Evening star., 1960-07-31
RANCH
A Visitor Watches
Johnson in Action
RANCH
Continued From First Page

Continued From First Page
cording to a sign, is 648. It is
also the home-not Of Senator
Johnson-but Of the "Peder-
males River Electric Co.." ac-
cording to a much larger sign.
/ Because of Senator Johnson'S
reputation, I had expected
Igreat, neon announcement pro-
claiming the location of the
LBJ ranch.
Actually. it was difficult tc
find, at least in the darkness
Finally. on a paved back roac
near Hye. Tex, I noticed 9
Lyndon johnson for Presi.
dent" sticker on a mail box
The headlights picked up g
stone wall entrance and or
the wall were the letters, LIB
Ranch"
A lane wound into blackness
Shortly, there was the sounC
of rushing water. A ford has
been built across the Pedernales
River at that point of the road
1t probably upSets most visitors
to the johnson ranch, how
ever. particularly those driving
in at night. There is a water.
fall of possibly is feet which
tumbles down on the ford The
driver of a car can stick hi;
left arm out the window anc
into the falling Pedernales.
Across the river, a big house
loomed.
A dog barked, but there wa!
no one in sight. A wiggline
shadow turned out to be the
I Senator's dog. the famous Little
Beagle johnson, the friendliest
dog ever met.
With Little Beagle
Together, we went around tt
a number of doors. I knocked
Little Beagle barked.
Eventually, a side dool
opened. A big sunburned mar
led me past a saddle and int
a wide room with several bis
desks and telephones and ther
through another door and intc
the dining room.
There were IL people seateC
at the table, eating steak. Sen
ator johnson hauled his biz
frame UP and shook hands. HI
! seemed tired. but his greeting
was cordial. '
Lady Bird johnson, her eye
sparkling, told the guest HI
must be hungry after the driv'
from San Antonio. She quickly
without the slightest trace o
irritation, produced a place a
the table. The nervous CUES
, found himself unable to repor
he had already eaten dinner.
Talk Of Vacation
There was talk of the vaca
ton in Acapulco and Mrs
Johnson indicated it had no
been too restful for her hus
band. The Senator talked IL
: muffled tones to an aide AM
! then quietly slipped out of tn,
room as the topic of sunburl
came up.
do you freckle?". asked
lady on the visitors left.
: Mrs. Johnson-she was callet
) Bird" not Lady Bird
talked of a peaceful horsebacl
ride she had taken with tn
Senator that evening befor
dinner. They had seen SOM
deer.
There was also talk ant
laughter over the number O
things breaking down on tn
ranch.
Mrs. johnson shortly lef
for the kitchen. Her oldeS
daughter Lynda Bird moved t.
her mothers seat at the table
Lynda was polished and yer,
polite. The youngest daughte
Lucy Baines was away at camp
About 10 pm. the groul
moved to the living room ant
Mrs. johnson returned to serv
! coffee.
One of the guests was Repre-
sentative Homer Thornberry o
Austin. j. C. Kellam and hi
wife also sat slipping coffee
, Mr.. Kellam, a wry native o
Blanco, handles Mrs. Johnson
. radio properties.
Sam Houston Letter
Mr.. Kellam said the room
we were in was 100 years old
. There was a tremendous fire
: place and all the furniture wa
: comfortable, some of it mod
. ern. On the wall, in a frame
; was a letter written by San
, Houston to Senator Johnson
great grandfather, George W
Baines, sr.
Everyone appeared tired
Some had been at both Lo
} Angeles and Acapulco. The,
seemed to be waiting for tn
Senator although there was n
! mention of him.
George Reedy. a johnson
aide who had gotten a bad cas-
of sunburn in Acapulco. sa
down and told of an interrup
ton in Mexico. Senator John
, son had informed the press h
. wanted to be alone, no inter
! views. A fence surrounded tn
; estate where he stayed and tn
gates had been closed.
But two Mexican reporter
had hired the champion waite
: skier of Mexico to pilot ther
over the water to the es
tate's private beach. Senate
Johnson, faced with such en-
: terprise, had consented to som
J picture taking but no inter
view.
, The next day, a lengthy
exclusive" interview with tn
candidate appeared in tn