--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How exactly was Johnson able to pass the…" description: "\"How exactly was Johnson able to pass the Great Society legislation and the Voting Rights Act? Of course, he was a savvy deal-maker. But the key to thes..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13b/neera-tanden-4361_election_how-exactly-was-johnson-able-to-pass-the_193566.jpg" --- # How exactly was Johnson able to pass the Great Society… ![“How exactly was Johnson able to pass the Great Society legislation and the Voting Rights Act? Of course, he was a savvy deal-maker. But the key to these legislative victories was the size of his election victory.” quote by Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13b/neera-tanden-4361_election_how-exactly-was-johnson-able-to-pass-the_193566.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13b/neera-tanden-4361_election_how-exactly-was-johnson-able-to-pass-the_193566.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13b/neera-tanden-4361_election_how-exactly-was-johnson-able-to-pass-the_193566.jpg) > “How exactly was Johnson able to pass the Great Society legislation and the Voting Rights Act? Of course, he was a savvy deal-maker. But the key to these legislative victories was the size of his election victory.” [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Johnson leveraged his massive electoral mandate to pressure Congress, using political capital and personal persuasion to pass key reforms. **In simple terms:** Big election win gave him leverage to push legislation. Key Takeaway Use political advantage wisely. Themes politics leadership legislation Mood determined strategic Type historical political When to use this quote - policy reform - civil rights - social programs Key Concepts coalition building strategic bargaining Questions to Reflect On - How do you translate electoral success into policy? - What risks arise from relying on personal influence? A Different Perspective Large victories can mask underlying opposition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/) [Voting rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voting-rights/) ## Related quotes > [I have voted on the merits of legislation, voting both 'with' and 'against' my party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-spanberger/i-have-voted-on-the-merits-of-legislation-voting-both-with-and/) [Abigail Spanberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-spanberger/) > [“In spite of what’s been written and reported ad nauseam, the Jim Comey letter wasn’t the reason for the outcome on Election Day. By…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-r-lewandowski/in-spite-of-what-s-been-written-and-reported-ad-nauseam-the-jim-comey/) [Corey R. Lewandowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-r-lewandowski/) > [Three key elements triggered NDA's spectacular 2014 election victory - taking development and prosperity to the lowest rung of society, eradication of corruption, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-shah/three-key-elements-triggered-nda-s-spectacular-2014-election-victory/) [Amit Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-shah/) > [I deeply understand the history of civil rights and the horrendous impact that relentless and systemic discrimination and the denial of voting rights has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sessions/i-deeply-understand-the-history-of-civil-rights-and-the-horrendous/) [Jeff Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sessions/) > [“There is another, grimmer history to the filibuster, though, one that carries special relevance for me. For almost a century, the filibuster was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/there-is-another-grimmer-history-to-the-filibuster-though-one-that/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The Voting Rights Act of 1965 brought an end to the ugly Jim Crow period in American history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-murkowski/the-voting-rights-act-of-1965-brought-an-end-to-the-ugly-jim-crow/) [Lisa Murkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-murkowski/) > [U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz accused Republicans of trying to make it a crime to be an illegal alien. Democrats see a conspiracy plot. First…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/argus-hamilton/u-s-rep-debbie-wasserman-schultz-accused-republicans-of-trying-to/) [Argus Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/argus-hamilton/) > [Michelle Alexander's brave and bold new book paints a haunting picture in which dreary felon garb, post-prison joblessness, and loss of voting rights now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lani-guinier/michelle-alexander-s-brave-and-bold-new-book-paints-a-haunting/) Lani Guinier > [No one questions the validity, the urgency, the essentiality of the Voting Rights Act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-kennedy/no-one-questions-the-validity-the-urgency-the-essentiality-of-the/) [Anthony Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-kennedy/) > [The Time Off to Vote Act would allow Californians to make their voices heard without the added burden of missing work or pay. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laphonza-butler/the-time-off-to-vote-act-would-allow-californians-to-make-their/) [Laphonza Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laphonza-butler/) > [Racial discrimination in elections in Texas is no mere historical artifact. To the contrary, Texas has been found in violation of the Voting Rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/racial-discrimination-in-elections-in-texas-is-no-mere-historical/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [Voters went to the polls in record numbers in 2020 to make their voices heard, and it's crucial that Congress takes action to protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-ray-lujan/voters-went-to-the-polls-in-record-numbers-in-2020-to-make-their/) [Ben Ray Lujan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-ray-lujan/) > [“Felon disenfranchisement laws have been more effective in eliminating black voters in the age of mass incarceration than they were under Jim Crow…These figures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/felon-disenfranchisement-laws-have-been-more-effective-in-eliminating/) [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) > [I spent many years working for voting rights, but we still see sophisticated efforts, led by white officials, to disenfranchise black voters in local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-brooke/i-spent-many-years-working-for-voting-rights-but-we-still-see/) [Edward Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-brooke/) > [“Later that year, the Voting Rights Act opened the door for thousands to register for the first time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junius-williams/later-that-year-the-voting-rights-act-opened-the-door-for-thousands/) [Junius Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junius-williams/) ## More by Neera Tanden > [Between 2009 and 2012, 95% of the country's income gains went to the top 1% of earners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/between-2009-and-2012-95-of-the-country-s-income-gains-went-to-the/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [The Democratic Party, the policies that the Clintons and Hillary believe in, I feel like a living example of someone who benefited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/the-democratic-party-the-policies-that-the-clintons-and-hillary/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [So far Trump has done everything he could possibly do to pit Americans against each other, to sow division, to fuel distrust of American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/so-far-trump-has-done-everything-he-could-possibly-do-to-pit/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [I concede that, in the first 18 months of his presidency, Obama has not accomplished all that he campaigned on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/i-concede-that-in-the-first-18-months-of-his-presidency-obama-has-not/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [Would Americans really feel better with insurance companies deciding whether they or their parents get the care they need? Probably not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/would-americans-really-feel-better-with-insurance-companies-deciding/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [I think a core principle of the Democratic Party has to be a defense of equal rights for every American. At the same time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/i-think-a-core-principle-of-the-democratic-party-has-to-be-a-defense/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [I never worked in the private sector for very long, I worked on childcare, afterschool, health care for people, increasing the minimum wage, increasing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/i-never-worked-in-the-private-sector-for-very-long-i-worked-on/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [Making smart investments in early childhood education could not only generate more than $7 of economic benefits over a child's lifetime for every dollar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/making-smart-investments-in-early-childhood-education-could-not-only/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [One really basic thing is to establish women's property and inheritance rights, so women can be their own agents within society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/one-really-basic-thing-is-to-establish-women-s-property-and/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [We don't have great answers to what jobs will look like in 10, 20, 30 years. And I think it's right for people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/we-don-t-have-great-answers-to-what-jobs-will-look-like-in-10-20-30/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act dramatically expanded child care provisions and Head Start.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/the-american-reinvestment-and-recovery-act-dramatically-expanded/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [I think that Democrats have to think through answers we haven't in the past: How we are going to create those jobs? How should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/i-think-that-democrats-have-to-think-through-answers-we-haven-t-in/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [No doubt, there are plenty of men who have been fierce and laudable advocates for women's issues. But I know from my many years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/no-doubt-there-are-plenty-of-men-who-have-been-fierce-and-laudable/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [What can defeat health care reform? Polls - or more specifically, Democratic politicians misreading them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/what-can-defeat-health-care-reform-polls-or-more-specifically/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [The foundational principles of modern liberalism - civil rights and greater economic equality - took further strides during Johnson's presidency than any since the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/the-foundational-principles-of-modern-liberalism-civil-rights-and/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) [Explore all 112 Neera Tanden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) ## More Election quotes > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The CIA has concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win the presidency rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-cia-has-concluded-in-a-secret-assessment-that-russia-intervened/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [There's more than 1700 emails out of the thirty three thousand Hillary Clinton emails that we've published, just about Libya. It's not that Libya…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/there-s-more-than-1700-emails-out-of-the-thirty-three-thousand/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [It's not clear in the U.S. at the moment, either. We're going through another election.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-kerrey/it-s-not-clear-in-the-u-s-at-the-moment-either-we-re-going-through/) [Bob Kerrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-kerrey/) > [I always lose the election in the polls, and I always win it on election day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-netanyahu/i-always-lose-the-election-in-the-polls-and-i-always-win-it-on/) [Benjamin Netanyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-netanyahu/) > [Elections are not a beauty contest. It is all about tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-franz/elections-are-not-a-beauty-contest-it-is-all-about-tolerance/) Vladimir Franz > [UN peacekeeping operations are now increasingly complex and multi-dimensional, going beyond monitoring a ceasefire to actually bringing failed States back to life, often after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/un-peacekeeping-operations-are-now-increasingly-complex-and-multi/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [The election of Trump threw the chess board up. The pieces are all over the place. That's upsetting to a lot of people, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/the-election-of-trump-threw-the-chess-board-up-the-pieces-are-all/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) > [If I had lost the popular vote but won the electoral college and in my first day as president the intelligence community came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/if-i-had-lost-the-popular-vote-but-won-the-electoral-college-and-in/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We know from this book entitled... What is it? Surrendered? Succumbed? I can never remember the title perform. And we learn from this book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-know-from-this-book-entitled-what-is-it-surrendered-succumbed-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Let's be honest, if the Democrats didn't support ignoring our nation's immigration laws, there is no way they could win the presidency or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/let-s-be-honest-if-the-democrats-didn-t-support-ignoring-our-nation-s/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [I spent many years working for voting rights, but we still see sophisticated efforts, led by white officials, to disenfranchise black voters in local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-brooke/i-spent-many-years-working-for-voting-rights-but-we-still-see/) [Edward Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-brooke/) > [“The answer to the question raised in the title of this essay - Is salvation a matter of divine determination or human responsibility? -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layton-talbert/the-answer-to-the-question-raised-in-the-title-of-this-essay-is/) [Layton Talbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layton-talbert/) > [One of the reasons people hate politics is that truth is rarely a politician's objective. Election and power are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-thomas/one-of-the-reasons-people-hate-politics-is-that-truth-is-rarely-a/) [Cal Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-thomas/) [Browse all 3,344 Election quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "How exactly was Johnson able to pass the Great Society legislation and the Voting Rights Act? Of course, he was a savvy deal-maker. 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