The Best of Intentions: The Triumph and Failure of the Great Society Under Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon

by Irwin Unger

Book by Unger, Irwin

400 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1995

Reviews

[Terry · Rating 2 out of 5]

An adequate account and review of the Great Society programs of President Lyndon Johnson, including their genesis (some during President Kennedy's tenure) and extensions or demises when Richard Nixon succeeded Johnson. Lots of detail about the legislation that produced the highly varied programs, most of which were minimally funded to begin with and then were gradually defunded. Johnson's best intentions crashed into racial conflict, including the urban riots of the 1960s, and the Vietnam War, which eroded his political support and sucked up funds that might have gone to his social programs. There were significant successes, however, including Medicare, funding for the public broadcasting system and the arts and the beginnings of environmental policies. Unger's coverage and analysis of the War on Poverty, Community Action and Model Cities programs was most disappointing--I hoped for more, particularly on citizen participation in these programs (deemed a failure by many, but actually successful in some places and for many individuals).

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but not compelling. I enjoyed reading about a time period I lived through and politicians I remember. It was a bit depressing to learn that the same arguments have been going on for decades and our society is still becoming more unsettled and fragile. Will we ever get it right?