Lyndon B Johnson Use Of Manipulation In Politics

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Manipulatory politics occur in moral grey areas, in such a way it can be difficult to determine a single immoral actor who can be held responsible. While the manipulator can clearly be acting immorally, this does not automatically absolve the person being manipulated from any culpability. When Lyndon B. Johnson manipulated the senate into passing the Civil Rights legislation he had been fighting for, the “victims” of the manipulation were well educated men in positions of power. Guttman and Thompson state, “The victims of manipulation- the minority leader, the vice president, and the Senate liberals- were not weak or vulnerable. Arguably, they should have seen sooner what was going on. More than voters, legislators should be expected to be able to protect themselves against manipulation”(Gutmann 177). When the public elects an official, there is a tacit agreement that the official will take their responsibilities seriously and keep in mind that their decisions affect those who put them in power. It is expected that members of the senate will not make decisions without thoughtfully considering them and making sure they are making the right decision, not just for themselves but also for the general public. …show more content…
While manipulation is considered immoral, there are some instances in politics when it can be considered morally justifiable. Additionally, there are some circumstances when the person manipulated can be held somewhat responsible for allowing themselves to be duped. Manipulation should be avoided in political affairs when possible, but instances will always exist in politics when it becomes morally necessary to use
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Lyndon B. Johnson the thirty-sixth President of the United States, took office following the assassination of John F. Kennedy in the fall of 1963. He would go on to win reelection in 1964 by defeating Barry Goldwater, with one of the largest margins in history. Like most presidents during this time his administration was enshrined by the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement. Many historical texts focus on LBJ’s personality and how it influenced his decisions pertaining to Civil Rights and Vietnam…

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