Liz Carpenter’s 100th birthday
Aug 30, 2020
The winning of women’s suffrage took over 70 years and three generations of extraordinary women spearheading one of the most successful political mobilization efforts in U.S. history. It was a scaling-Mt.-Everest-backwards-in-high-heels kind of accomplishment. After all, every one of the “deciders,” state legislators,… read more
Memo to Jason Chaffetz: These are the congressional workers who actually need a stipend
Jul 07, 2017
Former congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) made headlines when he said members of Congress, who receive annual salaries, should receive a monthly $2,500 housing stipend. Now, imagine having to live in the same city as the congressman, but instead of his comfortable six-figure salary, you’re making $0. read more
For art’s sake: When funding the NEA is in jeopardy
Apr 23, 2017
The battlelines are drawn in Washington over whether the federal government should be spending any money at all for art's sake. read more
Roger Wilkins, civil rights champion in government and journalism, dies at 85
Mar 28, 2017
In a career that traversed law, journalism and education, Mr. Wilkins made matters of race and poverty central to his work as an assistant attorney general in the Johnson administration and later as one of the first black editorial board members at The Post and the New York Times. read more
Mike Huckabee: A conservative plea for the National Endowment for the Arts
Mar 22, 2017
Donald Trump wasn't my first choice for president. I was. But he was my second choice, and I'm proud that I supported him. In tackling the federal budget, he faces a debt that has doubled to $20 trillion in the past eight years. No doubt a chainsaw seems more… read more
Why we need the NEA and public arts funding
Mar 15, 2017
Many who would end support of the NEA suggest that the arts can be sustained with private funding. It is people at the low end of the economic ladder who stand to lose the most if the NEA is gone. read more
America’s Case of ‘Tonkin Gulfitis’
Mar 07, 2017
On May 22, 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson received alarming news from the Middle East. read more
Thanks, Lyndon, I’m 64 and knocking on Medicare’s door
Mar 01, 2017
The envelopes started arriving about a month ago. To tell you the truth, I haven't read the contents thoroughly yet, but I'm getting to it. I know what's inside. Having gotten about six months from eligibility for Medicare, it's time to "begin the process," as they… read more
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Goodwin remembers LBJ on anniversary of Glassboro Summit
Feb 22, 2017
When President Lyndon Johnson called for a meeting with Soviet Union Premier Alexei Kosygin to discuss U.S.-Soviet relations in the summer of 1967, he did not expect that the historic meeting would ultimately be held in a New Jersey town called Glassboro. read more
The African-Americans in the White House kitchen
Feb 14, 2017
Adrian Miller gained a rare insider’s view into the workings of the presidency as a special assistant to President Clinton. But it wasn’t until he left Washington that he became fascinated with another aspect of the White House — its kitchen. More specifically, the African-Americans who… read more
Homer Thornberry: Austin’s congressman, judge and Supreme Court nominee
Feb 01, 2017
A grandson writes a biography about the only native Austinite nominated for a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court. read more
LBJ comes to life in this timely yet historical Austin premiere
Jan 26, 2017
The year is 1965. The tragedy and election of 1964 has come to an end, and Lyndon B. Johnson is about to embark on an ambitious agenda that will change the country forever. His "Great Society" legislation, including the war on poverty, voting rights, civil rights, healthcare, and education reforms, is the… read more
Former CNN President Tom Johnson On A Lifetime In Journalism
Jan 24, 2017
We finally persuade Tom Johnson to join us and share stories about his life and career. read more
Harry Middleton, who led LBJ library and released presidential tapes, dies at 95
Jan 24, 2017
Harry Middleton, who led LBJ library and released presidential tapes, dies at 95. read more
The Case for Donald Trump’s Official White House Photographer
Jan 18, 2017
In the next 48 hours, as President Barack Obama prepares to leave the White House, his official photographer, Pete Souza, will document the last moments of his history-making presidency. The photographs Souza will take on Jan. 20 will join the more than two million images he has shot in the last eight… read more
The Real Legacy in Jeopardy Under the New Congress? LBJ’s.
