Lyndon B. Johnson Dashboard Doll

"I don't care if it rains or freezes, long as I got my plastic... "-LBJ? Capitalizing on interest in the 1964 presidential campaign, toy manufacturer Remco Industries, Inc., created dashboard dolls of the two main candidates, Democrat Lyndon Johnson and Republican Barry Goldwater. The dolls were virtually identical except for the faces and the initials on their lapel pins. Fortunately for American voters, however, the candidates were worlds apart. Goldwater represented the most conservative elements in the Republican party. He opposed the Civil Rights Movement and, as a staunch anti-Communist, even hinted that he might consider using nuclear weapons in Vietnam. On the other hand, Johnson, after less than a year in office, had demonstrated tremendous leadership abilities, quickly ushering through a series of major civil rights bills, anti-poverty legislation, and a tax cut. In contrast to Goldwater's extremism, Johnson's early success helped him project an image of strong and balanced leadership at a time when American society faced turmoil on several fronts. Johnson won handily in a landslide victory, with an unprecedented 61% of the popular vote.