The Great Society Initiatives of the 1960s led to the development of social service agencies nationwide under which president?

• A. John F. Kennedy
• B. Lyndon B. Johnson
• C. Richard Nixon
• D. Jimmy Carter

Answer: (B)

The Great Society aimed to dramatically expand the federal government's role in social welfare, and its signature programs were pushed and enacted by President Lyndon B. Johnson after the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Johnson championed sweeping legislation that created Medicare and Medicaid, expanded education funding, housing programs, nutrition assistance, and established new agencies to administer these services across the nation. This nationwide growth of social services is why the initiatives are tied to his presidency. Kennedy began reform efforts, but the large-scale expansion of social-service programs and agencies happened under Johnson; Nixon and Carter pursued different priorities.