My Tentacle column is up on the web site.
A week ago today, Lady Bird Johnson, the celebrated wife of former President Lyndon Baines Johnson, passed away at age 94.
A Texan, she was born Claudia Alta Taylor on December 22, 1912, but her family called her "Lady." In her teenage years her classmates called her "Bird." It has been reported that she did not care for that nickname at that time, but it did stick. Later, her husband also referred to her as "Bird."
There are many reasons to celebrate the life and accomplishments of this steel magnolia of first ladies. Her husband was president at a tumultuous time in our nation's history. For many younger readers, President Johnson's term of office - from November 22, 1963 to January 20, 1969 - might very well be characterized as "ancient history;" but many of us baby boomers remember it well.
(For an excellent first hand personal account of Mrs. Johnson, be sure to read Roy Meachum's "Claudia Alta Taylor Johnson" published on The Tentacle July 13.)
The outpouring of public affection for the former first lady, associated by many as part of the 1960s of long ago history, has caught many younger people by surprise.
Many have read, since her death, about how she championed conservation issues. Interestingly enough, she did not use the word environmentalist, but as much as anyone, she was an environmental pioneer.
Her lasting legacy of cleaning-up roadside
Other reports recall how she worked tirelessly for her husband's political career. One adjective that has frequently been used is "tenacious." That is certainly an appropriate way to characterize her support of her husband, whom history has appropriately remembered as one of the more "cantankerous," (to put it politely) political actors of all time.
What isn't as well reported was her incredible influence upon her husband and her advocacy for civil rights, education and housing initiatives, and welfare programs, including Head Start. Remember, it was President Johnson who signed the Civil Rights Act in 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 into law. You should also know that then-Senate Majority Leader Johnson was largely responsible for passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1957.
Read the rest here: Lady Bird Johnson - Steel Magnolia
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