Texas Bluebonnet: Lady Bird JohnsonChristened Claudia Alta Taylor when she was born in a country mansion near Karnack, Texas, she received her nickname 'Lady Bird' as a small child; and as Lady Bird she is known and loved throughout America today. Perhaps that name was prophetic, as there has seldom been a First Lady so attuned to nature and the importance of conserving the environment. 'Bird' was President Lyndon Johnson's partner, confidante, and helpmate. She helped keep his Congressional office open during World War II when he volunteered for naval service; and in 1955, when he had a severe heart attack, she helped his staff keep things running smoothly until he could return to his post as Majority Leader of the Senate. He once remarked that voters: "would happily have elected her over me". She created a First Lady's Committee for a More Beautiful Capital, then expanded her program to include the entire nation. She took a highly active part in her husband's war-on-poverty program, especially the Head Start project for pre-school children. This new book traces Lady Bird's life in a lively, informative and entertaining manner. |
Contents
The Brick House | 1 |
Starting School | 4 |
Endnotes | 5 |
The First Date | 7 |
A Chance Meeting | 9 |
Endnotes | 13 |
The Congresswoman from Texas | 15 |
Congresswoman and Businesswoman Johnson | 17 |
I Cannot Return to the White House | 60 |
Leaving All Cares Behind | 63 |
It Dont Hurt to Dream | 64 |
Campaign 1964 Gets Under Way | 66 |
Untold Good and Trouble | 67 |
All Necessary Means | 69 |
Decision Time | 70 |
A Journey of the Heart | 71 |
Endnotes | 18 |
The Great Adventure | 19 |
The Great Adventure | 23 |
Lady Bird Carried Texas | 25 |
Endnotes | 26 |
Texas Tragedy | 35 |
Entering Camelots Shadow | 37 |
Moving In and Going On | 39 |
Endnotes | 41 |
Carving Her Niche into the Nation | 43 |
The Kennedy Legacy | 47 |
The South has Hitched its Wagon to the Stars | 50 |
Endnote | 56 |
The Last Campaign | 57 |
Endnotes | 76 |
Beautifying America | 77 |
Great Adventures | 80 |
Lady Birds Bill | 82 |
Endnotes | 86 |
Searching for a Way Out | 87 |
Guess Who Came to Lunch | 89 |
The Only Way Out | 90 |
The Last Hurrah | 91 |
President of the Ranch | 93 |
On Her Own | 94 |
Endnotes | 96 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
American asked Austin Bess Abell Bill Walton billboards Bird's Brick House called campaign civil rights committee Congress Congressman Connally crowd Dallas Democratic diary dinner election ENDNOTES enjoyed father friends Garden gave going Goldwater Gould governor guest Helen Thomas Highway Beautification Bill hosted husband ISBN Jackie Jacqueline Kennedy John Connally Johnson family joined junkyards Karnack Kennedy's KTBC Lady Bird Johnson Lady Bird wrote Lasker Laurence Rockefeller LBJ Library Photo living Liz Carpenter Luci lunch Lynda Lyndon and Lady Lyndon Baines Johnson Lyndon Johnson Lyndon told meeting Minnie morning mother moved National Nellie Connally Park political poverty President Johnson President Kennedy presidential wives recalled Republican role Room Roosevelt Russell saying Secretary Senate South speech staff stop talked Taylor tell Texas told Carpenter took tour trip Truman Udall Vietnam votes Walter Jenkins wanted war on poverty Washington wife wildflowers women
Popular passages
Page xi - And who knows? Somewhere out in this audience may even be someone who will one day follow in my footsteps, and preside over the White House as the President's spouse. I wish him well!