Transcripts For CSPAN3 First Ladies Influence Image - Lady

Effort to bring the Natural World and the man made world into harmony. To bring order, usefulness and delight to our whole environment, and that only begins with trees and flowers and landscapes. Thats from a film created by the johnson administration, with a deeper johnson talking about beautification, her signature issue as first lady. She was a natural campaign, or successful businesswoman and a savvy political partner, are 36 president , lyndon bains johnson. Good evening, welcome to cspans first ladies. Well tell you the story of Claudia Taylor johnston, also known as ladybird. Our two guests are cokie roberts, the host of womens political history, thanks for being here. Betty boyd caroli is the author of numerous books about first ladies, and is working on a new autobiography of labor johnson. Lets start with where we were 50 years ago. What are the immediate challenges for the brandnew first couple in those first terrible days after the assassination of kennedy . They were enormous. First of, all in about a new whether there was another one in the plot. They had to be taking over and having make sure there was a peaceful transition of power without seeming to take over, because of the image of being pushing the other, the candidates out of the way, so they had to be very, very careful and how they handled it and Lyndon Johnson was very lucky that he had ladybird to help him with that. Because she had a good year for knowing exactly what to say. And particular, what did she do during those first weeks . She said she felt like she was on stage for a part that she had never rehearsed. But, and, fact i think itll be hard to find a first lady better prepared and she started taking notes. We have her shorthand notes while she was still waiting to hear whether president kennedy had died. She started making plans for putting our radio plans, and blind trust that she would not be able to profit from it. So she took over a varied passed, she was a good study. Id like to play off of that idea, because this was an administration which documented itself extensively. There was a daily diary he recorded of herself, but also the Lyndon Johnson tapes, and many people who love political history are crazy about. Theres also a naval television that followed the first couple around. Was this new to the administration or had been going on for a long time . The amount of documentation is new. Some days were too full but she would have a little recording machine and on days that were too busy, she would stuff an hour or so, and required. Those recordings are still being transcribed and they are wonderful. Her white house diary, which people may have read is 800 pages long, but thats only an eighth of what she has on the tapes. So we are waiting for the rest of it to come out. There were recordings, we have some roosevelt recordings and John Quincy Adams wrote the autobiography of a nobody, with tells you something about her state of mind at the time. Most first couples have an awareness of the magnitude of the job, but ladybird johnson had such an understanding. She understood that was something special. Throughout, you will see the naval crew who8nxa document, it will start with one of those. This is ladybird johnson on november 25th, 1963, recording that first tragic day that botham into the white house. Mrs. Kennedys dress was stained with blood, one leg was almost entirely covered with it. And her right glove was kicked, that immaculate woman, it was caked with blood, her husbands blood. She always wore a club and that was somehow one of the most poignant sites, exquisitely dressed and caked in blood. I asked her, if i could not get somebody to come in to help her change and she said, no, thats all right. Ill ask mary gallagher, but not now. And then with something, for the person so gentle and dignified, has an element of fierceness. I want them to see what i have done. It was decided that he should be sworn in dallas as quickly as possible. There, in a very narrow confines with jackie on his bed, her hair falling in her eyes and then london, and i was on his right, judge hes with the bible, and the cluster of secret Service People and congressman we have known a long time. London took bills office. What do people understand about ladybird johnson. She was very specific . I had understood how she gets so many details, and her description of that, but when she talks about walking into the hospital, and the kennedy was still there, she saw this bundle of pink blossoms, and the blood around it. Shes a very astute observer. Wonderful. Also a wonderful writer, and she is aware of that. She writes intentionally. But she is clearly upset, and she is trying to describe the situation, but give homage to Jacqueline Kennedy. This is very meticulous woman caked in blood. All that to say that she was trying to tell you what is happening, but not to sensationalize it. For her following in mrs. Kennedys footsteps and being respectful but taking control, what was it the two womens relationship like . Ladybird onto, and many people said that you must be a duality act to follow and he feels sorry for me, but still feels my husband. She made a special effort not to imitate what she saw beautifying the mall. It was an amazingly absent she did not have enough envy of anyone. She considered the kennedys of a different generation. I find her amazing in that regard, that Jacqueline Kennedy was extremely possible popular, but that she had a lot to offer to. She had filled in for Jackie Kennedy a lot. There were lots of times that mrs. Kennedy was pregnant, lost a baby, was not well, a lot of things she did not want to do and mrs. Johnston filled in, so she knew the role well and she was a quintessential washington political wife. She had been on the scene since the 1930s and she really knew it well, and had a coterie of other political wives who were just extraordinary women. And they all gathered around her. And that also made that transition somewhat easier. We should say at the outset. Among those women who gathered was the young mother. Can you talk about the friendship between your parents and the johnson . My father was first elected in 1940. He was 26. My mother was 24. That was before world war ii, so there is still the rules of calling. So you had to go calling. The Supreme Court on monday, im making up the days. But the senate was on wednesday. And there was my mother, 24 year old girl. Except people were older than than they are now. So her first day of having to go calling, and the horn honks outside. She goes running down. Ladybird johnson and pauline gore, al gores mother, and they took are calling that first day. The friendship was very warm from that point. To the point that all through their husband political wives, and when they both became windows, they travel together and had a wonderful time. We are going to step back in time and learn more about the biography of the woman who became first lady on the number 22nd, 1963. Before we do that, a reminder about your involvement. These programs are interesting because of your questions, and we hope you will join in tonight. Three ways you can do it. Tweet us at cspans website, its at first ladies. Were also already taking questions from people on our facebook page, and you can call it. And heres the phone numbers. If you live in the eastern half of the United States, 2025853880 if you live in the mountainous pacific, our number is 2025853881. And will make sure calls and questions throughout the program. Her biography. Where were she born, and to whom . She was born in a well, you can say town, because it was a house outside of the town which is really not much of a town in karnack, texas. December 1912. In a big house. One of the things that i found and studying the first ladies of how many of them married down, that is, they married in two families considerably below theres economically, socially, sometimes even education. And it made a big impression on me to drive passed the house where ladybird johnson was born, that 17 room house with six fireplaces and big white columns and then go 300 miles right near the louisiana border, and drive 300 miles west and see that low to the ground, for room cabin where Lyndon Johnson was born. So she came from a far wealthier background than he did. What are the important things to know about her childhood and what shaped are . I think the death of her mother. She was only five when her mother died and what i consider mysterious circumstances. And she was a very lonely child, although she said she wasnt. But how much you know when any other childhood would be like . Her two brothers she had two older brothers. But they were sent away to boarding school. They were a good bit older, and sent away to boarding school. The older one, the oldest brother, she said she never knew him. When he died in 1959 of pink granite cancer, she said she cried higher than she ever grabbed her. Live so was a lonely childhood. Even her name, lady bird, the typical story is a came from innards. But she says in her interview with Mike Gillette that it was really two little africanamerican playmates, and those decided to call her that because it was not claudia. But was not consider exhaustible to say that she had African American playmates, so the nurse was brought in and an aunt who was functional. Something she have to take care of. So there she, was this little girl was all by herself and the big house with a father who was around but had no clue what to do with her. This southern and and some playmates here and there. The big advantage to that was that she became a worldclass reader. How important was it for southwestern women to get an education. Was it unusual . By that, time more women were going to college. Were now talking the 1920s. It was more common. Why was he interested in journalism . She was interested in high school, so it was obviously an early interest, and i think it was part of her plan to get out of that area, to get out of that part of texas. I also think for a lot of women, they could write. They learn to write and that was something that they thought they could do. My mother wanted to be a journalist to, and they both ended up as politicians. The interesting thing about her here she is about a wealthy family. She also got a teaching certificate and learned stenography. Thats