# Lyndon Johnson *36th president of the United States (1963–1969); signatory of the federal child-nutrition statutes in the Minnesota record.* Lyndon Baines Johnson (August 27, 1908 – January 22, 1973), a member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)]], was Kennedy's vice president. He took the presidency when John F. Kennedy was assassinated and held it until 1969. Before that he sat in both chambers of Congress.[^1] In the Minnesota record Johnson appears as the president at the signing of the [[Child Nutrition Act of 1966]]. In his remarks at that signing, the first person he addresses is Secretary of Agriculture [[Orville Freeman]].[^2] The Act and its successor of May 8, 1968, [[Public Law 90-302]], were both enacted during his presidency. Together they began the federal school breakfast pilot and the meal program for day-care centers and similar institutions. That program was later reorganized as the [[Child and Adult Care Food Program]].[^3][^4][^5] Wikipedia lists the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]] among the enactments that defined Johnson's civil-rights record.[^1] Sixty-two years later, the United States sued Minnesota under that Act's [[Title VII]], in *United States v. State of Minnesota*, No. 0:26-cv-00273 (D. Minn.).[^6] The [[United States Department of Justice]] titled its announcement of the suit "United States Department of Justice Files Lawsuit Against Minnesota's 'Affirmative Action' Regime".[^7] The project's catalogue of U.S.-government "regime" usages finds Minnesota the only U.S. state so described; that is the project's own finding.[^8] ## Who Johnson was born near Stonewall, Texas. He won a 1937 special election for Texas's 10th congressional district and sat in the [[United States House of Representatives]] from April 10, 1937, to January 3, 1949.[^1] During those House years he voted against anti-lynching legislation, against anti-poll-tax legislation and against the Fair Employment Practice Committee. Wikipedia records that almost all other Southern Democrats in the House did the same.[^1] In the 1948 Democratic runoff for the U.S. Senate, Johnson was credited with an 87-vote margin out of 988,295 votes. The Democratic State Central Committee then certified his nomination by a vote of 29–28.[^1] He became Senate majority leader in 1954. In 1960 he joined Kennedy's ticket as the vice-presidential nominee.[^1] On November 22, 1963, Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. Johnson took the oath of office aboard Air Force One that same day.[^1] The other official named in the nutrition record is Orville L. Freeman. He was [[Secretary of Agriculture]] from January 21, 1961, to January 20, 1969, serving under Kennedy and then Johnson.[^9] The American Presidency Project's editorial note to the 1966 remarks states that "he referred to Secretary of Agriculture Orville L. Freeman."[^2] The Library of Congress also catalogues an item titled *Roy Wilkins and President Johnson*.[^10] ## What **Food Stamp Act of 1964.** Freeman announced food stamp pilot programs on February 2, 1961. On April 17, 1963, he submitted proposed legislation to establish a permanent program.[^11] Johnson signed the Food Stamp Act of 1964 (P.L. 88-525, 78 Stat. 703) on August 31, 1964. Freeman is not named in Johnson's signing remarks.[^12] **Child Nutrition Act of 1966.** The Act (P.L. 89-642, 80 Stat. 885) contains three relevant provisions:[^3][^13] - Section 4 establishes "a pilot program to assist States through grants-in-aid and other means, to initiate, maintain, or expand nonprofit breakfast programs in schools". This was the start of the [[School Breakfast Program]]. - Section 3 reauthorizes the Special Milk Program, which originated in the Agricultural Act of 1954. - The Act also extended school-lunch eligibility to preschool children. **Public Law 90-302 (1968).** This law (82 Stat. 117) added a new Section 13 to the [[National School Lunch Act]] under the heading "SPECIAL FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN". It funded meals served through "private, nonprofit institutions or public institutions, such as child day-care centers, settlement houses, or recreation centers".[^4] **Later reorganization.** In 1975, P.L. 94-105 split Section 13 into two parts:[^14] - the "SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN", now the [[Summer Food Service Program]]; - a new Section 17, the Child Care Food Program. In 1989, P.L. 101-147 §105(a) renamed Section 17 the "CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM".[^15] The Institute of Medicine states that "In 1968, CACFP began as a small 3-year pilot program called the Special Food Service Program for Children".[^5] USDA's own legislative-history pages for the summer program and for CACFP now return an archived-content notice.[^16][^17] **Other instruments.** On September 24, 1965, Johnson signed Executive Order 11246, which required federal contractors to take "affirmative action".[^18] On July 30, 1965, he signed the Social Security Amendments of 1965, which created Medicare and Medicaid.