Lyndon B. Johnson | whitehouse.gov Air Force One Lyndon B. Johnson In the 1960 campaign, Lyndon B. Johnson was elected Vice President as John F. Kennedy's running mate. On November 22, 1963, when Kennedy was assassinated, Johnson was sworn in as the 36th United States President, with a vision to build "A Great Society" for the American people. "A Great Society" for the American people and their fellow men elsewhere was the vision of Lyndon B. Johnson. In his first years of office he obtained passage of one of the most extensive legislative programs in the Nation's history. Maintaining collective security, he carried on the rapidly growing struggle to restrain Communist encroachment in Viet Nam. Johnson was born on August 27, 1908, in central Texas, not far from Johnson City, which his family had helped settle. He felt the pinch of rural poverty as he grew up, working his way through Southwest Texas State Teachers College (now known as Texas State University-San Marcos); he learned compassion for the poverty of others when he taught students of Mexican descent.

In 1937 he campaigned successfully for the House of Representatives on a New Deal platform, effectively aided by his wife, the former Claudia "Lady Bird" Taylor, whom he had married in 1934. During World War II he served briefly in the Navy as a lieutenant commander, winning a Silver Star in the South Pacific. After six terms in the House, Johnson was elected to the Senate in 1948. In 1953, he became the youngest Minority Leader in Senate history, and the following year, when the Democrats won control, Majority Leader. With rare skill he obtained passage of a number of key Eisenhower measures. In the 1960 campaign, Johnson, as John F. Kennedy's running mate, was elected Vice President. On November 22, 1963, when Kennedy was assassinated, Johnson was sworn in as President. First he obtained enactment of the measures President Kennedy had been urging at the time of his death--a new civil rights bill and a tax cut.

Next he urged the Nation "to build a great society, a place where the meaning of man's life matches the marvels of man's labor." In 1964, Johnson won the Presidency with 61 percent of the vote and had the widest popular margin in American history--more than 15,000,000 votes. The Great Society program became Johnson's agenda for Congress in January 1965: aid to education, attack on disease, Medicare, urban renewal, beautification, conservation, development of depressed regions, a wide-scale fight against poverty, control and prevention of crime and delinquency, removal of obstacles to the right to vote. Congress, at times augmenting or amending, rapidly enacted Johnson's recommendations. Millions of elderly people found succor through the 1965 Medicare amendment to the Social Security Act. Under Johnson, the country made spectacular explorations of space in a program he had championed since its start. When three astronauts successfully orbited the moon in December 1968, Johnson congratulated them: "You've taken ... all of us, all over the world, into a new era. . . .

" Nevertheless, two overriding crises had been gaining momentum since 1965. Despite the beginning of new antipoverty and anti-discrimination programs, unrest and rioting in black ghettos troubled the Nation. President Johnson steadily exerted his influence against segregation and on behalf of law and order, but there was no early solution. The other crisis arose from Viet Nam. Despite Johnson's efforts to end Communist aggression and achieve a settlement, fighting continued. Controversy over the war had become acute by the end of March 1968, when he limited the bombing of North Viet Nam in order to initiate negotiations. At the same time, he startled the world by withdrawing as a candidate for re-election so that he might devote his full efforts, unimpeded by politics, to the quest for peace. When he left office, peace talks were under way; he did not live to see them successful, but died suddenly of a heart attack at his Texas ranch on January 22, 1973. The Presidential biographies on WhiteHouse.gov are from “The Presidents of the United States of America,” by Frank Freidel and Hugh Sidey. Copyright 2006 by the White House Historical Association.

For more information about President Johnson, please visit Little-known facts about our First Ladies... Little-known facts about our First Ladies... Martha Washington, 1731-1802 George Washington’s wife was the first to be given the title “lady” by the press, as in “Lady Washington,” and the first wife of a president to appear on U.S. postage stamp. Abigail Adams, 1744-1818 John Adams’ wife urged her husband to “remember the ladies” when he was writing the nation’s Declaration of Independence in 1776. She also was the first woman to be both a president’s wife and the mother of a president, and the first to live in the White House. Martha Jefferson, 1748-1782 No known portrait exists of Thomas Jefferson’s wife, who died 18 years before her husband was elected president. Their daughter Martha Jefferson Randolph served as White House hostess, and was the first to give birth in the presidential mansion in Washington, D.C.

