Friends of LBJ Events

LBJ Library Memorable Moments

Feb 22, 2012

In honor of the LBJ Library’s 40th anniversary, former Director Harry Middleton shared his most memorable moments in the history of the library. In a conversation with the current director, Mark Updegrove, Harry reflected on his years with the President and his experience at the LBJ Presidential Library. read more

An Evening With David and Julie Eisenhower

Jan 26, 2012

Friends of the LBJ Library had the rare opportunity to hear from David and Julie Eisenhower in a program on January 26, 2012. The daughter of Richard Nixon and grandson of Dwight D. Eisenhower shared fascinating memories of life in the White House and post-presidential years. While they didn’t endorse… read more

An Evening With Eric Holder

Dec 13, 2011

At a well attended event, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder pledged to use the Voting Rights Act against any attacks to deny Americans access to the ballot box. Holder spoke at the LBJ Library in Austin on “Protecting our Democracy, Protecting the Right to Vote” and called… read more

The Tom Johnson Lectureship presents: Bill Moyers

Nov 16, 2011

In a thought-provoking speech, acclaimed broadcaster Bill Moyers delivered the first Tom Johnson Lecture at the LBJ Library. Although Moyers decried the inherent conflicts in the current political system that maintain the divide between the wealthy and what he calls 'the common run of mankind,' Moyers built a compelling case… read more

The Harry Middleton Lecture Series presents: Mikhail Gorbachev

Oct 18, 2011

Mikhail Gorbachev, former President of the Soviet Union, Nobel Peace Prize recipient, and the man credited with ending the cold war, spoke with Library Director Mark Updegrove in the LBJ Auditorium. Gorbachev discussed his efforts at reform, his relationships with U.S. Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush,… read more

An Evening With Bill Keller

Oct 06, 2011

In a conversation with Evan Smith, CEO and editor-in-chief of The Texas Tribune, Bill Keller of The New York Times took us inside the esteemed newspaper. Keller and Smith had a lively conversation about journalism in an era of nonstop news, the new definition of competition, the possibilities… read more

An Evening With Joe Klein

Sep 14, 2011

 TIME magazine contributor Joe Klein led a discussion with three veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars at the LBJ Library. Two of the veterans, Tommy Sowers and Seth Moulton, are profiled in a TIME cover story written by Klein titled "The New Greatest Generation." The veterans talked about… read more

An Evening With Margaret Hoover

Sep 01, 2011

Margaret Hoover, great-granddaughter of President Herbert Hoover, spoke to Friends of the LBJ Library about her new book, American Individualism: How a New Generation of Conservatives Can Save the Republican Party. Ms. Hoover has fascinating insights into the younger generation of American voters. read more

An Evening With Sam Gwynne

Mar 24, 2011

New York Times best selling author Sam Gwynne talked about his book Empire of the Summer Moon with fellow author Stephen Harrigan. Gwynne detailed the fascinating story of the rise and fall of the Comanche Indian nation and the story of pioneer woman Cynthia Anne Parker and her… read more

An Evening With Sam Tanenhaus

Oct 20, 2010

Sam Tanenhaus, editor of the New York TImes Book Review, revealed the process of how books are selected for review in a program at the LBJ Library.. This program featured a conversation between Tanenhaus and Dr. David Oshinsky, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and professor at The University of Texas at Austin.… read more

An Evening With Morley Safer and Lesley Stahl

Sep 16, 2010

Morley Safer and Lesley Stahl, 60 Minutes correspondents, entertained the audience at the LBJ Library with stories about working with CBS newsman Walter Cronkite, their journalism careers, and their experiences at 60 Minutes. This program was in celebration of the Library’s current exhibit, CRONKITE: Eyewitness to a Century, co-sponsored by… read more

A Screening and Discussion of “The Fence” with Rory Kennedy

Sep 09, 2010

On September 9th, the LBJ Library hosted the Texas premiere of the HBO documentary The Fence (la barda.) In partnership with HBO Documentary Films, the Austin Film Festival, and the Texas Observer, the evening featured a screening of the documentary followed by a discussion with Rory Kennedy (Director,… read more