what eroded to prepare for all possibilities, right . Isnt it interesting that she felt the need to prepare for all possibilities with as much money as she had . She had a good income. I figured she was inheriting about 7500 dollars a year in the 1930s, which was five School Teachers could make. But her aim was to get out of there, and some fireplace away like hawaii or alaska. She went to the same Journalism School as walter cronkite. In fact, they had the same professor, singled out of the same professor as a favorite. Cronkite said he was a great professor, i think his name is paul bolton, and she hired him to head the news division, that same professor when she bought the Radio Station. We forget how well trained she was. How did she meet Lyndon Johnson . By chance. But it was through a woman who they both knew, and there was a september afternoon when ladybird was dropping into the womans office, her name was jeanne baron jar, the woman that ladybird had grown up with, although the woman was older than she. And then didnt drop by on the same day, and it was electric going from the first minute. And the love letters, which is the courtship letters, which were released by the library last valentines day, everyone should read them online. You put lbj courtship letters, and you can read the transcripts. They were conducting a hot and heavy courtship there. She was not going to waste. She was at the time of congressionally, and so she knew she was going to select someone in politics. You could be a did not run, but he had ambitions. And she was for those ambitions. She seemed like very directive. He knew he wanted to go from the getgo. Was she encouraging this . Did she have any doubts about it . From her own oral history, she said hold on here, and said, well, are you going to marry me or not . Because if youre not, lets just not see each other. So she finally said, oh, okay. Did her father approved . She like london, but it was too fast. London showed up on halloween, so, what is that . Seven weeks later . I mean, the time they had spent together, which was about five days i think, they were ready to get married right then. Even the fathers that this was a little bit too fast, and the woman who enters them thought it was too fast. And f he thought it was too fast. When she got in the car, that saturday morning and they drove down to san antonio, she didnt know because she would get out on the way. She could make up our mind until about 6 00 when she went down to the church. She was very, young 22, and she was 26 when they married. She wasnt tight 22, she was just 21 because her birthday came afterwards, but that was normal. 21 to 23. Before we learn more about their political life, lets take some calls. Lets begin with james in oakland, california. Two questions. One, did ladybird johnson have any contact with the Jacqueline Kennedy after she was first lady . And a ladybird on ton ever have doubts about the vietnam war . Thank you. Did they continue their contact . The very first tax bill, when Lyndon Johnson signed it, they went to the house of Jackie Kennedy and gave her four pounds, one for her and one for the library. During the white house years, the contact was rather formal. Johnson certainly invite mrs. Kennedy back, but you never came back when they were there. They gave gifts to the children. I have the first to christmas for example they gave john junior a fire engine. They certainly reached out to her. After the white house, in the 19 eighties, after she was widowhood, ladybird johnson and Jacqueline Kennedy, i guess they were both on martha zenith for periods in the summer. When you look at the documentary image, and the private materials did you find any doubts about the vietnam war . I never saw anything she said, if youre going to start a war, it has to start because some big event like pearl harbor. To me, that meant that they didnt have it in vietnam. It was so hard with all of the protests. And it was so personal. That, i think, would put you any position where you want to support him no matter what. Michael is in washington d. C. Hello. Hi susan. I want to let you know that this program is fabulous, i bought it from the beginning. Thanks for watching. My first question is, the ladybird johnson have any of the first former first ladies that were living at the time . Obviously, Jackie Kennedy did not come back until the nixon administration. But achieve any of the former first ladies back at the white house, and was she the oldest, longestliving former first lady . Thank you. The longestliving, we just discuss this, was best truman. But its a very close tie. Best remitted to 95, and ladybird johnson and betty ford were both 94. So its a very close the other question about it the other ladys come back . I dont remember who else was there to come back. Maybe eisenhower and best truman. Louver . Hoover was dead. I know that the johnsons went to the trumans and independents, because thats where they signed the medicare act and theres a picture of them all there. But i dont see anything about how, they did confer with the eisenhowers about how to give the ranch to the nation, which is what the eisenhowers headed with gettysburg. But i dont remember having any thing about the former first ladies. Lyndon johnson gave ladybird a movie camera, and there are many hours of family home movies that are now recorded and accessible to historians and other researchers at the Lyndon Johnson library. We will see one of those next. It is from the 1941 special election. Soninlaw, that sat ensued went all over texas. A night rally. Some of the gestures have persisted through the years. Wait was not his problem then. Sometimes he swept down three or four suits a day. Over on the right, the mc, all ended in those days was wait and look. This is in competition with a carnival, never try to do it. They are fun to watch. Could i say, those are accessible to anyone online. If you put johnson home movies, about 35 of them come up and you can watch them all. She said that was her Favorite Campaign and the only one they lost. Would you talk about the transition between there to congress . She started out. She had the new years eve 1934, shes been married six weeks, five weeks, or something. And he served about a year before they went back to texas so he could be head of the National Youth administration. Then he goes back in 1937, and shes there for about a dozen years as a congressional wife, and very good at networking with other women. Shes a very loyal member of a congressional wives club, and then he gets elected to the senate and 1948, and she is a loyal member of the senate wives. And the house years in 1941 after pearl harbor, london enlisted. He had been in the naval reserves and he listed and went on active duty. She ran his congressional office. I dont think we have another first lady who ever ran her husbands office. Best treatment worked in her husbands Senate Office for pay, and ladybird on some is always very careful to say that she was volunteering her services. Its remarkable. He just left her in charge and off he went. Various friends of his reported to him that she was running the office a whole lot better than he had. But coming back to what betty was saying about networking with the political women, it was an Extraordinary Group of women to begin with. But what they were doing was not sitting around drinking tea and tending to the kathy, they were very politically active, both in their husbands campaigns and in the broader campaigns, voter registrations, conventions, and all of that. But they were also very active in the district of columbia. It was before, and no matter where they were from, at a time when it would have particularly popular where it known where they were from, they worked with the Natural World<\/a> and the man made world into harmony. To bring order, usefulness and delight to our whole environment, and that only begins with trees and flowers and landscapes. Thats from a film created by the johnson administration, with a deeper johnson talking about beautification, her signature issue as first lady. She was a natural campaign, or successful businesswoman and a savvy political partner, are 36 president , lyndon bains johnson. Good evening, welcome to cspans first ladies. Well tell you the story of Claudia Taylor<\/a> johnston, also known as ladybird. Our two guests are cokie roberts, the host of womens political history, thanks for being here. Betty boyd caroli is the author of numerous books about first ladies, and is working on a new autobiography of labor johnson. Lets start with where we were 50 years ago. What are the immediate challenges for the brandnew first couple in those first terrible days after the assassination of kennedy . They were enormous. First of, all in about a new whether there was another one in the plot. They had to be taking over and having make sure there was a peaceful transition of power without seeming to take over, because of the image of being pushing the other, the candidates out of the way, so they had to be very, very careful and how they handled it and Lyndon Johnson<\/a> was very lucky that he had ladybird to help him with that. Because she had a good year for knowing exactly what to say. And particular, what did she do during those first weeks . She said she felt like she was on stage for a part that she had never rehearsed. But, and, fact i think itll be hard to find a first lady better prepared and she started taking notes. We have her shorthand notes while she was still waiting to hear whether president kennedy had died. She started making plans for putting our radio plans, and blind trust that she would not be able to profit from it. So she took over a varied passed, she was a good study. Id like to play off of that idea, because this was an administration which documented itself extensively. There was a daily diary he recorded of herself, but also the Lyndon Johnson<\/a> tapes, and many people who love political history are crazy about. Theres also a naval television that followed the first couple around. Was this new to the administration or had been going on for a long time . The amount of documentation is new. Some days were too full but she would have a little recording machine and on days that were too busy, she would stuff an hour or so, and required. Those recordings are still being transcribed and they are wonderful. Her