Dolley Madison, 1768-1849 James Madison’s wife is the only first lady given an honorary seat on the floor of Congress, and was the first American to respond to telegraph message—sent by inventor Samuel Morse. Elizabeth Monroe, 1768-1830 James Monroe's wife ended the custom of a president's wife making the first social call on the wives of other officials in Washington - and the insulted women boycotted her White House receptions. Louisa Adams, 1775-1852 John Quincy Adams’ wife was the only first lady born in a foreign country—England. She played the harp, wrote satirical plays and raised silkworms. Rachel Jackson, 1767-1828 Andrew Jackson’s wife was a bigamist, having married Jackson before she was divorced from her first husband. She died after Jackson was elected president but before his inauguration. Her niece Emily Donelson served as White House hostess during most of the Jackson administration. Hannah Van Buren, 1783-1819 Martin Van Buren’s wife—his second cousin—died 18 year before her husband was elected president.

Their daughter-in-law Angelica Van Buren served as White House hostess during the last two year of the Van Buren administration. Anna Harrison, 1775-1864 William Henry Harrison’s wife is the only spouse of a president and grandmother of another. She never lived in the White House because her husband died a month after his inauguration. Their daughter-in-law Jane Harrison served as White House hostess for the shortest time—30 days. Letitia Tyler, 1790-1842 John Tyler’s first wife was a stroke victim and the first president’s wife to die in the White House. Their daughter Letty Tyler Semple and daughter-in-law Priscilla Cooper Tyler served as White House hostesses until Tyler eloped with his second wife, Julia (1820-1889), who became the first photographed first lady. Sarah Polk, 1803-1891 James Polk’s wife worked as the president's secretary without taking a salary, and forbid dancing and card playing the White House.

Margaret “Peggy” Taylor, 1788-1852 Zachary Taylor’s wife learned to shoot a gun when she lived with her husband on the Western frontier. When she lived in the White House, she refused to serve as hostess, giving that role to their daughter Betty Taylor Bliss. Abigail Fillmore, 1798-1853 Millard Fillmore’s wife was the first presidential spouse to work and earn a salary before marriage—as a schoolteacher. She died three weeks after leaving the White House, and her husband later married Caroline Fillmore, a widower who was wealthier than he was. Jane Pierce, 1806-1863 Franklin Pierce’s wife discouraged her husband’s interest in politics. Two months before his inauguration, Mrs. Pierce was overtaken with grief and depression when she witnessed the gruesome death of their only living son in a train accident. She never completely recovered from the trauma. Harriet Lane, 1830-1903 James Buchanan’s niece was the White House hostess for the only president to remain a bachelor.

An avid art collector, Lane upon her death bequeathed her collection to the Smithsonian Institution, which today includes the National Gallery of Art. Mary Lincoln, 1818-1882 Abraham Lincoln’s wife was the first to hold séances in the White House, to be attacked in the press for lavish purchases during wartime and to fight for the abolition of slavery. Eliza Johnson, 1810-1876 Andrew Johnson’s wife taught her husband how to spell and pronounce words properly, but tuberculosis prevented her from being hostess, a role assumed by their daughter Martha Patterson, who milked cows at the White House every morning. Julia Grant, 1826-1902 Ulysses S. Grant’s wife was cross-eyed, and owned slaves during the Civil War while her husband served as general of the Union Army. Lucy Hayes, 1831-1889 Rutherford B. Hayes’ wife was the first to ban all alcoholic beverages from the White House. She also hosted the first Easter Egg Roll on the White House lawn. Lucretia Garfield, 1832-1918 James A.

Garfield’s wife began efforts to conduct historical research on the White House rooms and served as her husband’s primary caretaker for two months after an assassin shot him. Ellen Arthur, 1837-1880 Chester A. Arthur’s wife was a contralto singer who developed pneumonia after a concert and died 20 months before her husband took office. Arthur’s sister Mary Arthur McElroy served as White House hostess and later joined the anti-suffrage movement. Frances Cleveland, 1864-1947 Grover Cleveland’s wife was the youngest first lady—age 21—and the only bride of a president to marry—and give birth—in the White House. Before their marriage, Cleveland’s sister Rose Elizabeth Cleveland served as House hostess of the bachelor president. Caroline Harrison, 1832-1892 Benjamin Harrison’s wife was the first to use electricity and have a Christmas tree in the White House. She was the second first lady to die in the White House. After her death, her husband married her social secretary and niece Mary Dimmock Harrison.

