Famous First Ladies: Lady Bird Johnson

Of all the first ladies, the two that come to mind as far as being famous on their own accord are Jackie Kennedy and Lady Bird Johnson. However, the most famous would have to be Lady Bird. Lady Bird, christened Claudia Alta Taylor was born in 1912 to a wealthy family. She grew up in a mansion near the small town of Karnack, Texas. Her nickname was given to her as a small child by a maid who said "She was cute as a little bird."

Her mother died when she was just 5 years old. This tragedy did not stop Lady from success with education. She received a bachelor's degree in Arts and journalism from the University of Texas, in Austin.

She met former president Lyndon B. Johnson not long after. They started dating and 5 months later were married.

Throughout her marriage to Lyndon, she supported him and helped with finances from time to time with her inheritance for him to campaign. She also managed to buy a radio station and go from a 600.00 a month loss to eventual large profits. She is the first known "First Lady" to make her own fortune out of her own money.

After many miscarriages, she gave birth to two girls, 4 years apart. Lynda Bird and Luci Baines Johnson.

After the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963, Lyndon being the vice president was sworn in as the 36th president of the United States. She actively campaigned for her husband even though painfully shy. She is also known as the first "First Lady" to campaign on her own, without her husband. America voted Lyndon in for a full term presidency. Lady Bird was known as his key advisor.

She worked towards the Highway Beautification Act and was again the first "First Lady" to launch a huge legislative campaign. The bill passed in 1965.

After Lyndon's accomplished term as president. They moved back to Lady's ranch in Texas. She published her diary of her time spent in The White House and served on the board for the University of Texas System Board of Regents. Her and Lyndon both built and opened a presidential library at the University of Texas also.

Lyndon suffered a third and fatal heart attack on January 22nd, 1973. After putting her husband to rest, she continued her focus on beautifying Austin, as she had did for America while serving the nation as First Lady. She received many awards in her lifetime for her hard and diligent work. The Lady Bird Wildflower Center was also formed.

In later years, she spent more time with her grandchildren and great grand children that she was unable to do while at the White House.

She suffered a stroke in 2002, and since then she could speak phrases or write what she needed.

On July 11th, 2007, Lady Bird Johnson, wife and first lady to former president, Lyndon B. Johnson, died at the age of 94 of natural causes.

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