Customer Reviews

Lady Bird Johnson: Our Environmental First Lady

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As First Lady, Mrs. Johnson took on an outside project of having wildflowers planted along the Interstates of her hometown, Texas. The beauty along the highways (they lack dense trees and foliage like Tennessee) was so noted, and many years later we have red poppies and other wildflowers in clumps and bunches at some spots along our wide system of interstates. Perhaps other states have followed suit.

Claudia (called Lady Bird from her youth) chose a jonquil-yellow long gown with matched coat, complete with sable, to emulate the preceding First Lady. The color of bright, vivid yellow is probably the reason her gown is not in the Smithsonian collection. It might have gone across big in Dallas, but not in D.C., even if it was created by a New Yorker. Mary Todd Lincoln chose a royal purple velvet gown, as befitting her wealthy status in Kentucky. You'd think she might have come from Knoxville as purple is the choice of many women here.

Claudia's father was a farmer and businessman aptly named Thomas Jefferson Taylor. She had a fabulous education and graduated from the University of Texas with a law degree thirty years before Hillary got hers. So she could have been the first First Lady to be a lawyer, though she did not practice as she was married soon after graduation and raised two lovely daughters.

As wife of the Vice president, she went on official trips with her husband to 33 countries. She went to Dallas as the wife of the Vice President and returned as the First Lady. The assassin's bullet took the life of the most popular U. S. President ever in the state of Texas on November 22, 1963. Lyndon took the oath of office on the plane carrying Kennedy's body back to the nation's capital. He was always an impatient man and led this country into an inner turmoil which will never be over. Amid the chaotic confusion that followed after JFK's untimely death, she was thrust to the forefront, assuming duties and responsibilities of hostess at the White House during the days of deep mourning. All traces of the Kennedys were obliterated as if they had never been in the White House. It was a travesty against such a fine politician, his family, and the country who stayed glued to the t.v. set to watch John-John salute his father's casket on the horse-driven cortege. Nothing the Johnsons achieved in office will ever erase that from the souls and consciences of his "fellow Americans." She was the perfect mate for the politician who had to have his way -- gracious and kind. Her family background helped her to serve our country in a stately way.