Ida McKinley, 1847-1907 William McKinley’s wife was the only first lady to work as a bank teller and manager, and successfully urged her husband to retain the Philippines after the Spanish-American War. Alice Roosevelt, 1861-1884 Theodore Roosevelt’s first wife died in 1884, 17 years before he was elected president. A year later, he remarried and Edith Roosevelt joined her husband in the White House upon the assassination of President McKinley. Helen “Nellie” Taft, 1861-1943 William Howard Taft’s wife was the first first lady to own and drive a car, to ride in her husband’s inaugural parade, to support women's suffrage, to publish her memoirs, to smoke cigarettes, and successfully lobby for safety standards in federal workplaces. Ellen Wilson, 1860-1914 Woodrow Wilson’s first wife was the only professional artist to become first lady. After her death in the White House, her husband married Edith Wilson, a direct descendant of American Indian princess Pocahontas.

Florence Harding, 1860-1924 Warren G. Harding’s wife was first first lady to vote, fly in an airplane, operate a movie camera, own a radio, and invite movie stars to White House. She also was accused of poisoning her husband, who died during his third year in office. Grace Coolidge, 1879-1957 Calvin Coolidge’s wife worked as a teacher of deaf students, and became the first first lady to speak in sound newsreels. Lou Hoover, 1874-1944 Herbert Hoover’s wife was the first woman to graduate from Stanford University with a geology degree. She also spoke Chinese fluently. Eleanor Roosevelt, 1884-1962 Franklin D. Roosevelt’s wife was the first first lady to hold regular press conferences, write a daily newspaper column and a monthly magazine column, and host a weekly radio show. Bess Truman, 1885-1982 Harry S. Truman’s wife worked as her husband's salaried Senate aide and never gave an interview as first lady.

Mamie Eisenhower, 1896-1979 Dwight D. Eisenhower’s wife appeared in television commercials when her husband ran for president, and enjoyed watching TV soap operas in the White House. Jacqueline Kennedy, 1929-1994 John F. Kennedy’s wife was the first first lady to hire a press secretary and a White House curator. She also won an Emmy Award for her television tour of the White House. Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson, 1912-2007 Nicknamed Lady Bird as a child, Lyndon B. Johnson’s wife conducted her own campaign for her husband's election and lobbied for environmental protection. Pat Nixon, 1912-1993 Richard Nixon’s wife created White House tours for the blind and deaf, and was the first first lady to wear pants in public. Betty Ford, 1918- Gerald Ford’s wife once worked as a professional dancer with the Martha Graham Company. She also founded an alcohol and drug treatment center in California that bears her name.

Rosalynn Carter, 1927- Jimmy Carter’s wife was the first to have a VCR in the White House, and to keep her own office in the East Wing. Nancy Reagan, 1921- Ronald Reagan’s wife worked as a professional actress, appearing in movies and in a music video—an anti-drug abuse message. Barbara Bush, 1925- George H.W. Bush’s wife is the second first lady to be both the wife and mother of a president, and the only one to write a memoir from her dog's perspective. Hillary Clinton, 1947- Bill Clinton’s wife hosted the first White House webcast, and is the only first lady elected to public office—the U.S. Senate, and to seek the presidency. Laura Bush, 1946- George W. Bush’s wife is the only first lady to give birth to twins, to work as a librarian and to substitute for a president in his weekly radio address. Presidents & Their Pet Parrots - Pet Birds by Lafeber Co.

Presidents & Their Pet Parrots 14th February 2013 by Laura Doering Learn more about Laura Can you imagine a parrot perched in the White House? It’s probably happened at some point during our country’s history; after all, some of our past presidents had parrot companions during their presidencies. There have been no presidential parrots in recent years, but there certainly were some in our recent past. Here is a list of presidents who really did have parrots during their White House days. Our nation’s first president, George Washington (1789-1797) was more of a dog lover, but First Lady Martha Washington appears to have been the parrot person in the family. According to GeorgeWashingtonWired.org, Martha had a green parrot named Snipe. (Some historical accounts reference a parrot named Polly.) Also mentioned in historical accounts is that up until the days before Martha Washington’s death, there was a cockatoo residing in the back piazza of Mount Vernon, which her tending physician later described as being quite fond of her.

(Interesting fact: President Washington is the only president never to have resided in the White House.) Another president whose wife had a fondness for the feathered kind is our fourth president, James Madison (1809-1817). According to Dolley Madison was known to enter a reception room with her parrot on her shoulder as a way to interact with shy guests who were invited to the White House. The green parrot apparently outlived both James And Dolley Madison. The next time you pull out a twenty dollar bill, perhaps a potty-mouthed parrot might come to mind. That’s because our seventh president, Andrew Jackson (1829-1837), apparently had a habit of swearing, and, thus, so did his parrot, Poll (also referenced as Pol). Poll was said to be an African grey parrot (surprise, surprise!) and was originally bought as a gift for his wife, Rachel, but President Jackson became the parrot’s caretaker after her death. Out of all the presidents, Jackson’s parrot stands out for his reported behavior at the ex-president’s funeral in 1845. Poll was brought to the funeral because he was a close companion of Jackson.

