re: #227 Joe Bacon 🌹

The reason I would put Johnson in the #5 slot is because he stood up to Wallace. In 1964 Wallace ran in the Democratic primaries and he got a sizable chunk of the Democratic primary vote in Maryland. Wisconsin and Indiana. Wallace demanded that Johnson back down on Civil Rights and Johnson said repeatedly he would NEVER back down.

Wallace really tore into Johnson when LBJ actually spoke “We Shall Overcome” in a Congressional speech. LBJ was really blasted over that but he stood his ground.

Absolutely. And frankly he was much more bold than Kennedy was on Civil Rights which is amazing considering his background.