white house diary, which people may have read is 800 pages long, but thats only an eighth of what she has on the tapes. So we are waiting for the rest of it to come out. There were recordings, we have some roosevelt recordings and John Quincy Adams<\/a> wrote the autobiography of a nobody, with tells you something about her state of mind at the time. Most first couples have an awareness of the magnitude of the job, but ladybird johnson had such an understanding. She understood that was something special. Throughout, you will see the naval crew who8nxa document, it will start with one of those. This is ladybird johnson on november 25th, 1963, recording that first tragic day that botham into the white house. Mrs. Kennedys dress was stained with blood, one leg was almost entirely covered with it. And her right glove was kicked, that immaculate woman, it was caked with blood, her husbands blood. She always wore a club and that was somehow one of the most poignant sites, exquisitely dressed and caked in blood. I asked her, if i could not get somebody to come in to help her change and she said, no, thats all right. Ill ask mary gallagher, but not now. And then with something, for the person so gentle and dignified, has an element of fierceness. I want them to see what i have done. It was decided that he should be sworn in dallas as quickly as possible. There, in a very narrow confines with jackie on his bed, her hair falling in her eyes and then london, and i was on his right, judge hes with the bible, and the cluster of secret Service People<\/a> and congressman we have known a long time. London took bills office. What do people understand about ladybird johnson. She was very specific . I had understood how she gets so many details, and her description of that, but when she talks about walking into the hospital, and the kennedy was still there, she saw this bundle of pink blossoms, and the blood around it. Shes a very astute observer. Wonderful. Also a wonderful writer, and she is aware of that. She writes intentionally. But she is clearly upset, and she is trying to describe the situation, but give homage to Jacqueline Kennedy<\/a>. This is very meticulous woman caked in blood. All that to say that she was trying to tell you what is happening, but not to sensationalize it. For her following in mrs. Kennedys footsteps and being respectful but taking control, what was it the two womens relationship like . Ladybird onto, and many people said that you must be a duality act to follow and he feels sorry for me, but still feels my husband. She made a special effort not to imitate what she saw beautifying the mall. It was an amazingly absent she did not have enough envy of anyone. She considered the kennedys of a different generation. I find her amazing in that regard, that Jacqueline Kennedy<\/a> was extremely possible popular, but that she had a lot to offer to. She had filled in for Jackie Kennedy<\/a> a lot. There were lots of times that mrs. Kennedy was pregnant, lost a baby, was not well, a lot of things she did not want to do and mrs. Johnston filled in, so she knew the role well and she was a quintessential washington political wife. She had been on the scene since the 1930s and she really knew it well, and had a coterie of other political wives who were just extraordinary women. And they all gathered around her. And that also made that transition somewhat easier. We should say at the outset. Among those women who gathered was the young mother. Can you talk about the friendship between your parents and the johnson . My father was first elected in 1940. He was 26. My mother was 24. That was before world war ii, so there is still the rules of calling. So you had to go calling. The Supreme Court<\/a> on monday, im making up the days. But the senate was on wednesday. And there was my mother, 24 year old girl. Except people were older than than they are now. So her first day of having to go calling, and the horn honks outside. She goes running down. Ladybird johnson and pauline gore, al gores mother, and they took are calling that first day. The friendship was very warm from that point. To the point that all through their husband political wives, and when they both became windows, they travel together and had a wonderful time. We are going to step back in time and learn more about the biography of the woman who became first lady on the number 22nd, 1963. Before we do that, a reminder about your involvement. These programs are interesting because of your questions, and we hope you will join in tonight. Three ways you can do it. Tweet us at cspans website, its at first ladies. Were also already taking questions from people on our facebook page, and you can call it. And heres the phone numbers. If you live in the eastern half of the United States<\/a>, 2025853880 if you live in the mountainous pacific, our number is 2025853881. And will make sure calls and questions throughout the program. Her biography. Where were she born, and to whom . She was born in a well, you can say town, because it was a house outside of the town which is really not much of a town in karnack, texas. December 1912. In a big house. One of the things that i found and studying the first ladies of how many of them married down, that is, they married in two families considerably below theres economically, socially, sometimes even education. And it made a big impression on me to drive passed the house where ladybird johnson was born, that 17 room house with six fireplaces and big white columns and then go 300 miles right near the louisiana border, and drive 300 miles west and see that low to the ground, for room cabin where Lyndon Johnson<\/a> was born. So she came from a far wealthier background than he did. What are the important things to know about her childhood and what shaped are . I think the death of her mother. She was only five when her mother died and what i consider mysterious circumstances. And she was a very lonely child, although she said she wasnt. But how much you know when any other childhood would be like . Her two brothers she had two older brothers. But they were sent away to boarding school. They were a good bit older, and sent away to boarding school. The older one, the oldest brother, she said she never knew him. When he died in 1959 of pink granite cancer, she said she cried higher than she ever grabbed her. Live so was a lonely childhood. Even her name, lady bird, the typical story is a came from innards. But she says in her interview with Mike Gillette<\/a> that it was really two little africanamerican playmates, and those decided to call her that because it was not claudia. But was not consider exhaustible to say that she had African American<\/a> playmates, so the nurse was brought in and an aunt who was functional. Something she have to take care of. So there she, was this little girl was all by herself and the big house with a father who was around but had no clue what to do with her. This southern and and some playmates here and there. The big advantage to that was that she became a worldclass reader. How important was it for southwestern women to get an education. Was it unusual . By that, time more women were going to college. Were now talking the 1920s. It was more common. Why was he interested in journalism . She was interested in high school, so it was obviously an early interest, and i think it was part of her plan to get out of that area, to get out of that part of texas. I also think for a lot of women, they could write. They learn to write and that was something that they thought they could do. My mother wanted to be a journalist to, and they both ended up as politicians. The interesting thing about her here she is about a wealthy family. She also got a teaching certificate and learned stenography. Thats what eroded to prepare for all possibilities, right . Isnt it interesting that she felt the need to prepare for all possibilities with as much money as she had . She had a good income. I figured she was inheriting about 7500 dollars a year in the 1930s, which was five School Teachers<\/a> could make. But her aim was to get out of there, and some fireplace away like hawaii or alaska. She went to the same Journalism School<\/a> as walter cronkite. In fact, they had the same professor, singled out of the same professor as a favorite. Cronkite said he was a great professor, i think his name is paul bolton, and she hired him to head the news division, that same professor when she bought the Radio Station<\/a>. We forget how well trained she was. How did she meet Lyndon Johnson<\/a> . By chance. But it was through a woman who they both knew, and there was a september afternoon when ladybird was dropping into the womans office, her name was jeanne baron jar, the woman that ladybird had grown up with, although the woman was older than she. And then didnt drop by on the same day, and it was electric going from the first minute. And the love letters, which is the courtship letters, which were released by the library last valentines day, everyone should read them online. You put lbj courtship letters, and you can read the transcripts. They were conducting a hot and heavy courtship there. She was not going to waste. She was at the time of congressionally, and so she knew she was going to select someone in politics. You could be a did not run, but he had ambitions. And she was for those ambitions. She seemed like very directive. He knew he wanted to go from the getgo. Was she encouraging this . Did she have any doubts about it . From her own oral history, she said hold on here, and said, well, are you going to marry me or not . Because if youre not, lets just not see each other. So she finally said, oh, okay. Did her father approved . She like london, but it was too fast. London showed up on halloween, so, what is that . Seven weeks later . I mean, the time they had spent together, which was about five days i think, they were ready to get married right then. Even the fathers that this was a little bit too fast, and the woman who enters them thought it was too fast. And f he thought it was too fast. When she got in the car, that saturday morning and they drove down to san antonio, she didnt know because she would get out on the way. She could make up our mind until about 6 00 when she went down to the church. She was very, young 22, and she was 26 when they married. She wasnt tight 22, she was just 21 because her birthday came afterwards, but that was normal. 