Only begins with trees, flowers and landscaping. Thats from a film created by the Johnson Administration with Lady Bird Johnson talking about beautification, her signature issue as first lady. She was a natural campaigner, successful businesswoman and savvy partner to her husband, Lyndon Baines johnson. Good evening. Tonight well tell you the story of Claudia Taylor johnson known toe everyone as lady bird. Here too tell her story tonight are Cokie Roberts, the author of two books about womens political history, founding mothers and ladies of liberty. Thanks for being here. And we have an expert, with a number books from Martha Washington to Michelle Obama, currently working on a new biography of Lady Bird Johnson. Ladies, i want to start with the beginning of where we were 50 years ago this week. Bhamp the immediate challenges in the first terrible day. They were enormous. First of all, nobody knew if there was a widespread plot. So the country was in terror for a period of time. Then
I say dont come out too often. This is unusual for me. I do want to thank all of you for your friendship and your loyal support and for planning this wonderful evening for me. I shall remember it always and thanks to the young people for this great pat nixon, first republican first lady to address a national convention, miami, 1972. She went interest a hard background to the white house. She traveled more widely than anybody before her, made volunteerism her issue and was chief supporter and behind the scenes political adviser to her husband president Richard Nixon. Good evening and welcome to cspan series first ladies influence and image. Tonight well tell you the story of pat nixon. Though her time in the white house was really eclipsed by her husbands resignation from office in the wake of watergate, so were going to tell more about her record and learn more about her life before the white house, what she did while she was there, and her legacy. Here are our two guests to tell her s
Esther, right up here in the front row. [ applause ] and hugh hewitt, the president of the Nixon Foundation who youll hear from in a few moments. We have many distinguished guests with us here, many former officials from the nixon and other administrations, and staff and friends of the nixon frustration and were honored to have you here tonight. This year marks the 50th anniversary pa tish s patricin become first lady of the united states. The significance of this will be discussed in tonights program, but its very important to us here at the White House Historical association as a core part of our mission which was inspired as most of you or all of you know by first Lady Jacqueline kennedy to be the private partner to the white house for conservation, preservation, restoration of those beautiful state rooms in the white house, for the acquisition of items for the Permanent Collection at the white house as well, and for our education programs, programs like this, where we teach and tel
So this is quite unusual for me but i did want to thank all of you for your friendship and your loyal support and for this wonderful evening for me. I shall remember it always. And thanks to the young people for this great welcome. Pat nixon, the first republican first lady to address a national convention, miami, 1972. She went from a hardscrabble background to the white house. As first lady, she traveled more widely than any before her, made volunteerisms her issue, and was a chief supporter and behindthescenes political adviser to her husband, president Richard Nixon. Good evening, and welcome to cspans series first ladies influence and image. Tonight, well tell you the story of pat nixon, although her time in the white house was really eclipsed by her husbands resignation from office in the wake of watergate. So were going to tell more about her record and learn more about her life before the white house, what she did while she was there, and her legacy. Here are our two guests to
Laughs, but she was his best friend and she compensated. It is aaron burr that lets her know that James Madison wishes to meet her. She carved out a space for women, where they could wield a great deal of political power. Here, Dolley Madison would sit at the head of the table and direct the conversation. She got these people to the white house and entertained them, got them together, got them talking. This was very important for dolley to make everybody feel welcome, be they enemies or allies. Dolley popularized the style to american fashion, and that was considered her classic look. People noticed it. The octagon was the perfect setting for james and Dolley Madison as they try and resume government as quickly as possible. She sat side by side with madison for almost 20 years during his retirement, helping him compile and arrange his papers. She moved back to washington, d. C. In her elder years and sort of became a grand damme. Very much behind the scenes in the political field again