Sometimes, politically powerful men do unexpected things. L.B.J. came from the Hill Country of Texas, a long way from the white house, and was proud to be a Texan. He was born in a farm near Stonewall. During his senate years, like most Southerners, did not support federal Civil Rights. But the question is if he didn't support them, then why did he sign the Civil Rights act of 1964? If political decisions are calculated and in one's own self-interest, then the Public Opinion Polls, the Sincerity Question, and the 1957 Stumbling Block show that President Johnson was motivated to sign by his politics. One example that reveals President Johnson's political motivation can be found in Doc B public opinion on Civil Rights. The evidence that supports this is the numbers for the opinions …show more content…
The numbers are that 39% of people thought that L.B.J. was pushing the interrogation just right, as well as the fact that people were also asked if they approved or disapproved at the way L.B.J. was handleling the Civil Rights problem and 57% of people approved. This clearly supports this reason for political and if it had been principle he wouldnt have cared so much about the numbers. L.B.J. also had a cartoon made about him. Another example of L.B.J.’s political motivation can be seen in document D. Document D is a cartoon entitled “Stumbling Block”. The purpose of it is to backup the statement that L.B.J. was tripping over things in his past those things being his attitude towards the Civil Rights Bill in the past. This document makes the statement that L.B.J. is parade leading. L.B.J. also had a conversation with Roy Willkins. The third and most important example of L.B.J.’s political intentions is evident in Document E. Document E is a conversation with Roy Wilkins. He was asked L.B.J. why it has taken him so long to act on the Civil Rights Bill if he had cared about it so much. Therefore it is making a statement that says he doesnt care about it and only did it for political