Nov 23, 2016
The GOP has plans to take apart many of Johnson’s Great Society reforms. Will Trump let them succeed? read more
Returning to morning daylight: Why we ‘fall back’ each fall
Oct 31, 2016
It might seem like daylight saving time has been a part of Americans' lives forever, but actually it wasn't uniform until then-president Lyndon Johnson signed a law in 1966 designed to simplify the start and end dates across the country. read more
Briscoe Center’s red-letter history exhibit puts spotlight on Texas
Oct 17, 2016
25 Years/25 Treasures reveals more than 60 items crucial to the region's story. read more
Bryan Cranston’s HBO Recreation of All the Way Arrives on DVD and Blu-Ray Today
Sep 06, 2016
The rest of the world gets to see Bryan Cranston's 2014 Tony Award-winning performance as President Lyndon Baines Johnson on September 6 when the HBO adaptation of Robert Schenkkan's Tony winner for Best Play, All the Way, is released on DVD and Blu-Ray by HBO Home Entertainment. read more
Cowboys and presidents
Sep 06, 2016
In 1979, NFL Films dubbed the Cowboys "America's Team," but the franchise was a focal point for presidents and president wannabes years earlier. It began long before Donald Trump sat in Jerry Jones' suite with his then-wife Marla Maples and before Chris Christie got comically skewered for hugging the owner… read more
Lyndon B. Johnson: Indians are ‘Forgotten Americans’
Sep 06, 2016
Two months after Lyndon Baines Johnson took office as the 36th president of the United States, he pledged to put Indians at the "forefront" of his war on poverty. read more
Podcast: President Lyndon Johnson and power
Sep 04, 2016
In this week's episode of the Washington Post's Presidential podcast, Mark Updegrove examines how LBJ worked his will to get some of the most transformative legislation of the 20th century through Congress. read more
Living in L.B.J.’s America
Aug 27, 2016
How two of his least celebrated accomplishments shaped the battle between Clinton and Trump. read more
LBJ library celebrates late President’s 108th birthday
Aug 27, 2016
People from across the country visited the LBJ Presidential Library, to celebrate former President Lyndon Johnson’s birthday. read more
CSU Professor’s New Book Leads to Research Grant for LBJ Library
Aug 01, 2016
Columbus State University Assistant Professor of English Joe Miller will conduct research in Lyndon B. Johnson’s Presidential Library this August thanks to a $1,560 Moody Research Grant. read more
Making history: On Hillary Clinton, Luci Baines Johnson and Sissy Farenthold
Jul 27, 2016
Last night, Hillary Clinton made history becoming the first woman to be nominated for president of the United States by a major party. read more
Texas Democrats Do a Two-Step Over Voting Rights Victory
Jul 26, 2016
Texas Democrats Do a Two-Step Over Voting Rights Victory. LBJ's daughter adds star power to delegation's event. read more
New play ‘Daisy’ explores the commercial that changed U.S. politics
Jul 05, 2016
“Daisy” aired only once, but its presence is still being felt today in political advertising. A world-premiere production about the ad makes its debut at ACT in Seattle on July 8. read more
HBO’s All the Way premieres in Austin
May 11, 2016
HBO's "All the Way" premiered here in Austin at the LBJ Presidential Library. read more
Obama’s commencement speech at Howard this weekend comes at a crucial moment
May 10, 2016
Lyndon Baines Johnson gave the keynote address at my commencement in June 1961. Anti-civil-rights violence had recently taken place in Montgomery and Birmingham, Ala. read more
Trip to LBJ Presidential Library unearths unexpected family history
May 09, 2016
Michael Barnes going through files on his grandmother, Val M. Keating, at the LBJ Presidential Library. read more
Barack Obama and Bryan Cranston on the Roles of a Lifetime
May 06, 2016
An actual president and a man who is about to play one on TV talk about families, public life and legacies. read more
When First Ladies Played Offense
Apr 12, 2016
Most people tend to think of American first ladies of the past as decorous and devoted—gentle, constant presences at their husband’s sides. In fact, they also weren’t afraid to jump into the political fray. read more
Campaign by Helicopter
Apr 01, 2016
In 1948, "All the Way with LBJ" meant scooting around Texas in a Bell 47D. read more
How a 1965 immigration law shaped today’s Los Angeles
Oct 02, 2015
The lasting effects of the Immigration Act of 1965 signed by President Johnson on Oct. 3, 1965 were apparent at a recent swearing in ceremony at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Over 6,000 people from 140 countries sat in neat rows before a stage and a giant American flag. But more than 50 years ago,… read more
