Lady Bird Johnson

Claudia Alta Johnson, known as Lady Bird Johnson, was born on December 22, 1912, in Karnack, Texas, a town in Harrison County near the Louisiana border. Her birthplace was "The Brick House," an antebellum plantation house acquired by her father shortly before her birth. Her maiden name was Taylor, and she was a descendant of the English Protestant martyr Rowland Taylor through his grandson Captain Thomas J. Taylor II. She was named after her mother's brother, Claud. The nickname "Lady Bird" originated during infancy, when her nursemaid, Alice Tittle, remarked that she was "as pretty as a ladybird," possibly referencing either the bird or a ladybird beetle, known as a ladybug in North America. This nickname became a lifelong moniker, with her father and siblings calling her "Lady" and her husband, Lyndon B. Johnson, calling her "Bird."

Her father, Thomas Jefferson Jonson Taylor (1874–1960), was a sharecropper's son who became a prosperous businessman, owning cotton fields and general stores, amassing approximately 15,000 acres of land. Her mother, Minnie Lee Pattillo (1874–1918), was an opera enthusiast who felt out of place in Karnack. She died in 1918 due to complications following a fall while pregnant. Lady Bird was largely raised by her maternal aunt, Effie Pattillo, in Karnack, and spent summers in Alabama visiting relatives. Her childhood was characterized by outdoor activities such as walking, fishing, and swimming, which fostered a lifelong appreciation for nature.

Educationally, Lady Bird moved away from her rural hometown to attend high school in Jefferson, Texas, where she lived with another family during the week. She graduated third in her class from Marshall Senior High School at the age of 15. Her early college education began at the University of Alabama during the summer of 1928 but was interrupted by homesickness. She then enrolled at St. Mary's Episcopal College for Women in Dallas, from which she graduated in May 1930. Inspired by her experiences there to convert to the Episcopal faith, she eventually became confirmed five years later. In 1930, she moved to Austin after successfully securing a place at the University of Texas, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history with honors in 1933 and a second bachelor's degree in journalism, graduating cum laude in 1934. During her time at university, she was active in several organizations, including Texas Orange Jackets, and sought leadership roles. Her ambition was to work as a reporter.

In 1934, she married Lyndon B. Johnson, a young congressional aide with political ambitions. They met in Austin, Texas, and married on November 17, 1934, at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in San Antonio. The marriage produced two daughters, Lynda Bird Johnson Robb (born 1944) and Luci Baines Johnson (born 1947), both of whom shared the initials LBJ with their parents. The Johnson family resided in the White House during Lynda and Luci's teenage years.

Lyndon B. Johnson served as Vice President of the United States from 1961 to 1963 under President John F. Kennedy and became the 36th President of the United States in 1963, serving until 1969. Lady Bird Johnson was the Second Lady of the United States from 1961 to 1963 and the First Lady from 1963 to 1969. Her initiatives as First Lady included advocating for the beautification of cities and highways, notably through the Highway Beautification Act, informally known as "Lady Bird's Bill." She actively engaged with Congress, employed her press secretary, and undertook solo electioneering tours, breaking tradition for first ladies.

Following her tenure as First Lady, Lady Bird received numerous honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 1984. She was recognized consistently in surveys by the Siena College Research Institute as one of the most highly regarded American First Ladies by historians. She passed away on July 11, 2007.