There is no place in the United States that is more closely associated with Lady Bird Johnson than Austin. After her death in 2007 the river running through the city was renamed Lady Bird Lake. We also have the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, and of course the Presidential Library.
Currently the Library is hosting a special exhibit on her life, and it consumes much of the ground floor.
For me, the highlight is the famous red outfit she wore to the 1965 Inauguration, shown here. Several other examples of her clothing are here, including a gown to she wore to President Kennedy’s inaugural celebrations on Jan. 20, 1961. This is the day her husband, Lyndon, was sworn in as Vice-President. At the other end of the spectrum, we can also see her Res Cross uniform, which she wore to the Senate Ladies Club, which met in Washington DC every Tuesday.
Her early life is the one most people are unfamiliar with; several rooms are devoted to this period, beginning with her birth in 1912. It may come as a surprise that she was actually born in Texas, just shy of the Louisiana border, in the rural community of Karnack (Back in 1912 Karnack had only 100 inhabitants.). The nearest town of any size is Marshall, 13 miles away. She was named Claudia Alta Taylor. The family nanny, Alice Tittle, called her “pretty as a lady bird,” and the moniker stuck. A photo is shown of Alice holding the baby Claudia, and another of the general store owned by her father. There is even a brick, and a receipt, from the store, dated 1912.
Her time at school is well chronicled. She had to make a choice of high school in Marshall, or Jefferson, 15 miles away. Since her brother Tommy was already running a grocery store in Jefferson, she went there, and on display is her report card from 1925. Later she went to junior college in Dallas. After graduating in 1930 she visited Austin, attending the University of Texas here. In 1933 she earned a bachelor’s degree in history, and a degree in journalism in 1934. The actual 1932 calendar she wrote her daily notes in is on display.
Austin features prominently after her marriage, as evident in the photo shown here from 1937. It shows Lyndon’s parents, together with Lady Bird, right here in Austin.
Along with photos and memorabilia are video segments playing through the exhibit, so that Lady Bird speaks to us in her own words. In addition, transcripts are given on information displays. For example, one is given from Oct. 6, 1964, during her historic Whistle Stop Tour through several states (see photo here). It was the first time a First Lady had campaigned independently for her husband as president. On that date she said “I know than many of you do not agree with the Civil Rights Bill or with the President’s support of it, but I do know the South respects candor and courage and I believe he has shown both. It would be a bottomless tragedy for our country to be racially divided.”
This is a marvellous trip down memory lane, beautifully presented with tastefully selected exhibits. Well worth seeing, especially if you have never before visited the LBJ library. Don’t skip the gift shop, which even has a book for sale signed by Lady Bird.
On May 11, 2022, Dr Julia Sweig, author of a book on Lady Bird, will be speaking at the LBJ Library.
The special exhibit will be on display until Aug. 23, 2023. Visit lbjlibrary.org for visiting hours and fees.