Unfortunately, the bird had to removed from the funeral service because he started swearing and yelling profanities … which he likely learned from the Jackson himself. Here’s a quote from Rev. William Menefee Norment, who attended the funeral: “Before the sermon and while the crowd was gathering, a wicked parrot that was a household pet, got excited and commenced swearing so loud and long as to disturb the people and had to be carried from the house.” Other presidents who owned parrots include our 18th president, Ulysses S. Grant (1869-1877), described in historical references simply as owning a parrot among other pets, and our 25th president William Mckinley (1897-1901). McKinley’s parrot is said to have been a yellow-headed Mexican parrot (Amazon parrot) named Washington Post that could whistle “Yankee Doodle.” Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909), our 26th president, had a menagerie of pets, including a hyacinth macaw named Eli Yale. Fortunately, there’s a photo of his son Theodore Roosevelt Jr.

with Eli in the White House conservatory, 18 December 1902. It’s said that Roosevelt was somewhat intimidated by the parrot’s beak. There is also a photo of his oldest daughter photographed with an Amazon parrot , although, interestingly, the bird is simply referred to as a parrot. John F. Kennedy (1961-1963), our 35th president, also had an assortment of pets, including a canary named Robin and a pair of parakeets named Bluebell and Marybelle, which would have been a good fit for the Kennedy’s young children. His successor, Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969), our 36th president, was the last president on record as sharing his White House days with parrots. He apparently had lovebirds. Canary Connections A number of our past presidents were keen on canaries. Zachory Taylor, our 12th president (1849-1850), had a short-lived canary that they called Johnny Ty, who is said to have died shortly after they tried to pair him with a mate only to discover it, too, was a male.

(Male canaries can become quite hostile to one another, especially during breeding season, which is why they shouldn’t be housed together.) Rutherford Hayes, our 19th president (1877-1881), had four canaries. Grover Cleveland, our 22nd president (1885-1889) and also our 24th president (1893-1897), was also a canary owner. Warren Harding, our 29th president (1921-1923), had a relatively short term in office, but at least he had his canary named Bob to keep him company. Calvin Coolidge, our 30th president, showed his sense of humor when he named his canary pair Nip and Tuck, and he aptly named his white canary Snowflake. Dog’s seem to rule the White House as of lately (President Barak Obama shares the White House with Bo, the Portuguese water dog), which begs the question … would you be more inclined to vote for a presidential candidate if you knew he (or she) had a pet parrot?

About Laura Doering Laura Doering is the former editor of Bird Talk magazine and its sister publication, Birds USA magazine. She has covered just about every topic related to pet birds during her 13-year tenure at Bird Talk. Lyndon B. Johnson Biography: 36th U.S. President Timeline & Life List of All the Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson, or LBJ as he was popularly known, was born on August 27, 1908. He became President of the United States of America, the 36th, from 1963 to 1969. He became President after serving as Vice President of the country from 1961 to 1963. He was born in Stonewall, Texas to Rebekah Baines and Samuel Ealy Johnson, Jr. He was the first born of 5 children, 3 girls and 2 boys. His father was a member of the Texas House of Representatives and a businessman while his mother was the daughter of Joseph Baines, a state legislator. The Johnson’s were of English and Scots-Irish ancestry.

Not far from Stonewall is Johnson City, a small town which was named after James Polk Johnson who was a cousin of Samuel Johnson, Jr. The ancestors of LBJ settled in Texas from Georgia. Lyndon B. Johnson finished high school at Johnson City High School in 1924 and was participant to baseball, debate, and public speaking activities. As a growing youth, he was talkative and awkward. He became class president in 11th grade. He worked his way through college in 1926 at Southwest Texas State Teachers’ College, where he dabbled in campus politics, debate, and editing The College Star, the school newspaper. He dropped out in 1927 but returned a year later and finally graduating in 1930. He taught Mexican kids in Cotulla, Texas at Welhausen School in 1927. He also taught at Pearsall High School in 1930 in Pearsall, Texas. He also taught public speaking at Sam Houston High School in Houston, Texas. After briefly teaching in Houston, Johnson entered politics. Lyndon B. Johnson’s Early Political Career Lyndon B. Johnson was employed as legislative secretary under Congressman Richard M.