An Evening With Jack Goldsmith

Apr 08, 2010

Jack Goldsmith is Henry L. Shattuck Professor of Law at Harvard University, where he specializes in national security law, international law, and presidential power. He is the author of five books and dozens of articles on these and other subjects. His most recent book, The Terror Presidency, recounts… read more

An Evening With Harry Middleton and Mark K. Updegrove

Dec 09, 2009

Former LBJ Presidential Library Director Harry Middleton joined Mark Updegrove for a conversation about Updegrove’s plans for the Library and his work as an author and presidential historian. read more

An Evening With Dr. Thomas M. Staley

Nov 17, 2009

Thomas F. Staley is Director of the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center at The University of Texas at Austin, where he is also Professor of English and holds The Harry Huntt Ransom Chair in Liberal Arts. Staley has written and spoken widely in the United States and Europe on literary… read more

An Evening With Captain Eugene Cernan

Sep 14, 2009

Captain Eugene Cernan launched our new season of "Evening With..." programs. As commander of the last mission to the moon, Apollo 17 in 1972, Cernan is the last man to have walked on the moon. Cernan had the unique honor of traveling into space three times: as pilot of Gemini 9, lunar module… read more

An Evening With James Galbraith

May 05, 2009

James K. Galbraith serves as the Lloyd M. Bentsen Chair in Government and Business Relations and Professor of Economics at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin. His distinguished record includes positions on the staff at the U.S. Congress, guest scholar at the… read more

An Evening With Ron White

Feb 25, 2009

Ron White, who has written three books about Abraham Lincoln, gave a presentation based on his newest book, A. Lincoln: A Biography, read more

An Evening With Ambassador Peter Galbraith

Jan 29, 2009

Peter Galbraith and almost four dozen other experts in constitutional design shared their perspectives in a three-day symposium co-sponsored by The University of Texas School of Law, The University of Texas Law Review, and The George M. Fleming Center for Law and Innovation in Biomedicine and Healthcare.  Galbraith gave… read more

An Evening With Brigadier General James U. Cross

Dec 10, 2008

General James Cross shared stories from his recent book Around the World with LBJ: My Wild Ride as Air Force One Pilot, White House Aide, and Personal Confidant.  Cross served as Johnson’s pilot from 1962 until mid-1968. In July 1965, he was appointed as the President&rsquo… read more

Recollections: An Evening With Robert Hardesty and Harry Middleton

Nov 06, 2008

Long-time Johnson friends and aides Harry Middleton and Robert Hardesty shared the presentation Recollections, a video of dozens of interviews with Lyndon Johnson’s friends, family, and former staff. The interviews were filmed to capture a sense of Johnson’s spirit from those who knew him… read more

An Evening With David Grubin

Sep 16, 2008

David Grubin joined us to speak about his award-winning documentary of Lyndon Johnson and its larger-than-life subject. He also showed clips from the film. Grubin’s four-hour biography of Lyndon Johnson was shown locally on PBS on October 20 and 27. LBJ won the duPont Award, among many other prizes, and… read more

An Evening With Cokie Roberts

May 14, 2008

Best-selling author, award-winning news correspondent, and long-time Johnson family friend Cokie Roberts returned to Austin to delight the Friends with stories from her new book, Ladies of Liberty: The Women Who Shaped Our Nation. Cokie Roberts has covered Congress, politics, and public policy for the past fifteen years… read more

An Evening With Philip Bobbitt

Apr 14, 2008

In his new book Philip Bobbitt brings together historical, legal, and strategic analyses to understand the idea of a “war on terror.” Does it make sense? What are its historical antecedents? How would such a war be “won”? What are the appropriate doctrines of constitutional and… read more

An Evening With Dean James Steinberg

Mar 24, 2008

James Steinberg, Dean of the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, explored the history of Presidential transitions from campaigns to governing, dissecting the problems faced by a new administration, and offering solutions to improve the process. read more