21 to 23. Before we learn more about their political life, lets take some calls. Lets begin with james in oakland, california. Two questions. One, did ladybird johnson have any contact with the Jacqueline Kennedy<\/a> after she was first lady . And a ladybird on ton ever have doubts about the vietnam war . Thank you. Did they continue their contact . The very first tax bill, when Lyndon Johnson<\/a> signed it, they went to the house of Jackie Kennedy<\/a> and gave her four pounds, one for her and one for the library. During the white house years, the contact was rather formal. Johnson certainly invite mrs. Kennedy back, but you never came back when they were there. They gave gifts to the children. I have the first to christmas for example they gave john junior a fire engine. They certainly reached out to her. After the white house, in the 19 eighties, after she was widowhood, ladybird johnson and Jacqueline Kennedy<\/a>, i guess they were both on martha zenith for periods in the summer. When you look at the documentary image, and the private materials did you find any doubts about the vietnam war . I never saw anything she said, if youre going to start a war, it has to start because some big event like pearl harbor. To me, that meant that they didnt have it in vietnam. It was so hard with all of the protests. And it was so personal. That, i think, would put you any position where you want to support him no matter what. Michael is in washington d. C. Hello. Hi susan. I want to let you know that this program is fabulous, i bought it from the beginning. Thanks for watching. My first question is, the ladybird johnson have any of the first former first ladies that were living at the time . Obviously, Jackie Kennedy<\/a> did not come back until the nixon administration. But achieve any of the former first ladies back at the white house, and was she the oldest, longestliving former first lady . Thank you. The longestliving, we just discuss this, was best truman. But its a very close tie. Best remitted to 95, and ladybird johnson and betty ford were both 94. So its a very close the other question about it the other ladys come back . I dont remember who else was there to come back. Maybe eisenhower and best truman. Louver . Hoover was dead. I know that the johnsons went to the trumans and independents, because thats where they signed the medicare act and theres a picture of them all there. But i dont see anything about how, they did confer with the eisenhowers about how to give the ranch to the nation, which is what the eisenhowers headed with gettysburg. But i dont remember having any thing about the former first ladies. Lyndon johnson gave ladybird a movie camera, and there are many hours of family home movies that are now recorded and accessible to historians and other researchers at the Lyndon Johnson<\/a> library. We will see one of those next. It is from the 1941 special election. Soninlaw, that sat ensued went all over texas. A night rally. Some of the gestures have persisted through the years. Wait was not his problem then. Sometimes he swept down three or four suits a day. Over on the right, the mc, all ended in those days was wait and look. This is in competition with a carnival, never try to do it. They are fun to watch. Could i say, those are accessible to anyone online. If you put johnson home movies, about 35 of them come up and you can watch them all. She said that was her Favorite Campaign<\/a> and the only one they lost. Would you talk about the transition between there to congress . She started out. She had the new years eve 1934, shes been married six weeks, five weeks, or something. And he served about a year before they went back to texas so he could be head of the National Youth<\/a> administration. Then he goes back in 1937, and shes there for about a dozen years as a congressional wife, and very good at networking with other women. Shes a very loyal member of a congressional wives club, and then he gets elected to the senate and 1948, and she is a loyal member of the senate wives. And the house years in 1941 after pearl harbor, london enlisted. He had been in the naval reserves and he listed and went on active duty. She ran his congressional office. I dont think we have another first lady who ever ran her husbands office. Best treatment worked in her husbands Senate Office<\/a> for pay, and ladybird on some is always very careful to say that she was volunteering her services. Its remarkable. He just left her in charge and off he went. Various friends of his reported to him that she was running the office a whole lot better than he had. But coming back to what betty was saying about networking with the political women, it was an Extraordinary Group<\/a> of women to begin with. But what they were doing was not sitting around drinking tea and tending to the kathy, they were very politically active, both in their husbands campaigns and in the broader campaigns, voter registrations, conventions, and all of that. But they were also very active in the district of columbia. It was before, and no matter where they were from, at a time when it would have particularly popular where it known where they were from, they worked with the African American<\/a> women here in washington on all kinds of social service issues. And they really did create a social safety net. One thing that was interested in the home video that we just saw was that she said, my job at that time was to sit and watch. At what point did to become, this was 1941, did it become okay, acceptable for spouses of congressional candidates to become seen as being actively involved. It was different in different places, some had been active from the beginning. Louise the Catherine Adams<\/a> called her vocation to get her husband elected. They were more active than anyone give him credit for, and also Eleanor Roosevelt<\/a> was out there doing campaigns. It was considered bad form if you did not do a certain amount of campaigning. But it was behind the scenes most of it. I think ladybird antjuan deserve credit for being the first wife of a president ial candidate to go off on a speaking tour of her own. That was really very new. Even Eleanor Roosevelt<\/a> campaigned for other candidates, but i dont think she campaigned for her husband until he ran for that third term in 1940, because it wasnt considered, i dont know, lady like. To be open about your support for your husband. You are behind the scenes, maybe organizing women to put up posters or sending out letters. You are thanking people. What did she say . She said the wife of a candidate is to walk behind and say thank you. So it was pretty behind the scenes until the sixties. Jackie kennedy did do some ads in spanish, for instance, to try to get something we talk about now, but to get the hispanic vote. Next is the question from owen in marietta, georgia. Hello. Hi, whats your question . My question is i have to. First, what was ladybird johnsons hobbies and, to, what was her relationship with her kids . Owen, how old are you . Im nine years old. And how did you become interested in ladybird jeans and . My mom has been telling me about these programs and i really like history for a while, and i wanted to be able to call in and watch one, and im able to now. Thank you for participating. Thats great. So the, questions were, did you have any obvious . I say her number one hobby was nature and the outdoors. She said it was my kingdom, my world. People told me that, if she was doing something she did not particularly like like sorting through pictures or doing some work that was boring, she would start humming or whistling or take her to a place where birds saying and flowers bloomed. It was a wonderful defends to have. I think photography. She loved photography. Also, the second question was about her children. She was a mom. There was no question that she was a present mom. Linda johnson is two or three months younger than i am, and lucy, a few years younger. She was always around and so were they, and as she grew old they were very wonderful caretakers for her. We need to talk about, we said at the outset, she was a successful business woman in her own right. Another first. She was the first self made millionaire among the first ladies. How did she become that . She inherited some money and some land from relatives, and she bought a Radio Station<\/a> in 1943, the take youre given a 17, 500, and then she was very active in seeing that it was turned around from a money losing operation to a money making operation. She went down and lived in austin for six months or so, and floors or windows. She takes over a Radio Station<\/a> and start running it. I mean, how do you do that . And she did it. She just went and, changed the building, she changed the staff and if you came in affiliate, it became this highly successful station that she was running. Jackson said to her, just run the station. And off she went and did it. She drove the distance between washington. Constantly between washington and austin. I did that as a kid and there were no interstate highways, there was no air conditioning in the cars, it took a long time. Those trips. It did not her to have a politician who became the majority leader of the senate as your spouse. Many people have charged when it came time to apply for a tv station the fact that her husband was a senator. Other people did not apply for the license. But she kept a careful eye on the reports she demanded when she was in washington. She demanded weekly reports, people such even over them what they find tooth calm, suggesting different sales pitches to use to sell airtime. She was very active in who got hired. So she was managing a good station. That was the beginning. It became a communications empire. Also, during this time period, the johnsons, with ladybird, it was her investment, they bought the acres and the texas hill country that was known as the johnson ranch. We will learn more about that in this next video. The living room is the oldest from in the house, dating back to the 1890s. In fact, she would refer to this as our hearts home, this home here on the ranch. We have a few things that speak to her connection to the room here. One of the things that you wanted to highlight was the native American Heritage<\/a> here in the hill country, and we do have a small collection of arrowheads here. Mrs. Johnston