Kleberg after campaigning for Welly Hopkins, a senator from Texas, in 1930. Congressman Sam Rayburn was a close friend of Johnson’s father, Samuel. During his stint in Congress, he became friends with media people, lobbyists, Congressmen, aides of then President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and fellow Texans like Vice President John Garner. He went to Georgetown University Law Center for a few months then became husband to Claudia Alta Taylor on November 17, 1934. They were gifted with two daughters, Lynda Bird and Lucy Baines. He was appointed leader of the TNYA (Texas National Youth Administration) in 1935 but resigned two years later to run for a Congressional seat. His stint at the TNYA gave him the opportunity to utilize the government resources in creating education & job opportunities for the youth. In a special election in 1937, Lyndon B. Johnson won a seat and represented the 10th congressional district of Texas in Congress. He was congressman of Texas from April 10, 1937 up to January 3, 1949.

In Congress, he allied himself with President Franklin Roosevelt and was appointed to the Naval Affairs Committee. His projects included improvements and rural electrification for his district. He awarded his projects to contractors whom he knew like Herman and George Brown and who later helped finance his political career. In a special election in 1941, he ran opposite W. Lee O’Daniel for a seat at the US Senate which was won by O’Daniel. During World War II, Lyndon B. Johnson was commissioned to the Naval Reserve. In the spring of 1942, he was part of the three-man team appointed by Roosevelt to check the conditions at Southwest Pacific. In 1948, he again ran for the Senate but this time he won. As a freshman Senator, he befriended a lot of powerful and older people, including Senator Richard Russell, the most powerful Senator at that time. He was assigned to the Senate Armed Services Committee and in 1950 he helped form the Preparedness Investigating Subcommittee. He brilliantly handled the press and with his efficient issuance of committee reports which he ensured that each report is unanimously endorsed by the committee members, he was able to hug the headlines and brought him national attention.

He served as Senate Majority Whip from 1951 to 1953 under Majority Leader, Senator Ernest McFarland from Arizona. In 1952, Lyndon B. Johnson won as Senator again and became Senate Minority Leader. He worked to eliminate the seniority system of membership appointments to committees, although it was retained in terms of chairmanships. After being re-elected to the Senate in 1954, he became Majority Leader. He worked with Rayburn and President Eisenhower in passing the domestic and foreign agenda of Eisenhower. Lyndon B. Johnson as Vice President On November 5, 1960, he ran and won as Vice President to President John F. Kennedy and as Senator. He had Texas law changed so he can run both as Vice President and Senator. On January 3, 1961, as required by federal law, he resigned as Senator. The “Lyndon Law” was used by other people a number of times. In 1988, Lloyd Bentsen retained his Senate seat after Michael Dukakis lost to George H.W. Bush. Lloyd Bentsen ran as Dukakis’s Vice President.

In 2000, Joe Lieberman also retained his Senate seat when his running partner, Al Gore, lost to George W. Bush for President. Joseph Biden, in 2008, also won the Vice Presidency and Senatorial elections but gave up the Senate seat in favor of the Vice Presidency. Lyndon B. Johnson as Vice President When President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as President aboard Air Force One by Federal Judge Sarah T. Hughes at Love Field Airport in Dallas, Texas. In the 1964 Presidential Election, he won the Presidency and vowed to continue the programs and plans of John F. Kennedy. In the early 1960s, West Germany and France imposed tariffs on the imports of US chicken to which President Johnson responded by imposing 25% tax on the imports of dextrin, potato starch, light trucks and brandy. These items were imported from Europe and approximated the value lost from the chicken sales to Europe.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 The Civil Rights Act of 1964, a law which made racial segregation illegal was supported and signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. In 1965, he also supported and signed into law the Voting Rights Act which allowed colored Americans to vote for the first time. He was also the first president since Ulysses S. Grant to arrest and prosecute the Ku Klux Klan members. Although he was bent on instituting his anti-discrimination and anti-poverty programs, his presidency was hounded by urban riots in black neighborhoods from 1964 to 1971. Changes to U.S. Immigration Policies Also in 1965, the US immigration policy was changed through the passing and signing of the Immigration Act of 1965 which replaced the national origins system that has been in effect since the 1920s and replaced it with a preference system which was based on the immigrants’ skills and family relationships with US residents or citizens. Other Administration Achievements and Policy Changes In January 1965, Lyndon B. Johnson pushed the Great society program to Congress.

