Joshua Zeitz - Building the Great Society: Inside Lyndon Johnson's White House

Video Description

Roosevelt House welcomes bestselling historian Joshua Zeitz to mark the publication of his new book, Building the Great Society: Inside Lyndon Johnson’s White House, an account of how transformational Great Society programs were actually enacted and put into practice, from civil rights and immigration reform to Medicare and Head Start. Zeitz, the author of Lincoln’s Boys: John Hay, John Nicolay, and the War for Lincoln’s Image, explores the ways in which LBJ’s towering political skills led to an ambitious slate of liberal legislation. But he also examines what happened after the bills passed. In his talk, Zeitz will discuss the atmosphere inside Johnson’s White House as a talented and energetic group of advisers made LBJ’s vision a reality. Bill Moyers, Jack Valenti, Joseph Califano, Harry McPherson and the others who comprised LBJ’s inner circle were as pragmatic and ambitious as Johnson. Zeitz will discuss how one of the most competent White House staffs in American history – serving one of the most complicated presidents ever to occupy the Oval Office – fundamentally changed everyday life for millions of citizens and forged a legacy of compassionate and interventionist government. Presidential historian Robert Dallek calls Building the Great Society, “Beautifully written…a riveting portrait of LBJ…Every office holder in Washington would profit from reading this book.” Zeitz is in conversation with Andrew Polsky, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Hunter College. Welcoming remarks by Roosevelt House Director Harold Holzer. Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College, February 6, 2018.