The Immigration Reform Efforts of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson

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This chapter explores the history of immigration reform in the United States, focusing on the actions of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. It discusses their efforts to create a fairer immigration system, the involvement of Ted Kennedy and Robert Kennedy, and the opposition faced from critics.

Supporters of the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act pledged it wouldn’t radically change immigration. David Leonhardt, author of Ours Was the Shining Future, explains how it instead led to what might be the largest wave of immigration in human history.

This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by David Herman, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram.

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