U.S. has funded artists and intellectuals for half a century, but it’s a perennial fight
Oct 02, 2015
Half a century ago, during a crowded Rose Garden ceremony, President Lyndon B. Johnson codified the nation’s commitment to the arts and humanities. Johnson, who as a young man taught students of Mexican descent in his native Texas, asked the nation not to forget the arts and humanities… read more
Dallas Love Field gets marker illuminating where LBJ was sworn in
Oct 01, 2015
After almost 52 years, Dallas Love Field has officially marked the location where President Lyndon Baines Johnson took the oath of office aboard Air Force One as it sat parked on the ramp. read more
Herman: LBJ and Hispanic Heritage Month
Sep 23, 2015
As I heard his daughter Luci remind us at a recent local event, we’re in the midst of 50th anniversaries for many major and landmark moments in Lyndon B. Johnson’s pivotal presidency, a tenure that, for all its controversy, ushered America into a new era. read more
Woody Harrelson undergoes radical makeover to play the president in Rob Reiner’s biopic LBJ
Sep 22, 2015
Woody Harrelson is stepping into what could be his most complex role yet - former US President Lyndon Baines Johnson. The 54-year-old actor was spotted on set of Rob Reiner's political biopic LBJ as the first day of production got underway in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Monday. read more
Fifty Years Later, the Immigration Bill That Changed America
Sep 14, 2015
On the 2016 campaign trail, immigration has been a flash point unlike any other. For today’s politicians, perhaps the biggest takeaway of the Immigration and Nationality Act is to expect unintended consequences. read more
50 years later, working to fortify LBJ’s legacy
Jul 20, 2015
Ollie Besteiro of AARP Texas speaks about President Johnson's legacy and urges for responsible solutions to stabilize Medicare for future generations. read more
The Enduring Legacy of President Lyndon Baines Johnson
Jul 06, 2015
On the 50th anniversary of the passage of President Johnson’s landmark legislative initiatives, Americans look to the past to find hope for the way forward in the struggle for equality and civil rights. read more
President Johnson’s Boyhood Home to be Partially Closed for Preservation Work
Jun 17, 2015
Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park has announced that President Johnson’s boyhood home in Johnson City will be partially closed for public tours for approximately ten weeks, beginning on Monday, July 13 and ending on about Friday, September 25, 2015. read more
As Head Start turns 50 this month, a graduate says it changed his life
May 26, 2015
Fifty years ago this month, President Lyndon B. Johnson announced a new federal program called Head Start. Attorney Bruce E. L. M. Strothers recalls the role of Head Start in his own life. read more
Voices of Valor: Jim Cross
May 10, 2015
Residing quietly in the Gatesville community is a man who has lived an incredibly large life: retired Brig. Gen. James U. Cross. The 90-year-old native had no idea he would grow up and one day pilot Air Force One for President Lyndon Baines Johnson. read more
The Way Home
Apr 10, 2015
Zach Theatre gives Robert Schenkkan's All the Way its Texas premiere on LBJ's home turf read more
Springtime in Washington wouldn’t be the same without Lady Bird Johnson
Mar 18, 2015
Some people are born with a silver spoon in their mouths. Lady Bird Johnson was born with a golden shovel in her hands. read more
LBJ and the Speech That Changed America
Mar 12, 2015
Fifty years ago, Lyndon Baines Johnson delivered one of the most powerful pieces of oratory in presidential history. Standing before Congress at 9 p.m. on March 15, just a few days after the shocking violence that civil-rights protesters confronted during the march over the Edmund Pettus Bridge on “Bloody Sunday… read more
Obama, Bush, civil rights icons retrace Selma march
Mar 08, 2015
President Obama, speaking Saturday at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, placed Selma in the pantheon of historical sites alongside Concord, Gettysburg and Kitty Hawk. Luci Baines Johnson, the late president's younger daughter, traveled to Selma for the commemoration. read more
Selma’s Bloody Sunday remembered 50 years later
Mar 07, 2015
