Lady Bird Johnson

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “A revelation . . . a book in the Caro mold, using Lady Bird, along with tapes and transcripts of her entire White House diary, to tell the history of America during the Johnson years.”—The New York Times The inspiration for the documentary film The Lady Bird Diaries, premiering November 13 on Hulu Perhaps the most underestimated First Lady of the twentieth century, Lady Bird Johnson was also one of the most powerful. In Lady Bird Johnson: Hiding in Plain Sight, Julia Sweig reveals how indispensable the First Lady was to Lyndon Johnson’s administration—which Lady Bird called “our” presidency. In addition to advising him through critical moments, she took on her own policy initiatives, including the most ambitious national environmental effort since Theodore Roosevelt and a virtually unknown initiative to desegregate access to public recreation and national parks in Washington, D.C. Where no presidential biographer has understood Lady Bird’s full impact, Julia Sweig is the first to draw substantially on her White House diaries and to place her center stage. In doing so, Sweig reveals a woman ahead of her time—and an accomplished strategist and politician in her own right. Winner of the Texas Book Award • Longlisted for the PEN/Jacqueline Bogard Weld Award

Includes an excerpt from Jan Jarboe Russell's The Train to Crystal City.

Lady Bird Johnson, That's Who! is Tracy Nelson Maurer's lively picture book biography of Lady Bird Johnson, with a focus on her environmentalist passion and legacy as First Lady. Who fought to stop pollution? Who helped make America cleaner and greener? Lady Bird Johnson, That's Who! Claudia Alta Taylor was a lonely girl, shy as a butterfly growing up in Texas. She never dreamed she'd blossom into a visionary leader whose love for wildflowers, beautiful landscapes, and building community compelled her to lead the effort to combat pollution in the United States. A lifelong environmentalist, Lady Bird Johnson embraced her platform as First Lady to promote policy that beautified America’s roadways, waterways and parks, inspiring people to take pride in the places they live. With elements of women’s history, civics, and conservationism, this is a timely and informative picture book biography.

Over a span of 14 years, Lady Bird Johnson recorded 37 oral history interviews with the author. These newly released conversations comprise the compelling narrative of this book, an intimate story of a shy young country girl's transformation into one of America's most effective and admired first ladies.

Gould (American history, U. of Texas-Austin) has dusted off, updated, and thinned his 1988 Lady Bird Johnson and the Environment to kick off the new series on the wives of US presidents. He draws on Johnson's White House papers and interviews with her and her close associates to argue that she was one of the most politically active First Ladies though her concern with the environment was overshadowed by protests against the Vietnam War. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

The made-in-Hollywood marriage of Ronald and Nancy Reagan was the partnership that made him president. Nancy understood how to foster his strengths and compensate for his weaknesses-- and made herself a place in history. Tumulty shows how Nancy's confidence developed, and reveals new details surrounding Reagan's tumultuous presidency that shows how Nancy became one of the most influential first ladies in history. -- adapted from jacket

Bluebonnets and lady's slippers, larkspurs and blazing stars, black-eyed Susans and Granny's nightcaps. From a lonely childhood in the Piney Woods of East Texas to an exciting life in the White House, Lady Bird Johnson loved these wildflowers with all her heart. They were her companions in her youth, greeting her everywhere as she explored wild forests, bayous, and hills. Later, as First Lady, she sought to bring the beauty of wildflowers to America's cities and highways. She wanted to make sure every child could enjoy the splendor of wildflowers. In this warm, engaging look at the life of a great First Lady, Kathi Appelt tells the story behind Lady Bird Johnson's environmental vision. Joy Fisher Hein's colorful wildflowers burst from every page, inviting us to share in Lady Bird's love for natural beauty.

This book introduces young readers to the life of Lady Bird Johnson, beginning with her childhood in Karnack, Texas. Readers will become familiar with her kind heart as they learn about her years at the University of Texas, her marriage to Lyndon Johnson, and her time running KTBC radio station. Details of Mrs. Johnson's time as First Lady, including her support of civil rights, Head Start, and various campaigns to promote nature and wildlife, are also discussed. The book also notes when the National Wildflower Research Center was opened. Informative sidebars and full-color photos accompany easy-to-read, engaging text. Includes timeline, fun facts, index, and glossary.