He recommended passing of laws that would help education, Medicare, urban renewal, conservation, wide-scale fight against poverty, removal of hindrances to the right to vote, attack on disease, Medicaid, beautification, development of depressed regions, and control and prevention of crime, to which Congress responded by reenacting most of them into laws. He also signed into law the Gun Control Act of 1968 which was the most far reaching and largest gun control federal laws in the history of the United States of America. He was also credited for signing into law the Medicare program which was established on July 30, 1965. It was also during the Johnson Administration that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration conducted the Gemini manned space program and the Apollo program. Involvement The Vietnam War Lyndon B. Johnson’s credibility was challenged starting in 1966 when what he was saying in press conferences ran contrary to what was really happening on the ground during the Vietnam War. The number of American soldiers was increased in Vietnam.

By 1968, it was more than 550,000 with the rate of death at over 1,000 US soldiers a month from 1967 to 1968. Because of this, he had lost his popularity among Americans. On March 31, 1968, he announced to the whole world that he would not run for re-election. He retired to his ranch in Stonewall, Texas after leaving the White House in January 1969. He wrote his memoirs, The Vantage Point, in 1971. He died of a massive heart attack at the age of 64 on January 22, 1973 at his ranch. He died while talking to Walter Cronkite of CBS. The CBS Evening News was live on the air when Walter Cronkite abruptly cut a report on Vietnam to talk to Johnson to break the news. Cronkite was informed by Johnson’s press secretary Tom Johnson that the former president had just died. Lyndon B. Johnson was interred in the family cemetery in Stonewall, Texas, and a few yards from the home where he was born.

In his honor, Texas celebrates August 27, his birthday, as a legal holiday. In Houston, Texas, the Manned Spacecraft Center was renamed to Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. In Dallas, the Interstate 635 was named Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway. One response to “Lyndon B. Johnson” First Ladies' Trivia Which first lady was a British subject and the daughter of a British army officer? Elizabeth Korthright Monroe’s father served with the British Army during the American Revolution. Lawrence Korthright was a captain in the army who remained loyal to the King. He was a wealthy Tory merchant who saw most of his fortune confiscated during the Revolution. Which first lady interviewed her future husband for a newspaper before he became president? Jacqueline Bouvier was an inquiring “camera girl” for the Washington Times Herald shortly after her graduation from George Washington University in 1951. That year she interviewed Congressman John F. Kennedy. She married Kennedy in 1953 in Newport, Rhode Island. Which first ladies were divorcees when they married their husbands?

Florence “Flossie” King DeWolfe, a divorcee with one son, married Warren Harding, five years her junior in 1891. Elizabeth Ann Bloomer divorced her fist husband, William Warren, in 1947; she married Gerald Ford a year later. Which first lady was the first first lady to earn a graduate degree? Pat Nixon was the first United States First Lady to earn a graduate degree. Following four years of study at the University of Southern California she graduated and became a teacher. She continued to teach for the first year of her marriage. Which first lady was once national president of the Girl Scouts? Lou Hoover, a graduate of Stanford, served as president of the Girl Scouts while her husband was secretary of commerce under Harding and Coolidge. More First Ladies' Trivia Did you know... ...that Dolley Madison’s cousin was Angelica Singleton Van Buren? (Angelica’s mother was a Coles as was Dolley’s mother, so they were first cousins.) …that in her youth Jane Pierce was considered such a good pianist that she was encouraged to consider a musical career? …that Lucy Hayes thought herself “too light” to be married to Rutherford B. Hayes?

By “light” she meant her mind being too lightweight. …that Sarah Polk disagreed with her husband about banks? She encouraged him to put their money in the bank - he preferred carrying it with them in their luggage. …that Florence Harding supported herself, after being abandoned by her husband, giving piano lessons for $ .50 an hour? One of her students was Warren G. Harding’s sister, Charity. ...that Abigail Fillmore, a former schoolteacher, obtained congressional funds in 1850 for the first official library in the Executive Mansion? ...that Grace Coolidge was a former teacher of children with hearing impairments at the Clarke School for the Deaf, and became one of the school's trustees after her tenure in the White House? Little-known facts about our First Ladies... Martha Washington, 1731-1802 George Washington’s wife was the first to be given the title “lady” by the press, as in “Lady Washington,” and the first wife of a president to appear on U.S. postage stamp.