An Evening With CC Goldwater

Dec 19, 2007

As the granddaughter of former Senator and presidential candidate Barry Goldwater, CC Goldwater knows the subject of her first film well. Ms. Goldwater has served as a television entertainment correspondent in New York and Los Angeles and has most recently produced Mr. Conservative: Goldwater on Goldwater, a 90-minute… read more

Liz Carpenter: “Hail to the Comic Relief”

Oct 19, 2006

Political reporter, speechwriter and press secretary to Lady Bird Johnson Liz Carpenter shared quips and stories with Friends of the LBJ Library from her book, Presidential Humor: For candidates, speechwriters, and voters, preachers, housewives, janitors, hecklers, and other political types, based on her inside knowledge of the White… read more

An Evening With Mike Griffin

Nov 14, 2005

President Johnson’s challenge to Americans to explore outer space is as applicable today as it was when he wrote The Vantage Point more than 30 years ago. Addressing that challenge is now in the hands of Mike Griffin, who has been leading the National Aeronautics and Space… read more

An Evening with Charles Robb & Jim Langdon

Oct 24, 2005

Senator Robb and Mr. Langdon discussed the findings of, and response to, the report of the Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction that was presented to President George W. Bush in March 2005. Senator Robb was Co-Chairman of the Commission. Jim Langdon is… read more

An Evening with Alexander Butterfield

Oct 05, 2005

Friends of the LBJ Presidential Library had the rare treat of hosting Alexander Butterfield for a candid insider's portrait of a president. In 1969, Colonel Alexander Butterfield had finished his tour of duty in Vietnam, where he had commanded all of the U.S. Air Force's low and medium-level… read more

An Evening with Richard Parker

Sep 19, 2005

The LBJ Library and Museum hosted “An Evening with Richard Parker” in the LBJ Auditorium. Mr. Parker signed his book entitled John Kenneth Galbraith: His Life, His Politics, His Economics. read more

Listening to the LBJ Tapes With Harry Middleton

May 13, 2005

To mark the release of The Presidential Recordings: Lyndon B. Johnson, The Kennedy Assassination & the Transfer of Power ( November 22, 1963 - January 1964),a three-volume set of transcripts compiled by The University of Virginia's Miller Center of Public Affairs, Harry Middleton led a multimedia panel discussion with editors from the… read more

An Evening with John Sacret Young

May 02, 2005

Award-winning writer, director and producer John Sacret Young  was nominated for his 6th Writers Guild Award for this past season's finale of “The West Wing.” He co-created and served as executive producer of the landmark television series “China Beach.” Now Young has published a… read more

An Evening With Nick Kotz

Apr 28, 2005

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nick Kotz read from his fifth book examining American history and public policy, Judgment Days: Lyndon Baines Johnson, Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Laws That Changed America read more

An Evening With General Anthony Zinni

Apr 05, 2005

In A Middle East Assessment: An Evening With General Anthony Zinni, USMC, Zinni spoke about the uses and abuses of the U.S. military. The event was co-sponsored by The University of Texas' Global Challenge Initiative, the Center for Ethical Leadership and the Friends of the LBJ Library. read more

An Evening With Jack Valenti

Jan 25, 2005

As a former political consultant, a one-time special assistant to Lyndon Johnson, and the former CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America, where he advised government on media policy, Jack Valenti has been a consummate political insider for over five decades. Valenti, whom Washingtonian magazine called “the most… read more

An Evening With Max Holland

Nov 01, 2004

In his latest book, The Kennedy Assassination Tapes, Max Holland used archives from the LBJ Library and Museum to present the momentous telephone calls President Johnson made and received as he sought to stabilize the country and keep the government functioning in the wake of November 22, 1963. read more

An Evening With W. Marvin Watson and Sherwin Markman

Oct 07, 2004

Marvin Watson, who became President Johnson's Chief of Staff in 1965, has been described as “the mystery man of the White House.” In Chief of Staff: Lyndon Johnson and His Presidency, written with former Johnson special assistant Sherwin Markman, Watson writes for the first time about… read more

