The Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) was the agency responsible for administering most of the War on Poverty programs created as part of United States President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society legislative agenda.
In 1964, Johnson signed the Economic Opportunity Act, which was the legislative keystone that provided funding for the OEO as a new agency within the Office of the President.
[4] President Nixon's attempt to impound appropriated funds for OEO was ruled unconstitutional by Judge William B. Jones on April 11, 1973, in a case brought by Local 2677, AFGE; West Central Missouri Rural Dev.
[6][1] President Ronald Reagan took office in 1981 with campaign promises to shrink social programs and return power to the states.
R. Sargent Shriver, then director of the OEO, contacted Dr. James Wilson in 1964 and asked if he would lead a department that solely concentrated on poverty within Indian Country.
Dr. Wilson accepted the position and worked to reform federal government systems to increase Native American political representation and access to resources.
The Rough Rock Demonstration School was established to provide education that incorporated Navajo culture while also preparing students for interactions with the broader society.
[citation needed][editorializing] Some states have established offices inspired by the OEO model to address poverty, promote self-sufficiency, and support community development.