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In 1982, Lady Bird Johnson and actress Helen Hayes founded the National Wildflower Research Center — and it is this commitment to the environment and the beauty of nature that, for me at least, is the legacy for which she will be most remembered. From the NYTimes:
As first lady, she was perhaps best known as the determined environmentalist who wanted roadside billboards and junkyards replaced with trees and wildflowers. She raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to beautify Washington. The $320 million Highway Beautification Bill, passed in 1965, was known as ”The Lady Bird Bill,” and she made speeches and lobbied Congress to win its passage.
”Had it not been for her, I think that the whole subject of the environment might not have been introduced to the public stage in just the way it was and just the time it was. So she figures mightily, I think, in the history of the country if for no other reason than that alone,” Harry Middleton, retired director of the LBJ Library and Museum, once said.
In a political arena where whole careers are made and lost in tearing things apart or trashing those around them, Lady Bird Johnson chose a legacy of conservation of the beauty of our natural world. Brava to her for this choice.
UPDATE: The WaPo has more on Lady Bird’s legacy.
UPDATE #2: As snowyegret reminded me in the comments, Mrs. Johnson was also a great champion of the Head Start program, and often lobbied for it both publicly and, more often, quietly but firmly among members of Congress. For at risk kids, Head Start can be such a lifeline, and I ought to have applauded her publicly for this work as well. Thanks much to snowyegret for the reminder — much appreciated.
UPDATE #3: Rick Perlstein has a fine tribute to Lady Bird up. Do go and read it. She had a spine of steel, encased in the finest silk, and a heart of pure gold, as one reader who knew her in her later years e-mailed to tell me a few minutes ago. Lovely phrase, I thought, and I wanted to pass it along to everyone here.
(Beautiful wildflower shot via jikamajoja.)
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Zed?
consider the lilies of the field….
RIP-Lady Bird!!!
RIP Mrs LBJ
and thanks.
Here was a beautiful woman! She herself gave Texas a good name, along with Ann Richards.
Too bad Bush had to flush that good name right down the toilet.
RIP Ladybird, and thanks for the wildflowers. The Wildflower Center is about 15 miles from my house.
Allllllriiiiiiiight – my first number one.
Now for the serious stuff – Lady Bird has always been one of my heroes. She was one of those people who accomplished a great deal relatively quietly – but accomplished it nonetheless. And as an avid gardener, I have always been grateful for her championing of our native plants (known as weeds to far too many). RIP
SadieSue @ 8
No longer a Zed virgin, eh? Congrats!
And bravo to you Christy for this moving post.
My late mother, southern to the bone like Lady Bird, wrote to her comforting her after Eartha Kitt’s critical rant against Lady Bird. Soon thereafter Mother received a warm and cordial thank you letter she cherished the rest of her life. And remained on Lady Bird’s Xmas card list for years until my Dad wrote with the sad news that Mother died. The smartest thing LBJ did in his extraordinary life was marrying Lady Bird.
If Ron Paul did not vote for this, I’m voting for him.
She was a great environmentalist that recognized the importance of protecting our national heritage, the land.
LS @ 11
Sorry, wrong thread.
LS @ 13
Your manners are impeccable.
That would be
Brava to her…
but the sentiment is right on!
test
SanderO at 15 — Oops — you are correct. Will fix that. Bad me!
Hundreds of thousands of trees, plants and flowers were planted in the District due to the efforts that Christy wrote about above.
Mrs. Johnson also lobbied for Head Start.
yes, Lady Bird, thank you for your love of the earth and your inspirational work on the planet’s behalf. Like so many others on the blog right now I am completely distraught. Thinking about Lady Bird is good for the brain and soul….
My favorite Lady Bird quote was when she began to address a crowd she would often say, “I’m floored, thrilled, and proud to be here today.”
Back in 1989, my wife and I were looking at a rental house and it turned out the owner was former Congressman Ray Roberts. He had worked closely with both Sam Rayburn and Lyndon Johnson. I was a history major from a long line of yellow dog Democrats. So, I spent the day and dinner listening to his stories. I asked about ladybird and the simply said, “She’s a saint.”