An Evening With Bill Moyers

Aug 27, 2004

During his three decades in broadcasting, Bill Moyers has pursued a broad spectrum of journalism – covering topics ranging from American history, politics, and religion to the role of the media and the world of ideas. Mr. Moyers discussed a similarly broad spectrum of topics included in his latest book, … read more

An Evening With Cokie Roberts

Apr 26, 2004

Cokie Roberts, the well known radio and television commentator, gave a presentation based on her newest book, Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation. read more

An Evening With Joseph Califano

Apr 13, 2004

Joe Califano, one of Washington's ultimate insiders, a former cabinet member and power-lawyer who has spurred many major public initiatives, tells his story of a life spent in the corridors of power in his latest book, Inside: A Public and Private Life. read more

An Evening With Gregory Curtis

Feb 24, 2004

Former Texas Monthly editor Gregory Curtis looked at how the Venus de Milo statue arrived in a dispirited and broken France and brought the country back up. read more

An Evening With Lynda Robb and Luci Johnson

Dec 18, 2003

Lyndon Baines and Lady Bird Johnson's daughters, Lynda Bird Johnson Robb and Luci Baines Johnson, viewed their father's administration from a unique vantage point--inside the White House. The two shared with the Friends of the LBJ Library what life in the White House was really like. read more

President Johnson’s Daughters Speak at LBJ Library

Dec 16, 2003

Lyndon Baines and Lady Bird Johnson's daughters, Lynda Bird Johnson Robb and Luci Baines Johnson, viewed their father's administration from a unique vantage point-inside the White House. read more

An Evening With Nellie Connally

Nov 06, 2003

Nellie Connally, wife of the late governor of Texas John Connally, shared her memories of the Kennedy assassination with the Friends of the LBJ Library in the LBJ Auditorium. read more

An Evening With Charlie Wilson and George Crile

Oct 07, 2003

George Crile, 60 Minutes producer and author, told the unlikely tale of a Texas congressman who uses his political wiles to arm tribes of Afghan holy warriors…which ultimately led to the fall of the Soviet Union in the best-seller Charlie Wilson’s War: The Extraordinary Story of… read more

An Evening With H.W. Brands

Sep 10, 2003

This Friends of the LBJ Library's "Evening With" program featured historian and author H.W. Brands, who looked at how biography, geography, and accident shape history. An author and historian, Dr. Brands signed copies of The First American and The Age of Gold in the lobby of… read more

An Evening With Sidney Blumenthal

Jun 20, 2003

From his first day in the White House until long after his appearance as the only presidential aide ever to testify in an impeachment trial, Sidney Blumenthal acted in or witnessed nearly all the battles of the Clinton years. Mr. Blumenthal, a senior communications advisor to President Bill Clinton and… read more

An Evening with Richard Holbrooke

Apr 08, 2003

Combining his knowledge of the inner workings of the United Nations and his ability to broker a deal that ended the war in Bosnia, former United Nations Ambassador Richard Holbrooke's talk to the Friends of the LBJ Library in April added insight to current world events. During his career… read more

An Evening With Bill Bradley

Mar 19, 2003

From his days as an Olympic Gold medal-winning athlete to nearly two decades in the U.S. Senate and a run at the Presidency in 2000, Bill Bradley has tried to help Americans recognize and face the challenges that lie before us. These challenges were the focus of his address at… read more

An Evening With Charles Robb

Nov 25, 2002

From his days commanding a Marine Corps infantry company in Vietnam to his 12 years in the U.S. Senate, Charles S. Robb has taken the idea of public service to heart. On Monday, November 25, he gabe his thoughts on America's future at the November "Evening With…" lecture. read more

An Evening With Dr. Sergei Khrushchev

Oct 01, 2002

As the son of Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, Dr. Sergei Khrushchev had a unique viewpoint on the Cuban Missile Crisis. Now, an American citizen and a senior research fellow at Brown University's Watson Institute for International Studies, Khrushchev offered that unique perspective during the October "Evening With" lecture. read more

An Evening With Helen Thomas

Sep 12, 2002

Helen Thomas, who has had a front row seat to history during her decades as a White House correspondent, launched the 2002-2003 "Evening With" series hosted by the Friends of the LBJ Library. read more