actually had her daughters linda and lucy look for arrowheads, and they would pay them one dollar every arrowhead they found. And it was doing better at collecting them, and it turns out linda was actually paying her schoolmates 50 cents per arrowhead and then collecting a dollar from her mother. She had an eye for copper and collected various items through the years and had guests and various friends. One of the objects that always gathers visitors attentions is the Free Television<\/a> sets. The president love to watch the news. At that time, the three major networks, would all show the news at the same time. The president turned down the volume on the Television Sets<\/a> he did not want to watch, but mrs. Johnstons Favorite Program<\/a> was gun smoke. And she routinely alter her schedule to catch an episode of her favorite western. Shortly after London Johnson<\/a> became president , the ranchers dubbed the texas white house. Life at the ranch revolved around the home. To show you the importance of the ranch and the home, the johnsons returned home 74 times during johnsons five years as president. Mrs. Johnston, as first lady, love to show off the Texas Country<\/a> and her home. The guests to the ranch wooden formerly gather here in the dan, and various heads of state came to visit. President diaz of mexico, and israeli Prime Minister<\/a> to name a few. And they would visit with the johnsons right here in the gym. The dining room was a very special place for ladybird johnson where they entertain the guest, picking out the wallpaper and similar to the scene she wouldve seen out of her picture window that she had installed at her request. Mrs. Johnston gave a tour of the house in 1968 that was filled, where she features the china that you see here, purchasing in mexico, very colorful. The president will sit down at this end of the table where you see the cow hide chair. Typically, mrs. Johnston at the other end of the table. One feature that you will notice next to the president , a handy telephone. President johnson loved working telephones, and could make a call or answer a call. Mrs. Johnston was not happy about that, but she got used to that because Lyndon Johnson<\/a> was such a workaholic. As first lady, mrs. Johnston spent a lot of time here at the ranch, and it was very important because it provided such a respite from all the turmoil of washington, particularly later in the presidency, where they could come around and recharge the batteries and make that connection back to the land, and this place to be valued so much. How important was the point to them . She didnt like it at all. She said the house looks like a Charles Adams<\/a> house. She was very annoyed when he bought it. But she got to love it, and, as you heard, called her hearts home. The first ladies that we refer to a lot, the biography of her is written by the dean of the series. He makes the point about the difference between the candidates, who were people of the east coast and people of the sea, and the johnsons, who are people of the land, which spurred her their love of conservation. Does that connection make sense . It does. It makes a lot of sense. And that whole, being part of texas, a whole country of its own is very different from the boston early part of the country, all of that. This is how the country is spread to and grew up and became exciting. On your own, out there. Of course, being in a ranch like that, really emphasizes that. But mrs. Johnston, again, was very interested in bringing chancellor air hard there and that was a Great Success<\/a> of bringing them to the ranch and serving him taxes food instead of it being a white house state dinner. That has a lot of people of german descent and they were also around. That was a great eyeopener and a wonderful moment. Many studies have been made about Lyndon Johnson<\/a>s Senate Majority<\/a> leader career and what a powerful majority leader he was and how happy he was. What were the Vice President<\/a> ial years like for ladybird . The Vice President<\/a> ial years were great, but they were terrible for him. Everyone says they were his first years. But she loved it. First of all, she traveled a lot. I think if you talk about arriving in senegal and feeling like she had been put down and National Geographic<\/a> because so the travel was good. She really thrived in being a second lady, if thats what we can call it. As cokie pointed out, she filled in a lot. If she was unhappy, and her role was to keep him, keeping the political left going, added she helped him through that . She tried. She was trying to get him to go to the gym because he put on a lot of weight. And you try to get him to watch his diet, and she invited a lot of people for him that he would like to see, but they were really not good years. I think a lot of people will agree that he did not do well. The Vice President<\/a> , that job is a little difficult. She started these womens lunches, and she had them in places like senegal boatpeople. Think this is something new under the sun, that just recent first ladies had been interested and women and womens issues and promoting the role of women around the world. Mrs. Johnston was doing that back when she was second lady. This 1960 campaign, also, the one where she really came into her own and campaigned understood what it was like to be on the National Stage<\/a> and the reason she hadnt been in the past. No one knows what its like to be on the National Stage<\/a> until there on. Thats always the shock, no matter how experienced you are as a candidate or the candidates family. The run is president and Vice President<\/a> is a whole other thing. The 1960 ticket with the Roman Catholic<\/a> on the ticket had a big selling job to do. Also, the south was changing. Can you talk about how the johnsons approach to the people who lived in the south during that campaign. Mainly by identifying with him, and mrs. Johnston was very key in that. She emphasized her alabama roots, which is where her mother was from. And she had spent time there with her cousins as a child. She insisted on spending time in the south, and when they went home to texas, they did have this one awful incident where they were attacked and she was very rudely and dangerously it through texas to them, because people were so shocked to see a lady like mrs. Johnston treated. Candy would not have been elected president , and whenever we talk about the pick for Vice President<\/a> , the only way we can prove that a vest president ial pick made a difference is the johnson pick. She held those cities all across texas and insisted on shaking hands with all of the 400 500 women who showed up. After texas did go for kennedy, johnson in 60. Didnt Robert Kennedy<\/a> say mrs. Johnston run taxes for us . When approaching the campaigning issue, how did she reply to people . I havent heard a reply to that question. I dont think it wouldve been addressed to her, you know . It was much more either directed towards the kennedy. The next calls from john, in charleston, in charleston. I appreciate the series. One question i had was how was Mitch Johnson<\/a> was treated on the lady bird spread . She came in 1964, who is a big powerful congressman. He went out on a limb, not only for her, but she was treated pretty bad here in charleston. Overall, how she treated in the rest of the south, and their relationship with the rivers and the johnsons . Hello, will have a clip later. But the campaigns down on the approach in the south. 1964, we were in a different place because the president had signed the 1964 civil rights bill in the summertime. And the south was up in arms. Mrs. Johnson absolutely insisted on taking the ladybird special through the south, saying this was the part of the country that im from. Im not going to write off the south and they all got organized, i found that all of the advance was in my mothers handwriting. They have various places, but the women who were wives of candidates and my father said she served as an mc on the train. My mother told the story that they would have to go ahead because there were bombs along the way, threats all along the way but not only was missed johnson on the train, but also the johnson daughters. We will come back and have some reflections from linda, the daughter who was part of the campaign. I want to ask this question from a facebook viewer, david welch. He asks whether or not she had a political career in her own right if she had been born later. Thats an interesting question. Somehow, i dont see her as running for office. But she developed the trades. For example, she started taking speaking lessons, public speaking lessons in 1959. So that was a far cry from where she started out, where the only thing she did was work in the back room with the letters and getting other womens to do the speaking. Londons mother and his sister were the ones she turned to in the forties. So she did develop maybe in another time, she wouldve been. Also, what happened with my mother, her contemporary was that my father was killed in a plane crash, and my mother ran for his seat. That couldve easily happened with mr. Johnson, but i will tell you that what she said to my mother when my mother called to say she was running, mrs. Johnston said thats wonderful but how are you going to do it without a wife . Just to demonstrate the kind of partnership they had and how essential she was to Lyndon Johnson<\/a>s approach, we have a clip for you that is a known one. Ladybirds critique of a speech, that was right after a press conference and you can hear how direct she was to his approach and persecution. You want to listen to my critique . I thought that you looked strong, firm and like a reliable guy. You look splendid, closeup so much better than the distance. Well id say this, they were more closeup than the distance. During the statement, you are a little bit breathless, and too much looking down, and i think it was a little bit too fast. Not an of change of pace. There was a considerable pull pick up and drama an interest to the questioning began. Your voice was noticeably better and your facial expressions were noticeably better. I thought your answer was good, i thought your answer on vietnam was good. I really did not like the answer on the golf because i think ive heard to say, and i think you actually have said out loud that you dont believe you ought to go out of the country