Recollections: An Evening With Robert Hardesty and Harry Middleton, Thursday, November 6, 2008, 6:00 p.m., Lone Star Room, Frank Erwin Center
Long-time Johnson friends and aides Harry Middleton and Robert Hardesty will join us on November 6 to share Recollections, a presentation 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 best.
Those appearing on the final video compilation include Congressman Jack Brooks, Liz Carpenter, Walter Cronkite, President Gerald Ford, Tom Johnson, Congressman J.J. Pickle, Major General Hugh Robinson, Larry Temple, Helen Thomas, and many other distinguished persons. These reminiscences were shown at the Centennial celebration honoring President Johnson in Washington, D.C., in May 2008. Mr. Hardesty will speak about how the project came about and then share the 40-minute video presentation.
Robert L. Hardesty is a former assistant to President Lyndon B. Johnson and editor of President Johnson’s memoirs, The Vantage Point. He also served as press secretary to Governor Briscoe, Vice Chancellor of The University of Texas System, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service, and President of Southwest Texas State University. He now holds the title of President Emeritus of Texas State University.
Harry Middleton was the Director of the LBJ Library & Museum and Executive Director of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Foundation for thirty years. Prior to holding those positions, he had a distinguished career in journalism as a reporter for the Associated Press, news editor for Architectural Forum, and as a freelance writer and consultant for Reader’s Digest, Sports Illustrated, Collier’s, Cosmopolitan, and LIFE. Middleton served as staff assistant to President Johnson from 1967 to 1969. He also assisted Johnson in the preparation of his memoirs. His published works include PAX, The Compact History of the Korean War, LBJ: The White House Years, and Lady Bird Johnson: A Life Well-Lived.
Please return the postcard enclosed with your invitation or email your RSVP to friends@lbjlib.utexas.edu by Tuesday, October 28 to indicate your attendance. Tickets are required and will be mailed to those who RSVP affirmatively. Guest tickets may be purchased and picked up at the event.
The Frank Erwin Center is located at 1701 Red River, between 15th Street and MLK, Jr. Blvd. Free and handicapped parking will be available in the Erwin Center parking lot located adjacent to the building (reserved lot 108 in the diagram enclosed). The entrance to the parking lot is on Red River, just south of the entrance to the Erwin Center. Please enter the Erwin Center through the entrance on Red River Street. The Lone Star Room is directly inside the front entrance, to the right.