Lyndon B. Johnson Archives

LBJ’s 1964 Pants Phone Call: A Little Tight in the Nuts

December 26, 2019February 21, 2014 by ghostsofdc

On August 9, 1964, LBJ called Haggar Apparel to order six pairs of summer slacks. He also complained the last pair was a little tight in the nuts.

Lyndon Johnson Sent This Photo to Lady Bird During Their Courtship

April 27, 2026June 28, 2013 by ghostsofdc

LBJ sent this photo to Lady Bird during their courtship. The caption reads "For Bird--A lovely girl with ideals, principles, intelligence, and refinement from her sincere admirer, Lyndon" (Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library)

Discover the sweet gesture of love Lyndon Johnson sent to his beloved, Claudia Alta “Lady Bird” Taylor, during their courtship. A photo from the National Archives reveals Johnson’s touching message of admiration.

The Tragic Story of President Johnson’s Pet Beagle Run Over by the White House Limousine

May 6, 2026August 17, 2012 by ghostsofdc

LBJ in the White House with his dogs Him and Her

On June 15th, 1966, President Johnson’s beagle was accidentally run over by the White House limousine in the driveway. Here’s the heartbreaking report from the Washington Post the following day.

President Kennedy’s Non-Political Texas Trip, Two Days Before He Was Assassinated

April 27, 2026August 13, 2012 by ghostsofdc

President and Mrs. Kennedy arrive in San Antonio - November 21st, 1963 (Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum)

If you read this piece in the Washington Post on Wednesday morning, November 20th, 1963, you probably didn’t think much of it.

President Kennedy was making a trip to Texas, the Vice President’s home state. The White House explicitly stated that the event was nonpolitical, but without a doubt, there were some political undertones for this trip.

It was time to start thinking about the 1964 election and the Kennedy-Johnson ticket had barely won Texas in the last election. The President intended to go down and mend some fences within the Texas Democratic Party and get them primed for the 1964 election.

President Kennedy will make five speeches in Texas Thursday and Friday, attend two receptions and spend a night at the ranch of Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Mrs. Kennedy will accompany her husband on the trek, described by the White house as “nonpolitical.”
Pierre Salinger, White House Press Secretary, said yesterday that he expects Mrs. Kenndy [sic] to be with the President at most of his public appearances in Texas.
Mr. Kennedy will fly from Washington to San Antonio Thursday morning, make a speech there, and proceed to Houston where he will address an evening testimonial dinner for Rep. Albert Thomas (D-Tex.)
On Friday evening, the President and Mrs. Kennedy will go by helicopter from Austin to the Johnson City ranch of the Vice President.
Salinger said the Kennedys probably would return to Washington by mid-afternoon on Saturday.
The White House also announced that President Kennedy will spend Thanksgiving Day at the traditional Kennedy family gathering at Hyannis Port, Mass.
He also plans to attend the Army-Navy football game in Philadelphia on Saturday, Nov. 30, and probably will fly there from Hyannis Port, Salinger said.

Two days later, Lyndon Johnson was president.

President Kennedy greets the crowd at rally in Fort Worth - November 22nd, 1963 — President Kennedy greets the crowd at rally in Fort Worth – November 22nd, 1963

Take a look at this video we found on HuffPost. This is raw (silent) footage from Kennedy’s last night in Houston, the day before he went to Dallas.

President Johnson Signs the 1968 Civil Rights Act: A Look Back at the Speech

May 6, 2026May 2, 2012 by ghostsofdc

President Johnson signs the 1968 Civil Rights Act - April 11th, 1968

This is a clip from President Johnson’s speech before signing the bill into law. This was only a week after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. in Memphis.

We all know that the roots of injustice run deep. But violence cannot redress a solitary wrong, or remedy a single unfairness.

Of course, all America is outraged at the assassination of an outstanding Negro leader who was at that meeting that afternoon in the White House in 1966. And America is also outraged at the looting and the burning that defiles our democracy.

We just must put our shoulders together and put a stop to both. The time is here. Action must be now.

All Eyes On The Hirshhorn, But It Wasn’t Always Pretty (Or Round)

April 27, 2026March 22, 2012 by ghostsofdc

This is a guest post by Aaron. Art fans will focus Thursday night on the outer walls of the Hirshhorn Museum. Eleven video projectors will paint the Smithsonian’s modern and contemporary ring with 360 degrees of a looping film called, “SONG 1.” The Hirshhorn’s exterior will become exhibition space as artist Doug Aitken transforms the circumference … Read more

Home Movie Footage from Lady Bird Johnson During the 1960s

April 27, 2026January 13, 2012 by ghostsofdc

The description below is cut straight from YouTube. This is a home movie from Lady Bird Johnson during the 1960s. The LBJ Library has an entire YouTube channel dedicated to these, so check them out. They’re also on Twitter and Facebook.

The footage is outside and the film is silent. The film starts with Lady Bird Johnson and others posing in front of a house somewhere in Virginia? There are views of the house and unidentified women and a man posing and then unidentified people sitting/eating at tables.

The film cuts to Lady Bird Johnson posing by a wood fence, near a lake, giving what looks like a press conference. A school bus arrives. More unidentified people sitting on a wood fence, walking, and eating a tables. Shots of mountains and flowers.

The next segment of the film features President Johnson and Mrs. Johnson at the White House, 1960s. White House flowers are showcased, and a beagle dog joins Lady Bird for a stroll.

Cut to what might be a White House reception for astronauts. There are people and a marching band playing on the White House lawn. Lady Bird Johnson, President Johnson and Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey talk to astronauts on the lawn. In the background photographers use their 1960s equipment to document the event.

Cut to the presidential yacht trip in Washington, D.C.. Lady Bird Johnson and other unidentified people are present. There are views of the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument and a large ship. A woman seems to be taking notes with a typewriter.

Cut to Lady Bird Johnson and other women in an unidentified place.

Cut to Presidential military reception at the White House. There is a military band playing on the White House lawn. An Honor Guard is at the ready. LBJ, Lady Bird, Hubert Humphrey and Muriel descend steps to the reception and form a receiving line.

John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address: An Analysis of One of the Most Powerful Speeches of All Time

May 6, 2026January 11, 2012 by ghostsofdc

An in-depth look at one of the most powerful and important inaugural addresses of all time. Read the text or watch the full speech to see why this is something worth watching in its entirety. Includes a famous quote, start watching at 13:45.