Lyndon B. Johnson, otherwise known as LBJ, served as the President of the United States from 1963 until 1969. This got me thinking, what are some fascinating facts about Lyndon B. Johnson?
Historians remember LBJ as one of the best presidents of the last 100 years. LBJ reformed a number of different areas of society, including education, civil rights as well as progressing the now-much-hated Vietnam War.
15. He Was Born Into a Political Family
Growing up, Johnson’s father decided that he didn’t want to be “Just a farmer”. Eventually, this led to him going to school, where he would become a keen orator, which would lead him to enter politics.
For nine non-consecutive years, Johnson’s father would serve in the Texas House of Representatives. Here, he would represent the 85th, 87th and 89th Districts of Texas (in that order!)
As Lyndon B. Johnson got older, he too decided to enter politics. His father’s local connections helped Johnson to be elected at a record 23 years old. Johnson’s father would continue to guide him, even as a US Representative too.
Upon the death of LBJ’s father, the Johnson name still carried a fair bit of weight, both in Texas and in Washington. This allowed FDR to appoint Johnson as the head of the Texas branch of the NYA in 1935.
14. Pre-Politics Jobs
Despite Johnson’s father being a local politician of some note, LBJ didn’t get into politics straight away. Instead, he chose to go to Southwest Texas State Teachers College (now Texas State University) to get a better education.
Not coming from an especially wealthy family like many of his classmates, Johnson was forced to get a job. For nine months, Johnson would teach Mexican-American children at a segregated school in southern San Antonio.
Being a teacher, however, did not cover Johnson’s entire tuition. To make up the difference Johnson would also coach the boy’s basketball team, coach the debate team, and mop floors as the school’s janitor.
On top of all of this, Johnson would be a playground supervisor and manage five other teachers. If another teacher was sick, Johnson would also often teach their classes too!
13. WWII Service
In December 1941, Imperial Japan attacked the US naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. This attack essentially brought the US into WWII, both in the Pacific and in Europe.
With this, millions of young men (including a number of future presidents such as Ronald Reagan, John F. Kennedy and George H. W. Bush) would join up to defend their country! Among these men, was a young LBJ.
At the time, LBJ was a member of the US House of Representatives, serving Texas’s 10th District, having done so since 1937. Regardless, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant Commander in the US Naval Reserve.
Despite being a US Representative, LBJ asked for, and was given, a combat assignment as an observer for an air strike over New Guinea. The B-26 that LBJ returned to base, when no others did. LBJ was given the Silver Star for his involvement.
12. Rivalry With JFK
In the 1960 Democratic Primaries, two senators emerged as possible Democratic candidates for president: Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy, and Texas Senator, Lyndon B. Johnson.
The pair spent a number of months attempting to win over the hearts and minds of the rest of the Democrats. Regardless, John F. Kennedy would win the primaries, however, in a shocking move, would nominate LBJ to be his vice president!
Clearly, all of this campaigning had created somewhat of a friendly rivalry between the pair. This is something that would continue both on the campaign trail and later, when the pair became the leaders of the free world.
Despite their prior rivalry, once Johnson became president, he would cement JFK’s legacy by ensuring that the US was the first nation to put a man on the moon, something Kennedy had promised in 1962.
11. Personal Air Force One
Today, we generally associate the term “Air Force One” with the large blue and white 747 (officially known as the VC-25A). In LBJ’s day, the main Air Force One was a blue and white 707 (officially known as the VC-137C SAM 26000).
Whilst the 707 and 747 are the most famous aircraft to use the “Air Force One” callsign, they are not the only ones. In fact, “Air Force One” isn’t one aircraft, but actually a callsign used by any aircraft carrying the president.
A number of smaller jets are also at the disposal of the president whenever he goes on shorter-haul routes. This is something that was started by Lyndon B. Johnson during his presidency.
You see, LBJ would spend several months per year at his ranch in Texas, which had its own airfield. However, the airfield wasn’t long enough to accommodate the extremely large 707.
As such, he acquired a Beechcraft King Air, that he could use to get from Bergstrom Air Force Base to his ranch.
10. Youngest Democratic Leader
In 1953, at the age of only 44, Lyndon B. Johnson was one of the youngest politicians of his day. That same year, he would become the youngest Minority Leader in the history of the Senate.
Two years later, the Democrats would gain control of the Senate. With this, LBJ would go from being the Senate Minority Leader to the Senate Majority Leader. This would also make LBJ the youngest Sate Majority Leader in history too!
Prior to the 1950’s, the role of the Senate Minority/Majority Leader was wildly different. Although they did other roles, their main role was to organize the party (especially their policies), for the next election.
However, Lyndon B. Johnson would revolutionize the role into what it is today. He would make it so that they were essentially the leaders of their respective parties, not just in the senate, but in the eyes of the general public too!
9. Promoted Bipartisan Unity
In recent years, bipartisan unity has been… lacking… to say the least. Whether right or wrong, both sides believe that they are right, and that the other side are just plain wrong, and therefore, inherently stupid.
During the Johnson Administration, however, bipartisan unity was at an all-time high! It was a time where, despite their differing political ideologies, both Republicans and Democrats worked together to create a better world.
Johnson would regularly sit down with the Republican leaders in order to come up with a compromise that suited both parties. Oftentimes, Johnson and the Republican leaders would draft the bills together.
