagan’s rule (Reagan and Douglas 315). He resulted to develop Reaganomics. He wanted to control supply, ensuring a reduction in government spending and policies that created a good environment for business investors (Peters 23).
In conclusion, though both of the leaders used different kinds of leadership styles, they persuade the some similar issues. They fought for what they deemed to be right for the citizens during their time. This personality made them one of the most famous presidents of America in the history. They were able to make quick and prompt decisions when needed and most of the choices they made were successful.
Works Cited
Aune, James A, and Martin J. Medhurst. The Prospect of Presidential Rhetoric. College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 2008. Print.
Cannon, Lou, and Carl M. Cannon. Reagan's Disciple: George W. Bush's Troubled Quest for a Presidential Legacy. New York: PublicAffairs, 2008. Print.
Darman, Jonathan. Landslide: Lbj and Ronald Reagan at the Dawn of a New America. , 2014. Print.
Gallup, Alec M. The Gallup Poll: Public Opinion 2004. Lanham, Md. Rowman & Littlefield, 2006. Print.
Hudson, Cheryl, and Gareth Davies. Ronald Reagan and the 1980s: Perceptions, Policies, Legacies. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008. Internet resource.
Ritter, Kurt W, and Medhurst, Martin J. Presidential Speechwriting: From the New Deal to the Reagan Revolution and Beyond. College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 2004. Print.
Lyndon B. Johnson: Portrait of a President. Oxford Univ Pr, 2005. Print.
Peters, Charles. Lyndon B. Johnson. , 2010. Internet resource.
Reagan, Ronald, and Douglas Brinkley. The Reagan Diaries. New York: Harper Perennial, 2009. Print.