[^19] ## When - November 22, 1963: Johnson becomes president and pledges to pass a civil rights bill.[^20] - January 8, 1964: in his State of the Union address, Johnson declares a "War on Poverty".[^21] - August 31, 1964: Food Stamp Act signed.[^12] - January 4, 1965: the "Great Society" State of the Union, covering Medicare, Medicaid, education and HUD.[^22] - March 15, 1965: Johnson addresses Congress under the phrase "We shall overcome" and proposes the Voting Rights Act.[^23] - October 11, 1966: Child Nutrition Act approved.[^3] - July 27, 1967: Johnson creates the Kerner Commission to investigate urban disorders.[^24] - May 8, 1968: Public Law 90-302 approved.[^4] - October 7, 1975: P.L. 94-105 splits NSLA Section 13.[^14] - November 10, 1989: P.L. 101-147 renames Section 17.[^15] ## Why At the 1966 signing, Johnson stated the purpose of the breakfast provision: "Thousands of children arrive at school hungry because they have no breakfast. This act provides for breakfasts at school."[^2][^25] The documented outputs that followed that stated purpose are the statutes themselves: - a two-year breakfast pilot at §4;[^3] - a 1968 section funding meals through day-care centers, settlement houses and recreation centers;[^4] - that section's later division into the summer and child-care programs.[^14][^15] The record does not establish any motive beyond the stated purpose. ## How much Public Law 90-302 authorized "$32,000,000 for each of the three fiscal years ending June 30, 1969, June 30, 1970, and June 30, 1971," for the new Section 13 program.[^4] ## How many As president, Johnson vetoed 30 bills, and Congress overrode none of them.[^1] ## In the Minnesota record ### What The United States filed *[[United States v. State of Minnesota (0:26-cv-00273)]]* in the District of Minnesota on January 14, 2026, under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.[^6] The complaint cites [[Minn. Stat. § 43A.191]] eight times. Those citations include subdivision 3(c), which requires an agency to explain the reason for hiring a non-affirmative candidate.[^6] Attorney General Pamela Bondi certified the case as a matter of general public importance. The Department's release No. 26-21 carries the title quoted above.[^7] The case is pending; this article states what the complaint alleges and does not adjudicate it.[^6] The suit follows *[[Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services]]*, 605 U.S. 303 (2025). In that case the Supreme Court held that Title VII's disparate-treatment provision "draws no distinctions between majority-group plaintiffs and minority-group plaintiffs".[^26] On the word "regime": U.S. law uses the term for governments the United States opposes. The [[Iraq Liberation Act]] of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-338), for example, states a policy of supporting efforts to remove "the regime headed by Saddam Hussein." The catalogue finding stated in the lead is from the project's own catalogue in *[[How Minnesota Got Here]]*.[^8] ### Party record The pack records these instruments as enacted under Johnson, a Democrat:[^1][^3][^4] - the 1964 Food Stamp Act; - the 1966 Child Nutrition Act; - Public Law 90-302. The pack does not record the party of the administrations that approved the 1975 and 1989 amendments.[^14][^15] ## In the at-issue record The project holds one at-issue pair on Johnson: [[At issue 002 - Lyndon Johnson's remarks at the signing of the]] Child Nutrition Act of 1966. It sets the opening words of the 1966 remarks, "Secretary Freeman, Senator Ellender, Members of the Congress:", beside a March 2026 White House action, *Establishing the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud*.[^2][^27] The entry describes the 1966 signing as the founding ceremony of the program family that this task force now polices.[^27] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia, *Lyndon B. Johnson* (revision 1381565536, retrieved 2026-10-27) — biography, House and Senate service, 1948 runoff count, civil-rights enactments, veto count. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyndon_B._Johnson [^2]: American Presidency Project, *Remarks at the Signing of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966* (Oct. 11, 1966) — opening words, editorial note naming Freeman, stated purpose of breakfast provision. https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/remarks-the-signing-the-child-nutrition-act-1966 [^3]: U.S. Statutes at Large, *Child Nutrition Act of 1966*, Pub. L. 89-642, 80 Stat. 885 (Oct. 11, 1966) — §4 breakfast pilot, §3 Special Milk Program, preschool eligibility. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-80/pdf/STATUTE-80-Pg885.pdf [^4]: U.S. Statutes at Large, *Public Law 90-302*, 82 Stat. 117 (May 8, 1968) — NSLA §13 heading, eligible institutions, $32,000,000 authorization for FY1969–1971. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-82/pdf/STATUTE-82-Pg117.pdf [^5]: Institute of Medicine, *Child and Adult Care Food Program: Aligning Dietary Guidance for All* (2011), ch. 2 — CACFP's descent from the 1968 Special Food Service Program for Children. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK209814/ [^6]: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, *Complaint, United States v. State of Minnesota*, No. 0:26-cv-00273 (D. Minn. filed Jan. 14, 2026) — Title VII claim; eight citations of Minn. Stat. § 43A.191, including subd. 3(c). https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1423361/dl [^7]: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs, *United States Department of Justice Files Lawsuit Against Minnesota's 'Affirmative Action' Regime*, release No. 26-21 (Jan. 14, 2026) — title of release; Attorney General's certification. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/united-states-department-justice-files-lawsuit-against-minnesotas-affirmative-action-regime [^8]: U.S. Statutes at Large, *Iraq Liberation Act of 1998*, Pub. L. 105-338 (1998) — "regime" as used in U.S. law; the project's catalogue finding (How Minnesota Got Here, note 40) is the project's own. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-105publ338/pdf/PLAW-105publ338.pdf [^9]: John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum (NARA), *Officials of the Kennedy Administration* — Freeman's dates as Secretary of Agriculture. https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/life-of-john-f-kennedy/fast-facts-john-f-kennedy/officials-of-the-kennedy-administration [^10]: Library of Congress, *Roy Wilkins and President Johnson* — catalogue item. https://www.loc.gov/item/2002699547/ [^11]: U.S. Department of Agriculture, *A Short History of SNAP* — pilot programs announced Feb. 2, 1961; Freeman's April 17, 1963 legislative submission. https://www.fna.usda.gov/snap/history [^12]: American Presidency Project, *Remarks Upon Signing the Food Stamp Act* (Aug. 31, 1964) — signing of P.L. 88-525; Freeman not named. https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/remarks-upon-signing-the-food-stamp-act [^13]: Social Security Administration, *Compilation: Child Nutrition Act of 1966* (P.L. 89-642) — codified text of §4. https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/comp2/F089-642.html [^14]: U.S. Statutes at Large, *Public Law 94-105*, 89 Stat. 511 (Oct. 7, 1975) — split of NSLA §13; new §17 Child Care Food Program. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-89/pdf/STATUTE-89-Pg511.pdf [^15]: U.S. Statutes at Large, *Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 1989*, Pub. L. 101-147 (Nov. 10, 1989), §105(a) — renaming of §17. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-103/pdf/STATUTE-103-Pg877.pdf [^16]: U.S. Department of Agriculture, *SFSP program history* — dead; now returns an archived-content notice. https://www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/program-history [^17]: U.S. Department of Agriculture, *CACFP legislative history* — dead; now returns an archived-content notice. https://www.fns.usda.gov/cacfp/legislative-history [^18]: Minnesota wiki Time Table, *TL-0170: Executive Order 11246* (Sept. 24, 1965) — signing and "affirmative action" requirement. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Order_11246 [^19]: Minnesota wiki Time Table, *TL-0166: Social Security Amendments of 1965* (July 30, 1965) — signing date. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Security_Amendments_of_1965 [^20]: Minnesota wiki Time Table, *TL-0140: Assassination of John F. Kennedy* (Nov. 22, 1963) — succession and civil-rights pledge. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_John_F._Kennedy [^21]: Minnesota wiki Time Table, *TL-0142: War on Poverty* (Jan. 8, 1964) — State of the Union declaration. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_on_poverty [^22]: Minnesota wiki Time Table, *TL-0159: Great Society* (Jan. 4, 1965) — State of the Union program. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Society [^23]: Minnesota wiki Time Table, *TL-0164: "We shall overcome" speech* (Mar. 15, 1965) — address to Congress; Voting Rights Act proposal. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_shall_overcome_(Lyndon_B._Johnson_speech [^24]: Minnesota wiki Time Table, *TL-0198: Kerner Commission* (July 27, 1967) — creation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerner_Commission [^25]: LBJ Presidential Library, *Remarks at the Signing of the Child Nutrition Act* (Oct. 11, 1966) — library copy of the remarks. https://www.lbjlibrary.org/object/text/remarks-signing-child-nutrition-act-10-11-1966 [^26]: Supreme Court of the United States, *Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services*, 605 U.S. 303 (2025) — Title VII disparate-treatment holding. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/23-1039_c0n2.pdf [^27]: The White House, *Establishing the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud* (Mar. 2026) — at-issue anchor for the 1966 signing. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/03/establishing-the-task-force-to-eliminate-fraud/