As a Texan, I am sorry for the loss of three ladies of whom I was really proud; Ann Richards, Molly Ivins, and Ladybird Johnson.
resquiat in pace Mrs. LBJ
snowyegret at 18 — I ought to have mentioned her work with Head Start as well. She was an amazing champion of that program — for at risk kids, Head Start can be a lifeline in so many ways, and she ought to have been thanked for her work with that as well.
Eleanor Roosevelt, Bess Truman, Jackie Kennedy, Lady Bird, Rosalynn Carter, Hillary Clinton: All of them were Democratic First Ladies who were known as contributors to America.
When I see a billboard on a highway, I feel disappointment that we let Lady Bird down.
Rest in peace, Lady Bird.
This is lovely, Christy – thank you!
Lady Bird was the sole democratic name allowed in my Republican childhood home – the name given to our first English Setter, who was dearly loved, and who was a free, loving spirit. Lady Bird was always connected in my head with drinking in passing wildflower scapes as we took many long road family vacations. Looking at wildflowers will always, for me, be intertwined with the thought of the First Lady. I remember watching her on the little black and white television set, explaining what joy flowers and trees brought to all of us.
What a legacy she left all of us!
Time to read some of Lenny’s material from that period.
RIP, Lady Bird.
3 beautiful women, inside and out.
I didn’t know about her campaign against billboards, good for her, that endears her more to me. May she rest in peace.
Every time I am treated to one of the displays of color along the highways in North Carolina, I think of Lady Bird Johnson. It would not have happened, if not for her efforts.
I remember all too well when the highways that I traveled in my state were littered with road signs, billboards, litter, and weeds.
The flowers that bloom here now include brilliant colors of poppies, daisies, cannas, and many others that I can’t even name in my state. At almost any time of the year our roadsides are painter’s field of color and beauty.
May she rest in peace, knowing that what she did indeed give beauty to our world.
I for one am greatful.
and another Texan, Barbara Jordan…
Christy Hardin Smith @ 23
All the more outrageous that the current admin is f*cking this program over. Today, during the debate in the Senate re: Iraq, Ted Kennedy compared the cost of the war to the cost of headstart with a statistic LIKE this (I don’t remember the exact numbers): Headstart is no serving 3 million children of 6 million who qualify. For the cost of one week of this war we could make it available to all who qualify. (He also had several other comparisons.)
What a beautiful picture to honor Ladybird with.
She was a great American. She gave us so much, and did so with quiet dignity.
May she rest in peace.
Even my right-leaning indie spouse will be sad at the loss of Lady Bird. He still thinks very highly of her Highway Beautification efforts and wishes often that such an effort was made again.
Big high heeled shoes to fill.
I will always equate the wildflowers of Texas with Lady Bird – I also found remarkable the composure she showed, even when directly facing LBJ’s indiscretions. Her passing is loss for humanity.
I just commented on this at First Draft. I’m a Texan myself, and Lady Bird was one of the best. She embodied all that was good about being from Texas. Never prejudiced, always gracious, and an absolutely tireless worker for the common good.
They don’t make ‘em like that any more. God bless the lady, and thank you Christy for pointing out what may be Lady Bird’s most significant and lasting contribution to our world.
Lady Bird was a person I admired a great deal. I will miss her.
I know so little about her but one of the most magnificent nights of my life spent while falling asleep looking for stars through a canopy of redwoods in Lady Bird Johnson Grove
I woke up the next morning and boarded a wonderful sailboat just a few miles away in Eureka California heading for Alaska… even the mighty pacific could not wash away the sound and aroma of the magical forrest. Many years later that memory sooths my soul like it happened yesterday.
So thank you for that Lady Bird.
Just have to add that the picture above is beautiful and representative of what I see along the highways, but it doesn’t compare to what I see in person traveling the roads of my state with the enormous expanse of blooms.
It truly is a most uplifting scene, like an artist used a paintbrush to paint the side of the road with colors and brilliance.
I do hope that other states have as many of them as does mine.
