The White House Years

Permanent Exhibitions | Jan, 22 2025 2:28AM - 2:28AM

A view of the White House Years exhibition space at the LBJ Library

This exhibition features head of state gifts and artifacts and photos about life at the LBJ ranch.

About & Photos

A view of LBJ ranch related artifacts in The White House Years exhibition at the LBJ Library.
A side view of The White House Years exhibition at the LBJ Library

Head of state gifts

The LBJ Presidential Library is the official repository for more than 2,000 head of state gifts presented to President and Mrs. Johnson, including ceremonial swords from Morocco and Saudi Arabia, Chinese tomb sculptures from the Tang Dynasty, an alabaster funerary vase from Egypt, and many other finely crafted objects from all around the world.

LBJ Ranch

In 1951, Lyndon Johnson bought a limestone ranch house and about 240 acres of land from his aunt. During his presidency, the ranch was known as the Texas White House. It was for good reason. LBJ spent more than one-fifth of his presidency at the ranch, maintaining the same tireless pace as he did in Washington, D.C.

The White House Years
10th Floor
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This exhibition is located on the tenth floor, to the right of the elevators. 

Related Artifacts

Malachite Box

Malachite box given to President Lyndon B. Johnson by His Excellency Aleksey N. Kosygin
This malachite box was given to President Lyndon B. Johnson by His Excellency Aleksey N. Kosygin, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on June 23, 1967, during the Glassboro Summit Conference in Glassboro, New Jersey.

The Glassboro Summit was a meeting to discuss Soviet-US relations. While no specific agreements were made, the general amicable atmosphere, referred to as the "Spirit of Glassboro," was seen to have improved relations.
Artifact date
June 23, 1967

Terracotta Riders

Terracotta figure given to President and Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson from His Excellency Chiang Kai-shek, President of the Republic of China, and Madame Chiang Kai-Shek
This is one of a pair of terracotta figures given to President and Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson from His Excellency Chiang Kai-shek, President of the Republic of China, and Madame Chiang Kai-Shek on May 9, 1967, during a visit to the United States by Vice-President Yen Chia-Kan. The two figures of men on horseback belong to the period of the T’ang Dynasty (circa A.D. 800). It was customary in that period to deposit cherished possessions in the tombs of high dignitaries when they were buried, and these two figurines were used for that purpose. They were excavated at a village near Xi’an, capital of the Shaanxi Province.
Artifact date
May 9, 1967

Saudi Ceremonial Sword

Saudi ceremonial sword given to President Johnson by His Majesty Faisal ibn Abd al-Aziz Al-Saud, King of Saudi Arabia
This ceremonial sword and sheath was given to President Lyndon B. Johnson by His Majesty Faisal ibn Abd al-Aziz Al-Saud, King of Saudi Arabia on June 21, 1966 during a state visit to Washington, D.C.
Artifact date
June 21, 1966

LBJ's Favorite Boots

An image of a pair of boots owned by President Johnson and can be seen on view in The White House Years exhibition at the LBJ Library.
President Johnson wore these boots around the world -- from Vietnam to Australia to his ranch in Texas, though never in the Oval Office. He took the boots everywhere with him from 1961-1973.
Artifact date
January 1, 1961

Topic Talk

Mike Gillette, author and former director of the Oral History Program at the LBJ Library, gives an overview of the exhibition.

Did you know?

When a U.S. president visits a foreign Head of State, they bring a gift representative of our country. President Johnson was known for giving unique gifts, such as electric toothbrushes featuring the presidential seal and photographs and busts of himself.

Lbj On a fence Sepia

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