The task of economic policy is to create a prosperous America. The unfinished task of prosperous Americans is to build a Great Society. Our accomplishments have been many; these tasks remain unfinished: > to achieve full employment without inflation; > to restore external equilibrium and defend the dollar; > to enhance the efficiency and flexibility of our private and public economies; > to widen the benefits of prosperity; > to improve the quality of American life -Lyndon B. Johnson Former President. Which did Lyndon feel was the most important first step in the war against poverty? I think he thought efficiency in government was more important.

2 answers

What really important piece of legislation occurred during Johnson's presidency - one that made a huge difference to all of society.
From the early paragraphs of LBJ's State of the Union address, following the call for a war on Poverty, he said: "Our chief weapons in a more pinpointed attack will be better schools, and better health, and better homes, and better training, and better job opportunities to help more Americans, especially young Americans, escape from squalor and misery and unemployment rolls where other citizens help to carry them."

I would say these fall under the heading of "widening the benefits of prosperity" They also improve the quality of life, but that is an end result rather than a step taken.