In a televised address, President Lyndon Johnson stunned the nation by announcing, "I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term." With the country torn apart over Vietnam, a sitting president chose to step aside rather than campaign. A rare, deliberate surrender of power.
Common Questions About March 31
What happened on March 31 in American history?
In 1968: LBJ declines to run again. In a televised address, President Lyndon Johnson stunned the nation by announcing, "I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term." With the country torn apart over Vietnam, a sitting president chose to step aside rather than campaign.
Why is March 31 significant?
In a televised address, President Lyndon Johnson stunned the nation by announcing, "I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term." With the country torn apart over Vietnam, a sitting president chose to step aside rather than campaign. A rare, deliberate surrender of power.
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