Thousands are flocking to Selma, Alabama this weekend for the 50th anniversary of the "Bloody Sunday." Luci Baines Johnson tells Channel 2 Action news that she was there when her father signed the 1965 Voting Rights Bill into law. "As a young woman I knew I was being an eyewitness to history,"… read more
“The American Promise” — LBJ’s Finest Hour
Mar 06, 2015
It is unusual when a presidential address stands the test of time. Only a few have. Lyndon Johnson’s "The American Promise" belongs in that special group of historic speeches. It still speaks to an America torn by racial discord and a challenge to the right to vote… read more
Dr. King and LBJ’s family remember Voting Rights
Mar 06, 2015
The families of those who dedicated their lives in the fight for equal voting rights were honored by the city of Selma on Friday night at the 50th Anniversary Commemoration Awards Ceremony and Dinner. read more
The Power of Congress
Jan 15, 2015
The tension between big-tent inclusiveness and ideological purity has bedevilled our two major political parties for many years, but for Democrats it became especially vexing in the middle decades of the twentieth century. read more
Bill Moyers on Saving Our Democracy, ‘Selma’ and LBJ
Jan 14, 2015
During a live chat on Tuesday, January 13, Bill shared his thoughts on saving democracy, fighting corporate interests, the new film Selma, Ted Cruz’s political aspirations, President Lyndon B. Johnson and much more. read more
A country trapped in 1965’s ambitions
Jan 14, 2015
In the history of the American welfare state, no event was more consequential than the convening of the 89th Congress on Jan. 3, 1965, in which Democrats enjoyed huge majorities in both houses. read more
Accurate history isn’t Hollywood’s strong suit
Jan 13, 2015
Tuscaloosa News writer Robert Dewitt on LBJ's portrayal in the "Selma" movie: "In real history, flawed human beings accomplish great things. Saints have momentary failings. People do bad things and still wind up on the right side of history. Hollywood has a hard time with real history." read more
Education Secretary Says He Backs Annual Testing
Jan 12, 2015
Education Secretary Arne Duncan chose the 50th anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson's introduction of a landmark education equity bill to make the Obama administration's case for continued testing. read more
LBJ fought a quiet battle to desegregate housing — his own
Jan 05, 2015
A controversy over the portrayal of Lyndon B. Johnson in the movie “Selma” has revived interest in the 36th president’s role in the civil rights struggles of the 20th century. read more
What ‘Selma’ Gets Wrong
Dec 22, 2014
The film “Selma,” depicting the bloody civil rights campaign in Selma, Alabama, gets much right, however, it misses mightily in faithfully capturing the pivotal relationship between Martin Luther King, Jr. and President Lyndon Baines Johnson, says presidential historian and LBJ Presidential Library Director Mark K. Updegrove. read more
LBJ Library Celebrates Lyndon and Lady Bird’s 80th Anniversary
Nov 19, 2014
Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson would have celebrated their 80th wedding anniversary this week. The couple never had a cake when they married back in 1934, so their family made up for it Monday with a cake cutting at the LBJ Presidential Library. read more
How Goldwater Changed Campaigns Forever
Oct 27, 2014
If you were to ask a sampling of analysts which post-World War II presidential elections predicted the political trends we see today, there probably wouldn’t be many votes for 1964. read more
Augusta’s grip on LBJ apparently hurt
Oct 25, 2014
There is a small mystery about President Lyndon Johnson's Oct. 26, 1964, visit to Augusta. What happened to his hand? read more
LBJ’s unfortunate Augusta visit
Oct 25, 2014
President Lyndon Johnson had every reason to feel confident about his campaign stop in Augusta 50 years ago this week. However, he would not carry Richmond County on Election Day 1964, and he probably got a hint of things to come. read more
Obama learns LBJ’s tough lesson: You can have guns or butter, not both
Oct 22, 2014
President Obama has lost his hold on a majority of Americans, according to recent polls. The popular appeal that propelled him to win the 2008 and 2012 elections may be beyond recovery. It is sadly reminiscent of what President Johnson experienced in the mid-1960s after winning the 1964 presidential election by one… read more
2014 Texas Legacy Luci Baines Johnson
Oct 16, 2014
On Thursday October 16, 2014, more than 500 guests gathered at the Hilton Hotel in Austin, Texas, to honor Luci Baines Johnson as our 2014 Texas Legacy. read more
What’s the Point of a First Lady?
