Social experts and civilian society in the United States: The Poor-People's-Campaign and the Department-of-Health-Education-and-Welfare (April-June 1968)

In the United States, the Poor People's Campaign, organized during the spring of 1968, is viewed as the symbol of the end of reform within the Johnson administration. Scheduled by civil rights and New Left Organizations, the encampment of poor people in the Washington Mall aims at revealing the extent of poverty in the country. This article analyzes the role of social experts in the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. The Poor People's Campaign enabled them to push for their own will to reform social assistance. A close dialogue arose between demonstrators and social experts. While some minor changes had been obtained to help poor people, the opposition of both President Johnson and Congress prevented any structural reform of the welfare system in the country.