Letter, Lyndon Johnson to Lady Bird Taylor, 10/19/1934

Specific Item Type:

Correspondence

Type:

Text

Format:

Paper

Identifier:

pp-ctjandlbj-letters-lbj-10-19-34

Date:

1934-10-19

Time Period:

Pre-Presidential (Before Nov. 22, 1963)

Transcript:

[Written on Congress of the United States, House of Representatives, R. M. Kleberg stationery]
Yesterday I sent you a proof of a picture. I know you won’t like it--but it may make a good contrast.
[October 19, 1934]
Friday Noon
Dear Bird;
This letter shouldn’t be started until after lunch, but I can’t tell when I shall have to leave so I’m going to get some of it finished while waiting for Mr. McCain to come and take me to lunch.
I hadn’t expected to hear from you today because your airmail from Tyler came Wednesday and I didn’t think a letter written Tuesday night and sent by regular mail could get here before Saturday. It was such a sweet letter and made me feel that I had one more real visit with you. I’m sorry you had to return to Karnack so soon. I think a few days in Dallas would have given you the opportunity to play that you so deserve.
Your letters about all of the things that happened in Dallas have had a peculiar appeal for me. The one today about your conversation at the Shamrock with
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Victor, especially--Think it was best to tell him how you might feel? He must be a great fellow to understand so easily. Would that I could be so reasonable--tho’ advisable.
The postman was good to me this morning. A long, newsy, affectionate letter from Mother started the day off right for me. She, too, is engaged in renovating and apparently enjoys it as much as do you. She writes, “I think I shall like the place very much when we complete the improvements we have begun. We now have the lights and our telephone and are making the place more livable every day. I think we shall eventually have a country home of which you children will be proud. I hope so anyway. Write me about Bird. She seemed a very sweet, modest, attractive girl. I shall be happy to have you permanently in Texas, but hate to have your law course interrupted. What can you do about that?”
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Sometime today I must write her and tell her my plans as nearly as I know them. A letter from Mr. Dick in the same mail was somewhat reassuring and it maybe I will know definitely what I must do by next week. Just a week ago today I wrote you in detail my problems. Upon reflection I reluctantly postponed mailing the letter for a day and instead talked to you Saturday night. Then it became apparent I shouldn’t have been so generous with my statements, and consequently the lesson was beneficial, the letter unmailed, and all of us the better for our experience.
Senator Connally was at the Dodge last night and I am to see him again today or tomorrow. He is just back from Europe and is trying to solve in a day all of the questions undecided as a result of his six weeks absence.
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Dear, I realized, all too suddenly perhaps, that I shouldn’t have embarrassed you as I did Saturday night. Your letter today served to more indelibly impress upon me the inadvisability of my persistence.
Tonight I’m going to play. Friday and Saturday are always such pleasant days for me. We are going to see Sinclair Lewis’s “Jayhawker” at the National. Will write you more about it tomorrow. Sunday I want to get away--want to go down in Virginia and stay away from the city until late in the evening. Wish I could sit on the banks of the creek with you and talk….
Hope you have a letter Sunday. Write.
All my love.
Lyndon

[Envelope postmarked: Washington, D.C., 10/19/1934, 4 PM]