Oct 06, 2014
Fifty years ago today, Lady Bird Johnson set off on a four day, 47-town solo whistle-stop tour to campaign on behalf of her husband in the South. read more
Remembering Lady Bird Johnson’s WhistleStop tour for Civil Rights
Oct 06, 2014
Fifty years ago, in October 1964, less than a month before the presidential elections, Lady Bird Johnson boarded a train in Washington to stump through eight Southern states. read more
Sally Jewell News
Sep 09, 2014
ABC News' David Kerley takes a hike in Acadia National Park with Interior Secretary Sally Jewell to discuss her work protecting the nation's wilderness. read more
What the Wilderness Act has taught us
Sep 02, 2014
Fifty years ago Wednesday, Lyndon Johnson strolled out to the Rose Garden, pressed a fountain pen between the fingers of his hefty right hand and signed into law the highest level of protection ever afforded the American landscape. read more
Celebrating 50 years of American wilderness
Sep 02, 2014
On September 3, 1964, President Lyndon Johnson signed the landmark Wilderness Act that set aside more than 9 million acres of land to be protected from development. read more
Still Time for a Conservation Legacy
Sep 01, 2014
Wednesday is the 50th birthday of two of the nation’s most important environmental statutes: the Wilderness Act and the law establishing the Land and Water Conservation Fund. read more
We want our politicians to act like LBJ. But not really.
Aug 21, 2014
Lately there's a lot of admiration for Johnson, who's often portrayed, in this age of entrenched dysfunction and colorless politicians, as a charismatic, needy rogue who knew how to make Washington work. read more
How LBJ got the Civil Rights Act passed
Jul 02, 2014
The Civil Rights Act remains one of the great puzzles and achievements of American history. The achievement part is obvious. The puzzle part is two-fold. First: why did it take so long? It passed 101 years after President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. And second: how did it finally get… read more
How one woman died defending racial equality
Jul 02, 2014
Fifty years ago, discrimination in public accommodations and federally assisted programs became illegal, as President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. But that did not end the battle for racial equality. read more
Unfinished Business: The Civil Rights Act and Education
Jul 02, 2014
Signed into law 50 years ago today, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 remains one of the most important pieces of legislation in this nation’s history. It set the course for how our country lives its democracy. read more
Congress marks 50th anniversary of Civil Rights Act
Jun 24, 2014
Congressional leaders marked the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act on Tuesday by honoring both the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and the bipartisan tactics that lawmakers used to pass the bill in 1964. read more
Bryan Cranston and All The Way win Tony awards
Jun 09, 2014
Bryan Cranston won Tony award for leading actor in a play for his portrayal of LBJ in All The Way, which won best play. read more
LBJ’s Legacy Under Assault
Jun 04, 2014
An editorial by the Reverend Jesse Jackson emphasizes the contributions of President Johnson. read more
Footage of LBJ describing benefits of his Child Safety Act
May 27, 2014
Rachel Madow airs never-before-seen footage of LBJ describing the benefits of his Child Safety Act, passed by Congress in 1970. read more
Do you ride the D.C. Metro? Thank the Great Society
May 27, 2014
Do you ride the D.C. Metro? Thank the Great Society. read more
The Limits of LBJ’s Great Society
May 27, 2014
Great Society at 50: Prince George’s illustrates programs’ transformative legacy — and limits. read more
The Great Society at 50: Lyndon B. Johnson’s cultural vision
May 27, 2014
The Great Society at 50: Lyndon B. Johnson’s cultural vision mirrored his domestic one. read more
Great Society at 50: LBJ’s Job Corps
May 27, 2014