Big Mitch:
If you go to costofwar.com
they have a calculator. You can put in your city/state, or look at the entire US, and it will compute a year’s worth of Head Start, public housing, higher education, and children’s health vs what is being spent on the Iraq occupation.
For example, one year of Head Start for 58,585,176 children in the state of Florida could have been paid for.
snowyegret @ 29
Here’s the eulogy I wrote for Ann Richards, under the title A former governor of Texas
In 1988, she famously said of George Herbert Walker Bush, 41, “Poor George, he can’t help it. He was born with a silver foot in his mouth.” One of the improbable achievements of his son is that he makes the old man sound like a regular Demosthenes.
Was that her most memorable quote from that convention? Maybe, but she also offered a memorable salute to the achievements of women, reminding her worldwide audience, “Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did. She just did it backwards and in high heels.”
She was governor for one term, losing her re-election bid to George W. Bush.
The same George W. Bush had his own memorable quote about the fair sex over at the Republican National Convention in 1988. A Hartford Courant reporter asked him about what he and his father talked about when they weren’t talking about politics.
“Pussy,” Dubya replied.
As Casey Stengel would say, you can look it up.
“… and tell ’em Big Mitch sent ya!”
A friend lives across the street from her, and I got to meet her a couple of times (only once for more than like 10 seconds). She was an amazing person.
Lifetime member of the NWRC,
bfd
snowyegret @ 41
There’s a link to Cost of War on the top of my blog, as a matter of fact.
Lady Bird is one of those southern steel magnolias. She softened Lyndon’s brusqueness, took copious notes so she remembered people and what they said and moved his political career forward. Thank you Lady Bird for replacing billboards with trees and wild flowers.
I just followed the “cost of war” link, recommended by SnowyEgret @ 41
In stead of the war we could have paid for 58,579,171 children to attend a year of Head Start.
Incidentally, though at the time, I would never believe that I could say anything like this, I personally believe LBJ was one of the greatest Americans of all time.
And of course, now is as good a time as any to recall that behind every great man …
Christy Hardin Smith @ 22
This is one of our great programs. I sent my daughter to a school in SF that needed more enrollments to qualify for Head Start. I had to drive there but it was worth the effort for her sake and to keep the program in a location where it was badly needed. Each child got to sit on the lap of this dear wonderful grandmother who nurtured them and quietly read a story to them. One-on-one made a great difference in the lives of these children. My daughter loved going to school.
I remember reading a magazine article about Lady Bird back in the 60s, I think.
She was trying on clothes, and always lifted her arms up high to see how the dresses fit that way. “But you won’t be holding your arms up like that,” someone said.
“Yes, when I dance with my husband I will; he’s so tall.”
Bless her.
QuakerGirl @ 44
“Steel Magnolias” I absolutely adore that movie. I suppose I’ve seen it at least 10 times. ;0)
Big Mitch,
This is an aside, because I think Ladybird Johnson wasn’t quite as earthy as Ann Richards or Molly Ivans.
On a roast of Ann Richards, shown on C-span some years ago, Molly Ivans talked about her first meeting with Ann Richards. She was at a dinner with noted politicians. On pol, who was a noted loud mouth came in late and explained that he was late because he had to drive by a lady several times. He described all of her physical attributes in detail.
Molly Ivans said there was a pause and then she heard a woman’s voice (Ann Richards) say, “So, have any of you ladies seen any good di*ks lately.”
Sorry, I had to tell it.
I wasn’t sure which thread to leave this in so apologies in advance. My letter to Durbin and Obama.
Compare: Lady Bird, to First Lady Babs Bush.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 49
No kidding! I cry every time. You can take the girl out of the south but you can’t take the south out of the girl! :))
I took driver’s ed here in Austin back in the seventies. Our instructor, Ned Stinson (RIP) taught us evasive maneuvers on IH35. Imagine driving along and seeing a yellow Ford LTD all of a sudden leave the highway and stop in the grass. This was before the upper deck was built so you couldn’t do it anymore, at least not in downtown. He would yell “mack truck!” and we had about 3 seconds to get off the highway because a semi was coming the wrong way right at us (theoretically, of course). He taught us how to straddle the drainage holes along the curb so as not to screw up the wheels, and get up on the grass. Then he would always holler “look out for Lady Bird’s bushes!”. Her Oleanders are still here.
