Johnson, Lady Bird

Johnson, Lady Bird, 1912–, b. Karnack, Tex., originally named Claudia Alta Taylor. She married (1934) Lyndon B. Johnson and played an active role in his political career. As first lady (1963–69) she sponsored environmental causes and national beautification projects. A successful businesswoman, she bought (1943) a debt-ridden radio station in Austin, Tex., and built it into a multimillion dollar broadcasting company. She also owns and manages extensive ranching lands in Texas. She is the author of A White House Diary (1970).

Bibliography

See biographies by M. D. Smith (1964) and G. L. Hall (1967); L. I. Gould, Lady Bird Johnson and the Environment (1988).

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Johnson, (Claudia Alta b. Taylor) Lady Bird (1912–  ) First Lady; born in Karnack, Texas. She studied journalism before she married Lyndon Johnson in 1934. She borrowed from her inheritance to help finance his first election campaign. As first lady, she supported the "war on poverty," the Headstart Program, and worked for the "beautification" of Washington, D.C. Following the presidency, she wrote White House Diary and remained active in beautification projects.