Abigail Adams, 1744-1818 John Adams’ wife urged her husband to “remember the ladies” when he was writing the nation’s Declaration of Independence in 1776. She also was the first woman to be both a president’s wife and the mother of a president, and the first to live in the White House. Martha Jefferson, 1748-1782 No known portrait exists of Thomas Jefferson’s wife, who died 18 years before her husband was elected president. Their daughter Martha Jefferson Randolph served as White House hostess, and was the first to give birth in the presidential mansion in Washington, D.C. Dolley Madison, 1768-1849 James Madison’s wife is the only first lady given an honorary seat on the floor of Congress, and was the first American to respond to telegraph message—sent by inventor Samuel Morse. Elizabeth Monroe, 1768-1830 James Monroe's wife ended the custom of a president's wife making the first social call on the wives of other officials in Washington - and the insulted women boycotted her White House receptions.

Louisa Adams, 1775-1852 John Quincy Adams’ wife was the only first lady born in a foreign country—England. She played the harp, wrote satirical plays and raised silkworms. Rachel Jackson, 1767-1828 Andrew Jackson’s wife was a bigamist, having married Jackson before she was divorced from her first husband. She died after Jackson was elected president but before his inauguration. Her niece Emily Donelson served as White House hostess during most of the Jackson administration. Hannah Van Buren, 1783-1819 Martin Van Buren’s wife—his second cousin—died 18 year before her husband was elected president. Their daughter-in-law Angelica Van Buren served as White House hostess during the last two years of the Van Buren administration. Anna Harrison, 1775-1864 William Henry Harrison’s wife is the only spouse of a president and grandmother of another. She never lived in the White House because her husband died a month after his inauguration. Their daughter-in-law Jane Harrison served as White House hostess for the shortest time—30 days.

Letitia Tyler, 1790-1842 John Tyler’s first wife was a stroke victim and the first president’s wife to die in the White House. Their daughter Letty Tyler Semple and daughter-in-law Priscilla Cooper Tyler served as White House hostesses until Tyler eloped with his second wife, Julia (1820-1889), who became the first photographed first lady. Sarah Polk, 1803-1891 James Polk’s wife worked as the president's secretary without taking a salary, and forbid dancing and card playing the White House. Margaret “Peggy” Taylor, 1788-1852 Zachary Taylor’s wife learned to shoot a gun when she lived with her husband on the Western frontier. When she lived in the White House, she refused to serve as hostess, giving that role to their daughter Betty Taylor Bliss. Abigail Fillmore, 1798-1853 Millard Fillmore’s wife was the first presidential spouse to work and earn a salary before marriage—as a schoolteacher.

She died three weeks after leaving the White House, and her husband later married Caroline Fillmore, a widower who was wealthier than he was. Jane Pierce, 1806-1863 Franklin Pierce’s wife discouraged her husband’s interest in politics. Two months before his inauguration, Mrs. Pierce was overtaken with grief and depression when she witnessed the gruesome death of their only living son in a train accident. She never completely recovered from the trauma. Harriet Lane, 1830-1903 James Buchanan’s niece was the White House hostess for the only president to remain a bachelor. An avid art collector, Lane upon her death bequeathed her collection to the Smithsonian Institution, which today includes the National Gallery of Art. Mary Lincoln, 1818-1882 Abraham Lincoln’s wife was the first to hold séances in the White House, to be attacked in the press for lavish purchases during wartime and to fight for the abolition of slavery.

Eliza Johnson, 1810-1876 Andrew Johnson’s wife taught her husband how to spell and pronounce words properly, but tuberculosis prevented her from being hostess, a role assumed by their daughter Martha Patterson, who milked cows at the White House every morning. Julia Grant, 1826-1902 Ulysses S. Grant’s wife was cross-eyed, and owned slaves during the Civil War while her husband served as general of the Union Army. Lucy Hayes, 1831-1889 Rutherford B. Hayes’ wife was the first to ban all alcoholic beverages from the White House. She also hosted the first Easter Egg Roll on the White House lawn. Lucretia Garfield, 1832-1918 James A. Garfield’s wife began efforts to conduct historical research on the White House rooms and served as her husband’s primary caretaker for two months after an assassin shot him. Ellen Arthur, 1837-1880 Chester A. Arthur’s wife was a contralto singer who developed pneumonia after a concert and died 20 months before her husband took office.

Arthur’s sister Mary Arthur McElroy served as White House hostess and later joined the anti-suffrage movement. Frances Cleveland, 1864-1947 Grover Cleveland’s wife was the youngest first lady—age 21—and the only bride of a president to marry—and give birth—in the White House. Before their marriage, Cleveland’s sister Rose Elizabeth Cleveland served as House hostess of the bachelor president. Caroline Harrison, 1832-1892 Benjamin Harrison’s wife was the first to use electricity and have a Christmas tree in the White House. She was the second first lady to die in the White House. After her death, her husband married her social secretary and niece Mary Dimmock Harrison. Ida McKinley, 1847-1907 William McKinley’s wife was the only first lady to work as a bank teller and manager, and successfully urged her husband to retain the Philippines after the Spanish-American War. Alice Roosevelt, 1861-1884 Theodore Roosevelt’s first wife died in 1884, 17 years before he was elected president.