LBJ’s Job Corps will cost taxpayers $1.7 billion this year. Does it work? read more
How did we get to Sesame Street? Via LBJ’s Great Society
May 27, 2014
In 1967, Lyndon Johnson signed the Public Broadcasting Act, which created the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. read more
That time Lyndon Johnson made a killer case against unbridled growth
May 23, 2014
An article about LBJ's accomplishments and the Great Society. read more
The Great Society at 50
May 19, 2014
The Great Society, LBJ’s unprecedented and ambitious domestic vision, changed the nation. Half a century later, it continues to define politics and power in America. read more
Lem Johns, Who Guarded Johnson in Dallas, Dies at 88
May 12, 2014
Lem Johns, a Secret Service agent who guarded Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson when President Kennedy was assassinated and who became a high-ranking Secret Service official during Johnson’s administration, died on Saturday. read more
Bryan Cranston on Breaking Away From Walter White and Playing LBJ
Apr 28, 2014
LBJ Library director interviewed Bryan Cranston for PARADE magazine about his role as LBJ. read more
JOHNSON STUDENT TAKES TOP HONORS IN LBJ LIBRARY ESSAY CONTEST
Apr 22, 2014
Nicholas D. Dauphine, a senior at Johnson High School has won first prize in the LBJ Library “Civil Rights Today” Essay Contest. read more
LBJ biographer nearing end of story
Apr 07, 2014
Biographer Robert Caro reflects on writing the last in a series of books about President Lyndon Johnson. read more
Cornerstones of Civil Rights at LBJ Library
Mar 31, 2014
A new exhibit at the LBJ Library highlights the civil rights work of Presidents Johnson and Lincoln. read more
LBJ Foundation Board member Robert S. Strauss dies at 95
Mar 20, 2014
LBJ Foundation Board member Robert S. Strauss dies at 95 read more
Guests get a sneak peek into LBJ Library’s new exhibit
Mar 19, 2014
The Recording Academy Texas Chapter hosted "A Soundtrack to Change" on Friday, March 14 at the LBJ Presidential Library. read more
The Lyndon B. Johnson Renaissance
Feb 17, 2014
Despite his titanic role in America’s quest for civil rights, the greatest domestic movement of the Twentieth Century, LBJ has been largely underappreciated—even ignored—until recently. read more
Rescuing a Vietnam Casualty: Johnson’s Legacy
Feb 17, 2014
Luci Baines Johnson leaned forward in her father’s private suite at the L.B.J. Presidential Library, her voice breaking as she recounted the “agony of Vietnam” that engulfed Lyndon Baines Johnson and the pain she feels to this day of witnessing his presidency judged through… read more
Politics of blaming the poor: Why it’s still Lyndon Johnson’s America
Jan 28, 2014
Sometimes it seems that little has changed. As a frustrated President Obama prepares to deliver the State of the Union address, it is important to underscore that income inequality and social justice are no less intertwined right now than they were fifty years ago, when President Lyndon Johnson spoke to… read more
The War on Poverty, Then and Now
Jan 13, 2014
LBJ Library director Mark Updegrove responded to an article about the War On Poverty in the New York Times with a letter to the editor. read more
Sid Davis recalls LBJ’s launching the War On Poverty
Jan 09, 2014
Sid Davis, a White House reporter who witnessed Lyndon Johnson’s swearing-in as President, recalls being with LBJ when he launched the War On Poverty. read more
A toast to the bad old days
Dec 23, 2013
The Democratic president was at loggerheads with the House Republican leader after a rancorous session of Congress. A liberal White House adviser badmouthed the leader to the press, and the president had to apologize. In the end, a bipartisan Christmas spirit prevailed, and the business of governing got done. read more
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Anne Wheeler
Communications Director
LBJ Presidential Library
2313 Red River St.
Austin, TX 78705
Office: (512) 721-0216
Cell: (512) 731-2351 call or text
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