Oral history transcript, Lady Bird Johnson, interview 16 (XVI), 1/29/1980-1/30/1980, by Michael L. Gillette

Title:

Oral history transcript, Lady Bird Johnson, interview 16 (XVI), 1/29/1980-1/30/1980, by Michael L. Gillette

Number of Pages:

71

Description:

Lady Bird Johnson's daily activities in Washington, D.C., while LBJ was serving in the navy in 1942; LBJ's congressional office staff and Lady Bird Johnson's role as manager of the office in LBJ's absence; correspondence with constituents; living with Nellie Connally while LBJ and John Connally were in the military; Lady Bird Johnson's increased understanding of LBJ after managing his office; correspondence between LBJ and Lady Bird Johnson; LBJ's military duties in 1942; socializing with Jessica "Decca" Mitford Romilly; settling Lady Bird Johnson's Uncle Claud Pattillo's estate; Lady Bird Johnson attending business school; plans for a military installation in Austin, which later became Bergstrom Field, and competition over which city would get the installation; efforts to get an abattoir in Austin; Lady Bird Johnson visiting the British Embassy and Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes on behalf of constituents; visiting Sam Rayburn for advice; living arrangements while LBJ was away during the war; Lady Bird Johnson being named secretary of LBJ's office in his absence; LBJ's involvement in the work of his office while he was away and his instructions to Lady Bird; keeping track of office expenditures; Lady Bird Johnson purchasing a war bond; blackouts in the Washington, D.C., area; the news that Austin had been approved for a military installation; a petition campaign for LBJ to run for congressman again and support for a possible Senate race; LBJ's frustration with his work in the navy; LBJ's relationship with the press, specifically newspapers; LBJ's interest in Lady Bird Johnson's appearance; Lady Bird Johnson's efforts to get Tom Miller, Jr., into Officer Candidates School; time LBJ spent with Ed Weisl while in California in the navy; Lady Bird Johnson's frustration with trying to get work done within the government and her desire to ask Sam Rayburn to bring LBJ back from the military so that he could be more productive; complaints that LBJ was neglecting his work as a congressman; labor issues during LBJ's absence; Lady Bird Johnson's interest in buying a house in Washington, D.C.; dinner with Congressman and Mrs. Bob Poage; why Sam Rayburn wanted LBJ and other congressmen to return from military duty; Senator Alvin Wirtz's help with settling Uncle Claud Patillo's estate; Senator Wirtz's and Charles Marsh's different opinions regarding whether or not LBJ should run for Senate; Aunt Effie Pattillo living with the Johnsons in Washington, D.C.; Lady Bird Johnson and her friends putting on plays; LBJ's two-week visit to Washington, D.C., before leaving for overseas duty; the decision that LBJ would run for re-election to his congressional seat; LBJ's war experience in the South Pacific and his criticism of some U.S. military weaknesses; LBJ's life being spared because he changed planes at the last minute; movies of LBJ's military experience; General Douglas MacArthur awarding LBJ the Silver Star and his letter declining the award; LBJ's illness and hospitalization in New Zealand, Fiji, and Australia; LBJ's impression of Australians, including Dame Mabel Brooks; President Franklin Roosevelt ordering congressmen and senators who were on active duty to return to Washington, D.C.; LBJ's meeting with Roosevelt to discuss problems in the military; the Johnsons' support for Jimmie Allred's Senate race; LBJ's trip to Alaska and the Aleutian Islands to address conflict among different branches of the U.S. military; LBJ's commencement speech at Southwest Texas State Teacher's College; LBJ's relationship with Dr. Cecil Evans; Allred's Senate loss to W. Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel; time spent relaxing at the National Youth Administration building on Buchanan Dam; LBJ's fried egg breakfast being interrupted by telephone calls; the Johnsons' house at 4921 Thirtieth Place, N.W.; the Johnsons buying furniture and items for the Thirtieth Place house; LBJ's insistence that Texas would always be their home, despite buying a house in Washington, D.C.

Contributor:

Johnson, Lady Bird, 1912-2007

Collection:

LBJ Library Oral Histories

Collection Description:

Go to List of Holdings

Series:

Transcripts of LBJ Library Oral Histories

See Also:

See all online interviews with Lady Bird Johnson

Relation:

Go to Interviewee bio page

Rights:

Possibly copyright restricted: see deed at end of transcript for details