QuakerGirl @ 47
Think also of how great a program it is from the point of view of increased productivity of Americans, reduced crime, fewer teenage pregnancies, etc. etc. In other words, not only was a great program for your daughter, but for people who don’t have children.
I know you probably said to yourself “teenage pregnancies???” Actually, Head Start is directly correlated to staying in school longer, which is strongly inversely correlated to teenage pregnancies. Unwanted children have a higher incidence of growing up to be criminals, too.
OT, but the news is all over the place, Harriet Miers has been *ordered* by the President not to show up at the House Judiciary Committees hearings tomorrow.
Josh Marshall also posts some speculation that this may constitute a (or another?) felony by George Bush.
The thing I can’t figure, is why? Let her go and claim executive privilege, but to order Miers to not even show up is unprecedented, as far as I know. (Please correct me if I’m wrong.)
The only explanations I can come up with are:
A) Fielding forgot about inherent contempt, and expects the House to refer the charges to the DOJ;
B) Bush doesn’t think the House will have the balls to pursue inherent contempt;
C) Bush *wants* the House to pursue inherent contempt, thinking it’ll be a win if he can get the House to lock up a ‘little old lady’;
D) Bush honestly thinks the House will fold, and that this will be another successful hard ball play for power and executive privilege.
But honestly, none of those makes sense. Bush is practically threatening and forcing the Dems to go for inherent contempt charges and proceedings, which may be the best way to strengthen the Democrats hand and will for further impeachment proceedings.
Anyone else have some further thoughts on what the Bushies strategy is here?
Big Mitch @ 55
Yep. Freakonomics showed that legalizing abortion (in the 70s) correlated to the decreased crime rate in the 90s better than to anything else. And caused Bill Bennet to demonstrate that he doesn’t understand anything about statistics.
JGabriel @ 56
Never underestimate the ability of Dems to fold in the face of threats from President Shit-for-brains.
JGabriel @ 56
I don’t think they have a strategy beyond stonewalling. The closer you get to Bush the bigger the stonewall. I think also that Miers not showing up is an indication that she unlike Taylor is considered by the White House to be a major player.
GordonM @ 57
Bill Bennett didn’t know anything about the politics of saying “forced abortions for all black people.” Gee, Bill, what are the odds that would blow up in your face?
GordonM @ 57
Speaking of abortion, there’s a new thread: A Dangerous Woman, Indeed.
JGabriel @ 56
Perhaps that he knows Harriet, and figures she won’t be able to pull a Goodling / Doan / Abu stonewall. From my bit of observation I suspect that she might crumble.
Big Mitch @ 60
Bill Bennett and Newt Gingrich in competition for title of Right’s Top Intellectual. Oops, spell check, that Right’s Top Intelektwal.
Big Mitch @ 58
They’d be idiots (I know, I know…) to fold in the face of this. It’s practically a *gift* to the Democrats, by way of being such an insult to both the House and the American people they represent.
I think even a few of the 26%’ers can understand that a President who claims the power to prevent people from not only testifying, but even *appearing* before Congress, is a President invoking the privileges of a dictator.
GordonM @ 62
Remember these are the folks that don’t have a Plan B for the failing “surge”.
Hugh @ 59
JGabriel @ 65
(Gathering that was the response?)
But Bush has been on a one way path for 6 years now. Against the law? Pfaw, no big deal to him. He’ll just keep kicking sand into everyone’s eyes, and run to Daddy (as he did when he had to deal with Putin) when things get too hot.
Hugh @ 59
Can they possibly be that stupid? I suppose they can, but this could backfire upon them beyond all proportion to whatever it is they’re trying to cover up or protect.
It’s not the invocation of executive privilege, in and of itself, that I’m flabbergasted by. It’s the actual *ordering* of a *former* aide to NOT even *appear* at the hearings, rather than just claiming exec. priv. and refusing to testify.
This is big.
