JOHNSON, LYNDON BAINES° (1908–1973), 36th president of the
United States. As Democratic floor leader, he opposed President
Eisenhower's plan for sanctions against Israel after the 1956
Arab-Israel war.  As president, Johnson was extremely effective
in pushing through Congress significant and far-reaching liberal
measures which were strongly welcomed by Jews and other American
minority groups to whom they were of obvious benefit. These
"Great Society" programs sought to remove poverty,
discrimination, and ignorance, and included important welfare,
civil rights, tax reduction, education, and employment
legislation. As a result, the customary strong affinity of
American Jews for the Democratic Party, especially its liberal
wing, continued under the Johnson administration. In the Middle
East Johnson proved a friend to Israel. In addition to providing
political and economic support, he was instrumental in creating
a joint U.S.-Israeli study program for a large water
desalinization project to meet Israel's pressing