A year later, he remarried and Edith Roosevelt joined her husband in the White House upon the assassination of President McKinley. Helen “Nellie” Taft, 1861-1943 William Howard Taft’s wife was the first first lady to own and drive a car, to ride in her husband’s inaugural parade, to support women's suffrage, to publish her memoirs, to smoke cigarettes, and successfully lobby for safety standards in federal workplaces. Ellen Wilson, 1860-1914 Woodrow Wilson’s first wife was the only professional artist to become first lady. After her death in the White House, her husband married Edith Wilson, a direct descendant of American Indian princess Pocahontas. Florence Harding, 1860-1924 Warren G. Harding’s wife was first first lady to vote, fly in an airplane, operate a movie camera, own a radio, and invite movie stars to White House. She also was accused of poisoning her husband, who died during his third year in office.

Grace Coolidge, 1879-1957 Calvin Coolidge’s wife worked as a teacher of deaf students, and became the first first lady to speak in sound newsreels. Lou Hoover, 1874-1944 Herbert Hoover’s wife was the first woman to graduate from Stanford University with a geology degree. She also spoke Chinese fluently. Eleanor Roosevelt, 1884-1962 Franklin D. Roosevelt’s wife was the first first lady to hold regular press conferences, write a daily newspaper column and a monthly magazine column, and host a weekly radio show. Bess Truman, 1885-1982 Harry S. Truman’s wife worked as her husband's salaried Senate aide and never gave an interview as first lady. Mamie Eisenhower, 1896-1979 Dwight D. Eisenhower’s wife appeared in television commercials when her husband ran for president, and enjoyed watching TV soap operas in the White House. Jacqueline Kennedy, 1929-1994 John F. Kennedy’s wife was the first first lady to hire a press secretary and a White House curator.

She also won an Emmy Award for her television tour of the White House. Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson, 1912-2007 Nicknamed Lady Bird as a child, Lyndon B. Johnson’s wife conducted her own campaign for her husband's election and lobbied for environmental protection. Pat Nixon, 1912-1993 Richard Nixon’s wife created White House tours for the blind and deaf, and was the first first lady to wear pants in public. Betty Ford, 1918-2011 Gerald Ford’s wife once worked as a professional dancer with the Martha Graham Company. She also founded an alcohol and drug treatment center in California that bears her name. Rosalynn Carter, 1927- Jimmy Carter’s wife was the first to have a VCR in the White House, and to keep her own office in the East Wing. Nancy Reagan, 1921- Ronald Reagan’s wife worked as a professional actress, appearing in movies and in a music video—an anti-drug abuse message. Barbara Bush, 1925- George H.W.

Bush’s wife is the second first lady to be both the wife and mother of a president, and the only one to write a memoir from her dog's perspective. Hillary Clinton, 1947- Bill Clinton’s wife hosted the first White House webcast, and is the only first lady elected to public office—the U.S. Senate, and to seek the presidency. Laura Bush, 1946- George W. Bush’s wife is the only first lady to give birth to twins, to work as a librarian and to substitute for a president in his weekly radio address. Lady Bird Johnson Biography (U.S. First Lady) Best known as: Wife of President Lyndon Johnson Name at birth: Claudia Alta Taylor Claudia Taylor was nicknamed "Lady Bird" as a small child, and she became Lady Bird Johnson when she married Lyndon Johnson in November of 1934. LBJ became a U.S. senator from Texas and then vice-president under John F. Kennedy ; when Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, Lady Bird replaced Jackie Kennedy as the country's First Lady. After LBJ left office in 1969, the Johnsons retired to Texas.

After her husband's death in 1973, Lady Bird Johnson became known for her support of the preservation and promotion of wildflowers in America. She published a memoir, White House Diary, in 1970. Extra credit: First Lady Johnson’s nickname is said to come from the Taylor family nanny, who proclaimed the infant Claudia “pretty as a ladybird” (some people call them ladybugs)… The Johnsons had two children: Lynda Bird (b. 1944) and Luci Baines (b. 1947); Lynda married Charles Robb, who became a U.S. senator from Virginia. Copyright © 1998-2017 by Who2?, LLC. All rights reserved.

Question: Which US President's wife was known as Bird
Answer: Lyndon B Johnson