Dear Friends,

As I mentioned in a letter to all Friends late last year, one of my priorities is and has been our programming-- bringing the biggest names and best minds to the LBJ Library. As we round out the first half of the year, I can say with some assurance that we're well on our way to achieving that goal.

We started the year with a fascinating look at presidential photography from four chief White House photographers; heard from the current British Ambassador to the U.S., Nigel Sheinwald, and former Secretary of State, James Baker, on the state of the world; had authors Mark Halperin and John Heilemann discuss their bestseller Game Change; delved into executive power and strategic intelligence in April; celebrated the opening of our new exhibit on Walter Cronkite with CBS newsman Bob Schieffer (who plugged the LBJ Library on Face the Nation); and finally, saluted the accomplishments of African American servicemen and women throughout U.S. history just last week.

We already have a full slate of dynamic programming in the works for the fall. In September we've scheduled a program with Rory Kennedy, the youngest daughter of Robert F. Kennedy, who will share her HBO documentary, The Fence, and an evening with veteran 60 Minutes reporters Morley Safer and Lesley Stahl.

I hope you agree that we're on the right track. If so, please help spread the word about our Friends group by inviting your family, friends, and neighbors to become involved. You are the lifeblood of the LBJ Library; the more people we have involved in our group, the better for the institution. If you think we can improve in certain areas, I'd like to hear that too.

Thanks, as always, for your support.

All the best,

Mark K. Updegrove
Director