A couple years ago there was a piece on NPR about tapes from the Johnson Administration being released. They played a great bit in which Lady Bird gave Johnson some straight talk, analysis of a speech he’d given, (maybe? — please forgive my bad memory of the details). Johnson tried to cut in. Ladybird put him in his place politely but firmly. She made him listen, delivering her words with insight and authority. He said, “Yes, Ma’mam. Yes, Ma’mam.” It revealed her political acumen, and his great respect for her. It was a revealing window on their relationship.
GordonM @ 67
It was the response, or meant to be. Somehow it got rearranged in 65, and now it’s too late to edit it. Not quite sure how that happened.
Anyway, this isn’t like kicking sand in the umpire’s eyes. It’s more like picking up big gobs of dirt and physically rubbing them in his eyes till he’s blind while screaming “Boo-ya!” at a jeering audience.
I know it’s bad manners to speak ill of the dead, but: when Eartha Kitt (the 2nd TV “Catwoman” & talented black singer) made some negative comments about L(Lyndon)B Johnson’s war of aggression in SE Asia during an appearance at the White House, Lady Bird had calls made to the networks & music venues to have Kitt “blacklisted”. If any real environmental improvements came from her involvement that’s great, but let’s not sentimentalize these imperialist #*@!s excessively.
She does have a real legacy in the fact that Arlen’s Hank Hill named his dog after her, however.
Mark, sentiment and analysis are not made of the same stuff and as impulses, they typically don’t temper each other.
I know the facts you bring up are true and unfortunate and there is a part of me that recognizes them for what they are and acknowledges that part of the historical record.
There is also a part of me, and obviously of others here, that has a sentimental response at the passing of Mrs. Johnson.
And I, for one, will not be heeding your directive to not sentimentalize.
As in independent thinking adult, I’m quite capable of having both sentimental thoughts and a complex understanding of politics, power and history.
JGabriel @ 70
Actually, I agree. I’m just running short on ability to sustain outrage. Been outraged too effing long.
Hey Cristy,
By the way, those pretty red flowers in your picture are Asian poppies, otherwise known as opium poppies.
They are corn or field (as in Flanders) poppies (papaver rhoeas), not opium poppies (papaver somniferum).
I am proud today to be a New Yorker whose great aunts were high school teachers in Marshall Texas, alma mater of Ladybird and Bill Moyers.
Hugh @ 59
Hate to move this thread away from Lady Bird, who was an inspiration to all of us and deserves a thread of her own, but must put in my two sous worth on Bush and company: at this point they are making it up as they go along, just like in Iraq. No deeper explanation.
Scroll down for some beautiful pix of opium poppies:
http://www.pa-chouvy.org/Photo…..htm#photos
The Dems will find a way to fold, cave, retreat, and surrender…
Of that I am utterly, 1000% confident.
Ladybird?
I think of the photo of Ladybird with Lyndon aboard Air Force One as Lyndon turns and nods to a winking and grinning Congressman Thomas (the photo series is not hard to find).
Innocent bystander?
Aboard Air Force One as a bloodstained and grief stricken shocked Jacqueline Kennedy stands beside them during a hasty swearing in ceremony.
A few flowers on the side of a highway made up for it all I’m sure.
elmake @ 69
so she must have agreed with him to reverse the secret Kennedy memorandum revoked on the Monday following the assassination regarding troop withdrawal from Vietnam?
The last time in the US, driving south of DC, the interstate roadside was brilliant with wildflowers. Lady Bird’s hand was all too evident still. What a long way off course the country has gone, once there was a consideration for beauty in the public discourse; that now is sorely missed. But life was richer then, when the public goal was to expand and include. The political goals now are so bankrupt.
Thank you Lady Bird, ya done good.
She also played a large role in the creation of the National Historic Preservation Act, which was signed by President Johnson I think in ‘69. The NHPA is the nation’s primary vehicle for preserving our historic sites–from historic county courthouses to Ice-Age mammoth hunting camps. Her role was behind the scenes, but fundamental.
I live just a few miles from Stonewall, Texas, and can report that the heavy rains this year produced a bumper crop of wildflowers across the countryside. They will still be blooming when she comes home to Stonewall.