this year. So i dont think you can very well say that you are leaving anytime. What are we hearing there . Were hearing a very farm, a very educated evaluation of a speech. I think its wonderful. He clearly wanted her analysis. When you listen to that tape, he starts backing away from the phone because he starts getting defensive. Because nobody really likes to hear of that direct and criticism, but he relied on her to tell her the truth. There are very close political partners, but there were challenges in their marriage because of the infidelity. Something he would brag about. How did this affect their partnership if it did at all . People that knew them must have known it existed. And its important that journalist chains have a covered president during the johnson ears. She had lived in washington all those years and watches Franklin Roosevelt<\/a> relationship with lucy mercer and john f. Kennedys relationship with other women, reporters and not right about that. But in the johnson year, perhaps encouraged by the president himself, president johnson himself, they did start writing about the women who were around him. I think Time Magazine<\/a> in april of 1964, so Lyndon Johnson<\/a> had been president only three or four months, had this article about Lyndon Johnson<\/a> driving around the roads of texas at 85 miles an hour with a glass of beer on the dashboard, and a beautiful young reporter going into his ear. Mister president , your fun i think was the headline. I dont think you will find any articles on previous president and she had come to the spotlight when the spotlight has changed. Heres one critique of president johnson about this aspect, and the source is blue gold. Talk about the reporting relationship and how that has changed. You said nothing is no under the sun, and we have many examples of prior first ladies who dealt with this, but times were changing. I think, trust me, i was not someone who was aware of this in terms of mrs. Johnstons views and all of this. Nobody would talk about this, certainly not the moms. But i think whats happened in terms of reporting is that its only grown. Part of that has to do with the increase of the numbers of women in the ranks of the reporters, because there is a sense that the personal is political, and when you release all the huge shift in that was in 1984. I think, before that, there was a sense of what happens on the bus or the trail stays there. And that to change with the increased number of women on the bus. Back to phone calls. Dave, in albuquerque. Hello. Hi, how are you . Great. Whats your question . One question that keeps occurring to me both ladybird and all the first ladies, how big of a staffer they tend to have in the east wing . Do they have their own speech writers . I know they have to social secretary, but how pick up a staff is there generally that the first lady has at her disposal . Thanks for asking that. Because in many ways, ladybird shots and created the framework for the modern first lady. How did she do that . She hired, as she went into office, she hired lives carpenter as press secretary and chief of staff and best april who had been working for her as social secretary. They really took over the east wing. And then hired others to help. That was the first time that there had been a press secretary chief of staff who knew what they were doing. Yes. I tried to find out the number, and i was told by her office that it varied because not only did she hire a large, competent staff herself, but she also brought in on loan people from other departments. For example, for the beautification, she brought in people from the secretary of the interiors office. So it was not on her budget. Its hard to come up with a number. Somewhere in the 20s. She also had this conjuring of political women who worked with her of many of these things, particularly on head start, for instance. When she got very engaged in creating head start. My mother was very engaged with her, as were other of the political lives. So she had a lot of volunteers, very highly trained, very smart volunteers as well. How long was it before the office of the first lady was officially established, and how was that done . Well, thats difficult to answer. Most people point to me eisenhower as the first secretary that makes it into the official being al asad in the little blue book asked secretary to the first lady. But, of course, back in the beginning, there was mainly relatives or friends. The sister in law who did the volunteer work. So its hard to document. The roosevelt women always had their social secretary and they passed those on from one generation to the next but i think we can point to ladybird on tenants having the first really professional staff. Remember, Liz Carpenter<\/a> had been a reporter since 1942, thats one lady bird met her. Their friendship went way back. So she chose people, and they stayed with her the entire time in the white house. And after. And after, right. The other thing that i think is remarkable, as this johnson became so in demand on many of these issues, particularly on what they called beautification, really. Environmentalists shoes. People wanted her everywhere. So they had to create, essentially, and offices of surrogates. Which is such a funny notion because we think of the first lady as a surrogate for the president , but there is an office of surrogates for the surrogate. Next, surely. In ladybirds hometown, austin, texas. Hello, you are. On yes, high. Im so pleased youre doing the series. Its just wonderful, the first ladies are getting their do. I wanted to mention earlier in the program. You asked if mrs. Johnston ever had former first lady at the white house. I know she had two at the ranch. Mrs. Carter and mrs. Florida. I believe it was in the late eighties, 19 nineties. I also want to mention that mr. Johnson centennial was last her birthday was december 22nd, 2012. In honor of that we issued a commemorative stamp. Mrs. Johnston was only the fifth first lady to have a stamp. The others were martha washington, dolly madison, abigail adams, and mrs. Lu stout. My producer says you have a personal connection with the former first lady. Yes. I was or executive assistant from 1991 until her death. What was it that you would like people to whats people watching to know about mrs. Johnston . Oh my. First of all cokie and better doing a terrific job, thank you. She was very warm. She was unflappable. She had a delicious laugh. It was a hearty, belly laugh. And she was such a good role model for those of us that knew and loved her. When you worked for mrs. Johnston, and you became part of the family. So she was my friend and i loved her but she loved me too. So it was a privilege working for her and her family. They have certainly followed in her footsteps and are just terrific. Anyway, it has been an honor. Thanks for your call, and adding your personal reflections. At mrs. Johnstons funeral, all of the staff, no matter how old they were and how far away they were came, including some secret service men who had really retired long before, but who loved her so much that they made the huge effort to get there. With all of those things, regina crunchy is asking on twitter, is there anything in the white house diary that would shock us today . She wouldnt have put it in. She was careful about the history she reported. Lets go to marvin, who is watching us and los angeles. Hello, youre on the air. Yes, thank you. One thought, i was able to be in the texas delegation where they had a debate, it was very humorous and jfk said i think are such a great Senate Majority<\/a> leader, you should say there. My question number one is, did ladybird johnson want lbj to accept him, and what they have been successful in all four various jobs without the support of ladybird johnson . We can start with the second one first. It wouldve been a different Lyndon Johnson<\/a> without ladybird, dont you think . I think youd say that. She was an enormous part of his success. On the 1960s question, initially, she and a lot of other people did not want him to take the second spot on the ticket. She considered jon kennedy a Junior Member<\/a> of the senate, and she should wait his turn. But she came around, and nobody couldve campaigned harder than she did. What happened, they had to be convinced and my family story is that did you want robert nixon to win, there you are. How did you choose the conservation . First of all, it was a heartfelt thing. The first year in the white house, when they had the rest of the kennedy term, she did not choose the project or the curtains that needed changing because the next family may not like it, and acted as if that would be the last year in the white house. After Lyndon Johnson<\/a> won so big in 1964, she sent out requests for advice on what she should do. And the word came back that she should do something about washington. The beautification of washington came after. That it became clear that her committee had split and some wanted to go more national. And that is on National Parks<\/a>, highway beautification came out who was a part of that, thought that she should do something terrible. She was thinking of the new jersey turnpike, she said although signs could be better. So its good to think of her beautification project as being national and that was highway beautification, getting junk yards either removed or covered up with fences. And then the washington part, and even the Washington Park<\/a> split into two. One group wanted to plant tulips, i think they were called the dock what centers. People wanted the statues to be a more beautiful city for terrorists, and the others wanted to go into the port neighborhoods where sports, recreation facilities were not there and didnt do something for those neighborhoods. The important thing about her is that she incorporated them all. She wanted to do it all. But what she also did, was personally lobbied the United States<\/a> guidance. And there was no hiding behind the man, and she did not pretend that she was not doing, and she was, logging its tough, it sounds nice beautification, but in fact, the billboard lobby was completely against this of course they always are in these situations, so they said she wasnt doing enough and needed to be much bigger and cleaning everything up, and going way too far. And she just hung in there. And the congress is really not to