Lyndon B. Johnson assumed the presidency in the wake of the assassination of John F. Kennedy in November 1963. Just five days after the shocking event, the new president felt compelled to assure Congress and the American public that the reins of government were firmly in his hands and that he would continue to pursue the admirable policies of his fallen predecessor. In his Speech to Congress on Assuming the Presidency, Johnson pledged to advance Kennedy’s domestic programs and initiatives and, in foreign affairs, to balance U.S. military strength with restraint. He met with success on the first front but is considered to have failed on the second. During the five years of Johnson’s presidency, the United States was buffeted by conflict both at home and overseas.