Lady Bird Johnson

Lady Bird Johnson married Lyndon Baines Johnson who later became the 36th President of the United States. They married in San Antonio, Texas, on 17th November, 1934 in the ‘St. Mark’s Episcopal Church’.

Her first daughter Lynda was born in 1944. Her second daughter Luci was born in 1947. Lady Bird Johnson had 7 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

She died on 11th July, 2007, at 94, at her home out of natural causes and was buried next to her husband at the private cemetery of the family at LBJ Ranch in Stonewall.

Claudia Alta Taylor was born on 22nd December, 1922 to Thomas Jefferson Taylor and Minnie Pattillo Taylor in ‘The Brick House’, a mansion owned by her father in Harrison County, Karnack, Texas.

She was named Claudia Alta Taylor after her maternal uncle Claud. The nickname Lady Bird which took over her first name dates back to her infancy when a nurse complimented her as "pretty as a ladybird".

Her father was a native of Alabama and was a wealthy businessman. Her mother died when she was five and thereafter had two stepmothers. She had two elder brothers. She was mostly brought up by Effie Pattillo, her maternal aunt.

She completed her elementary education in a rural school in Harrison County. In 1928 she completed her graduation from ‘Marshall High School’.

From 1928 to 1930, she studied in Dallas in ‘Saint Mary's Episcopal School for Girls’.

She wanted to pursue a career in media but before that could happen she was introduced to Lyndon Baines Johnson, a young up-and-coming politician, and married him in 1934.

When her husband decided to run for Congress from Austin's 10th district, Lady Bird Johnson used a moderate amount that she inherited from the estate of her mother to launch his congressional campaign.

She managed his congressional office when Johnson enlisted in the navy during the Second World War.

In early 1943 she invested some of her inheritance and purchased a radio station, ‘KTBC. She expanded her business in 1952 purchasing a TV station. Both her endeavours made the couple millionaires.

During the 1960 Presidential elections, John F. Kennedy selected Lyndon B. Johnson as his running mate. Lady Bird Johnson played a huge part in the campaign that lasted over seventy-one days including travelling eleven states, covering 35,000 miles and attending 150 events. In November both Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson won the election.

Her business endeavours during the 1940s and 1950s including purchase of a radio station and a TV station proved highly successful making the couple millionaires.

She played an important role as a First Lady in advocating the ‘Highway Beautification Act’ which was often referred to as the ‘Lady Bird’s Bill’.