reauthorize. He was a very powerful force, that was the first time first ladies have always died. That was the first time its about a public lobby. The ladybird special train, this is a good time to show it because it demonstrates Critical Skills<\/a> that she put together two unreturned by or mental issues. This rose from ten and future, we see many problems together, piece as one, and another, we have reached good and remarkable positions in the past through this partnership and it takes men in washington who care about the people of the south. And it takes the distance here at home today one of the nations proudest pictures of progress. This faces new challenge together with imagination, we drawn the task of our strength, but we do not plan to turn back. Mother didnt want the south to think that we didnt want their vote, that just because we knew that there were a lot of people who didnt write the civil rights bill, for instance. She hoped that she could appeal to them to recognize that that was the time that was coming, and change had to be made. We were moving forth, and if there were a lot of African American<\/a> citizens, who were there, we wanted to reassure them. We ran into some people that didnt like us, and they were very vocal. We heard there were threats that they were going to blow the train out, so they ran a car through, it was on the tracks they blow up that car and not get us. And then there were threats all along the way it was a wonderful success, and mother would stand on the back of the train, like she had seen harry truman do, and she would tell him how proud and happy she was to be here, and she hopes that they would vote for her husband. And right behind ladybird johnson. Nice to see him. Those political skills apply to the campaign, the beautification, campaign how today you mentioned how controversial this was. Was it really a tough job selling this to congress . Was it a difficult job . The billboard lobby was strong, and i think now the judgment as they tried to do much of that, but they did. This beautiful city is beautiful because of her shes a wonderful philanthropist, this profusion of flowers and trees and the fact that you just come into the city and are greeted by just total beauty as a result and this was a confident two as a resident independent campaign . It was a little bit of both. We associate, it we acquire this of every first lady, what will be your project, i think michel obama was asked that even before the nomination, so it was a little bit of both, it was also uniquely hers. The first ladies how to have succeeded her theyve said have quoted her and she said you know i realized and i think thats part of what he was saying. It took a while to have that landslide because she was no longer the error to the job. But she said i realized, i have a pulpit, i can use it and i can use it to do good. And she determined that she would do that and they have taken those words, and follow them very consciously quoting her. Rosen carter has also made a point, and she continued that work after that but, she continued it after she left the white house 22 after years after leaving the, white house he continued to get that highway beautification award, out of her own pocket to highway workers with to beautify the highways of, texas im always interested in which first ladies continue their projects afterwards, and which ones forget that they ever did that. Here are some of the key accomplishments and challenges of the johnson administration, including this from public broadcasting. They establish for medicare and medicaid, the signing of the Civil Rights Act<\/a> which had been legislation the Warren Commission<\/a> report with the findings on the johnson excuse me, the kennedy assassination. The outer space treaty, which people say today is the framework for how the vietnam war. And the voting racks act of 1960, five which is probably the most important civil rights piece of legislation they could get the vote and never work for this. Youre quite correct, it started under president kennedy. I dont think theres any way honored that they couldve gotten that bill for congress, i think it took Lyndon Johnson<\/a> his great skills as a former majority leader and an incredible arm twister to get that bill through,. In each of these programs, when you talk about how the first lady. The first couple, have use the white house as a base for their lobbying, as it were, how does johnson see the white house. They have a warning of course, after the assassination, but by early january of 1964, they were having their two or three evenings a week getting congressman and their spouses in their small groups, they couldve done it in one big reception and gotten some footage, but they did it a dozen time and got much closer to the congressman, also i was struck by the fact that she is the white house, many of the congressman wives had never been upstairs, certain didnt open the door but they have them in the women reporters, they had only lived in the white house about a month and she had the woman reporters going to the family bathroom and looking at the living quarters, it was completely different from jacqueline commodities attitude that the upstairs was off limits. Dont underestimate the power of that, because they may feel like theyre in the inner circle. And they have something special, they will likely be nicer to you. Women reporters were coming into their own during this time period, this is johnson by having lots of news to cover help them with their careers. Im sure they appreciated her being so open, i was so happy when she had the woman importers to the upstairs quarter. I felt i had always been open about my, life and i think thats why i am pleased to hear most acts specks of that. But she said one thing she would do next time is put away book she was reading because a week later an article appeared which may have been coincidence. But this thing that mrs. Johnston liked, so even she would have been different without. Mrs. Johnston fired mrs. Kennedys friend. But also continued mrs. Kennedys restoration of the white house, she insisted that all of the acquisitions be american made. Which was a bit different than Jacqueline Kennedy<\/a>s approach to the white house. She was saying about the finest things. Jacqueline kennedy told him to get white house china made in france, and she did, not cheated got it made it in the u. S. With a wildflower theme. So she was her own woman. Also on the social side, they have the First White House<\/a> wedding in years. First is the wedding and then they marry well there in the white house. And that was a very joyous thing, because by this time we were getting into the vietnam war. And into some of the real nastiness, and to have the weddings was a really nice moment of just just sitting back and saying this is a family. Who did the daughters mary . Lucy married in august of 66. She marries pat newton, and i kept flex serum modi not in the white house. The first wedding house of a president s daughter since the wilson daughters and 1914. So this and she married, he had bought a military aid. And, what was mrs. Johnstons role in pushing but she very much involved in the planning of this . I mean, everything became political, whether there was a union label and lucys gown. Her diary has a lot of that. But an ordeal they added to dresses. And the day after lucys wedding, she fled to the virginia farm where she sometimes, when and she didnt want to see anybody, and of course after lindas wedding, the president fled. So i think they moved on. Barbaras watching in san francisco, hello, you are on. I just wanted to say i love your questions. What are lucy and lynda doing now, and how many children they have, thank you. Linda is here in virginia, suburbs of washington, her husband was governor of virginia and senator virginia and was very reactive in all kinds of causes where she has been very effective and she was the first lady of virginia and shes been a political wife herself and knows those roles, lucy was married to pat new, jim they divorced, i think they had more children and he has children as well so her Christmas Card<\/a> just a, million kids and there were seven altogether, and linda now has three grandchildren. And they have a connection with the johnson family, they have the part of this as well. Gary robinson wants to, know i think what was labors most challenging time in the white house, was this a vietnam area . I think the vietnam years were hard on everybody. They were hard on the whole country. But we also were going through this huge generational fight. And i think that having people outside the white house screaming, hey lbj, how many kids did you kill today, can you imagine . And this is somebody that you now wants to do the right thing by the country and it is a horrible thing. She kept going out and giving speeches in spite of, those which wouldve been easy to do, in 1999 ladybird johnson gave an interview and she spoke about vietnam where was vietnam going to fit in. Along the way, so you couldnt stay, couldnt let go. During those days the bag i couldnt come home they were screaming at night i dont know if this was good planning but there were times i was on my way back. And that was our get out, those bags would be unloaded and put onto i dont know what kind of vehicle. And they knew what they were doing, and i knew after. Did you try to help them . I just said im doing the best i can, a lot of those people theres not much you can do besides down here. As the public sentiment could you walk us through the president s decision not to seek reelection and what that was. Theres other evidence to support this that she wrote in her diary, in 1964, i know when the time believed to be and this is exactly when she packed march of 1968, she was such an authentic person, i dont think she dreamed that up later, certainly as 1967 round on, i think it was a big meeting in september of 67 she talks about being called in, she says i dont want another, campaign i want to ask people one more time to help out. It was hard for lyndon monsoon to walk away, and i believe there is a sentence including his state of the union and then he forgot it, and couldnt find it in his pocket, i think you very much wanted him not to run in march of 60, eight and he of course found it difficult. She was worried about his health, and this is a 1955, it is really a massive heart attack, it was quite affected by, it and the whole family was affected by, and i think that was something that they always had hovering over them. And they had been very protective of his health, and it was something that was always on her mind and they didnt january in 1970, four years after so i think he lived like for days beyond what wouldve been enough. He couldnt have been president , he has a heart condition. And the National Tumult<\/a> continued in 1968 after that announcement was made, the Robert Kennedy<\/a> assassination, the johnsons hole this all together i mean it was a terrible time, 1968 was just a year and the 50th anniversary of the 1963 assassination, and that was the beginning, of americas loss of innocence they had no notion of what was going to happen after that happened, and just trying to keep the country together and keep it in some sense of not falling into despair, something that all the political leaders and they tried it but it was very hard for them, because theyre seeing this symbol of the problem. As we said, Lyndon Johnson<\/a> lived for years after he left office in 1969, living 38 more years we are going to return to this and learn more about how they worked there and prepare the library for the recording of the documents versus history. We are in the private office of mrs. Lyndon johnson at the lbj library, i was her secretary from 1976 to 1990, and a typical day would begin with her coming in in the morning at 9 00, and she would come toting a strong bag in each and filled with something on her desk, that she had taken home for speech writing, or even planning, whatever she was working on and she would always say, she felt like a little, girl kasia satchel, and she would come in and her desk was always very messy she had her calendar and she kept files on her desk file she was working on she was taking on the board of one of the banks at the smithsonian, she would keep a large envelope on herself up, with the title in dates on, them so that she can pick them, up work on, them and have everything there and as she worked on them with letters when she would finish them she put them on the floor, she worked at the office most of the day, phone calls working on projects that she loved so much. She love this office because she could look out at her all matter and report her through to the castle what she loved so much. Two would stay here all day, and that was pretty much monday through friday, and when we were having guests she would sometimes go out a few days early and stay in different gust rooms, check on the water and the lights, the electricity make sure everything will turn off the tvs and the different, rooms and wed also make a stop on the way out to the store to pick up magazines that were specific for whoever was renting for the weekend. It was very thoughtful, very meticulous, very great gracious. We had three office staff at the, time we had a person who handled her calendar, we had a person paying this. And then that chair was occupied by one of us, a good part of the day, thats rotated using projects by friday afternoon she was ready to leave and go to the ranch, and she called home, at about 3 30 in the afternoon, she said, i dont have anything else to do, is that tell the secret service im ready to go and she got up and we pack those saddle bags up and she took off and head out to the ranch to be back there on monday morning. I was so fortunate to be there, and learned so much of her in the way that she entertained, and i like the way she entertained thats one reason we did so well together, really loved her sense of making people feel at home, she was so good at it. The bigs this of being a specific, she was so thoughtful about things and when i got married, she said out to the house, beautiful, which of course it wasnt a sense of picture a print of the capital scene from the white house, and it was just so perfect, you know, because their view now, it was core signed by them. We learn from you, and from the state that she continues to be a very active first lady, and into her very late years, into the 1990s, i think molecular to the generation in the nineties was when she stopped giving speeches, i was told. Because she couldnt see the notes well. Enough certainly until the nineties she was very, active and then we were talking earlier about how even after the stroke, she continued to see people, just going out to restaurants and even though she couldnt voice her reaction, she left, she made her feel like she could visit and very interested in the work i was there at least three times this century the 21st century, and she was always there. She was so important she looked into the smallest detail, how they are going to attach certain things to the wall she had herself raised in a quaint grain she could see what the view would be from her office it was important she had traveled to the fdr library, the hometown might not be the best place karen in cleveland. I have two questions, one i was wondering about how mrs. Johnston felt about her daughter getting married at a young, a to the second one was about her involvement in the work and the Johnson School<\/a> government of the university of texas thank you. Hurricane texas was very much part of the work at the library, it was all of a piece. And she was very interested in that work and thats a great place, thats a wonderful school, so she was private about her views about getting married young, but it was something worrisome once she made up her mind they embraced it and embraced her husband. And in her white house years, the beautification was recognized with the president ial medal of freedom and a congressional matter, also the National Wildfire<\/a> center was created as a result of that, its in austin but they started it with the National Wildflower<\/a> center, i think it was on her first birthday, its really quite an observation answering questions from all over the world about what species will grow their. So people modeled gardens, and you continue to visit that until it was in a wheelchair with an oxygen tank, and she knew people who work, there she really continued to be active. As our time comes to an, and were going to come to return to the ranch in texas one last time. This is mrs. Johnstons private bedroom, as part of the 1967s remodeling, she specified designers that she wants this to be here forever room, she specifies her elements that she wants, the fireplace hes facing windows and a large bookcase to display so many mementos and keep sake she gathered through the years and also cameras Lyndon Johnson<\/a> gave mrs. Johnston a camera for her wedding if she became a photojournalist, and eight millimeter camera to capture home movies, we have hours an hours of movies every night at the white house mrs. Johnston would record her daily observations as became the basis for the book the white house diary which is a chronic of the tumultuous years of the 1960s mrs. Johnston, for 34 years after the president s death and her later years mrs. Johnston love to sit here at this desk and keep up with her correspondents and all of her activities as a very active former first lady. Also in the space we have mrs. Johnstons closet with all of the clothing her former where her branch clothing, the goose, the hats, all of her colorful outfits and her shoes one of my favorites the straw hat with the bluebonnets painted on top, and then her private afternoon where reflecting the importance of family, all those photographs of those who mattered so much to her, and to her grandchildren when she was known as a special person and their lives ladybird johnson had a great sense of history. She was off in the tour guide in the Nations Capital<\/a> i had the fortune to meet her at the hairiest room and National Historic<\/a> site. I was impressed that she wanted to see how the german story was being interpreted. Knowing that one day her story would told here at the lbj ranch after the ranch proceeded to the National Parks<\/a> service as its curators that its available for you to visit if you happen to be in that park. Its well worth a stop, you get a sense of the johnsons life when youre there. She died at the age of 94, how did the country respond to that . It was an outpouring of absolute respect and love, and everybody showed up for former president and first ladies and members of congress, all official billy would expect to be there. Just a wonderful response for her staff and the secret service, seeing them come in was really quite something. I think also the point that we ran a, to her sense of history was something that we could enjoy so, much but he has made the point several times all of this is available to us, all we have to do is go to our computers and mrs. Johnston has made it possible and most important from our perspective, here those johnson, tapes she allows those tapes to be open to the public without knowing what was on them, which is very gutsy and we have learned an enormous amount about them from these tapes. Where is she just down the road from the ranch, house in the Family Cemetery<\/a> so not at the library, they are just out in the countryside. There is a picture of the Family Cemetery<\/a>, where some of his siblings are buried there, its all you can walk from the ranch to the cemetery, to the birthplace to the school, in ten minutes, a very short time. So as you posed here a question for both of, you watch they see among first ladies. I think she was an outstanding first lady who wrote the book on modern first ladies and what they need to do to a non controversial and contribute to espouses legacy, and it works for a man as well. She understood that she had a megaphone and she could use it and she did that and injected all over successors. We tweet our thanks to our colleagues for their system","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"archive.org","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","width":"800","height":"600","url":"\/\/ia803208.us.archive.org\/10\/items\/CSPAN3_20200707_000100_First_Ladies_Influence__Image_-_Lady_Bird_Johnson\/CSPAN3_20200707_000100_First_Ladies_Influence__Image_-_Lady_Bird_Johnson.thumbs\/CSPAN3_20200707_000100_First_Ladies_Influence__Image_-_Lady_Bird_Johnson_000001.jpg"}},"autauthor":{"@type":"Organization"},"author":{"sameAs":"archive.org","name":"archive.org"}}],"coverageEndTime":"20240716T12:35:10+00:00"}