This is partly what allowed Johnson to be such a proactive president, passing a number of policies that both sides of the aisle can agree on today. Hopefully future presidents can take a page out of LBJ’s book…
8. Lady Bird Johnson Pecan Pie
In 1934, Lyndon B. Johnson married Claudia Alta “Lady Bird” Taylor. Among other things, Lady Bird Johnson was famous for her cooking skills, being one of the few First Ladies to still cook whilst at the White House.
By far her most famous dish was her legendary pecan pie. Lady Bird Johnson would cook this numerous times whilst her husband was president, especially when he was entertaining foreign guests and world leaders.
As the First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson could’ve given her recipe to the White House cooks, for them to make whenever the Johnsons wanted it. However, Lady Bird Johnson was particularly protective of her pecan pie recipe.
This would remain a closely held secret, known only to a few in the Johnson family, until her death in 2007. Here, the Johnson family would release it to the world, allowing anyone to enjoy Lady Bird’s famous (and delicious!) pecan pie!
7. The Best First Lady?
On top of her legendary pecan pie recipe, Lady Bird Johnson is also remembered for a number of other things. Primarily, this is how business savvy she was, which made both her and her husband millionaires!
Prior to her husband becoming president, she acquired a number of Texas-based radio stations. This was worth $150 million as of 2003, and allowed Lady Bird Johnson to help her husband get elected time and time again.
Upon becoming the First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson set out to, as she put it, “Beatify America”. To do this, Lady Bird Johnson effectively lobbied her husband to pass the Highway Beautification Act in 1965.
Whilst this was it’s official name, many in Washington referred to it as “Lady Bird’s bill” due to her involvement in it. The bill itself would see millions of plants and trees planted near major highways to make them look more beautiful.
6. A Towering Politician
Standing at 6 ft 3 1/2 in (192 cm), Lyndon B. Johnson was one of the tallest presidents of all time. Due to his height, Johnson towered over just about every other politician he worked with.
Johnson’s towering height was something that he would use to great effect, both as a senator, vice-president, and later president. This is something you would certainly know if you ever crossed him!
You see, if you disagreed with him, you’d be called to the Oval Office, for a meeting with the president. In the beginning, it would start off as a normal conversation, with you both discussing your respective opinions.
However, you’d both be stood up. As the conversation progressed, LBJ would get closer and closer to you. He’d then lean forwards, towering over you until you gave into his demands.
This was colloquially known as the “Treatment” and is arguably what made him so successful as a president!
5. “Jumbo”
If using his immense height didn’t convince you that you were wrong, Johnson would move to phase two of the “Treatment”: Jumbo. This was any male politicians’ worst nightmare…
You see, Johnson had a rather… special, relationship with a certain part of his anatomy. Yes, the 37th President of the United States of America was extremely fond of his penis, which he nicknamed “Jumbo“.
And Johnson wasn’t afraid to share his penis with the world. One time, when a journalist asked him why he escalated the Vietnam War, he calmly whipped out “Jumbo” and retorted “This is why,” much to the disbelief of the journalist.
On top of this, Johnson would frequently, and often randomly, bring up “Jumbo” and especially how large it was. Once he had talked about “Jumbo” for a few seconds, he go back to talking about whatever they were talking about beforehand!
4. Presidential Relations
It’s a pretty well known fact, that most presidents are related to at least one other president. In fact, there are actually tallies of which presidents are related to the most other presidents.
Lyndon B. Johnson, however, is somewhat of an enigma.
Despite what you may believe at first, Lyndon B. Johnson has no relation to the other president who shares his last name, Andrew Johnson. It is merely a coincidence, likely due to the prevalence of the Johnson last name.
However, this doesn’t mean that Lyndon B. Johnson isn’t related to other presidents. Quite the opposite in fact. Surprisingly, LBJ is actually the fourth cousin (three times removed) of Barack Obama, through his mother, Ann Dunham.
Through Johnson’s relation to Obama, he is also an extremely distant relative of James Madison, Harry S. Truman, Jimmy Carter, Gerald R. Ford and both Bush presidents.
3. Great Society
At the same time that Lyndon B. Johnson became president, the Civil Rights Movement was at its height. By 1964, the movement had grown so much that it convinced LBJ to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
In subsequent years, the Johnson Administration would also pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Civil Rights Act of 1968. This made discrimination based on race illegal in every regard, as well as giving black people the right to vote.
On top of advancing civil rights, Johnson also began what he called the “Great Society”. This would see Johnson create Medicaid, which would see much expansion under subsequent presidents.
President Johnson was also a great patron of education, which would see LBJ greatly increase funding to education. As well as this, he would also make college more affordable, through the use of federal loans.
2. Vietnam Legacy
Despite so many social advances, that both liberals and conservatives alike can agree on, LBJ’s presidency has been marred by the extremely unpopular Vietnam War.
When LBJ became president, Vietnam was a minor conflict in East Asia, with only minimal US involvement. During his presidency, Lyndon B. Johnson escalated US involvement in the conflict, creating the conflict we know today.
Initially, public support for the conflict was high. However, over time, media coverage of the conflict revealed the harsh realities of the war: The West was losing. Badly.
As such, public opinion began to sour against the war, particularly in 1968. Despite not running for re-election in 1968, LBJ said that he wanted to make peace with the Vietnamese. This wasn’t done until Richard Nixon entered office.
1. His Books
After leaving the White House in 1969, LBJ chose to retire from politics in its entirety. Here, he would retire to his ranch in Texas and raise thoroughbred horses until his death in 1973.
During his downtime, LBJ would do what every other former president has done: Write his memoirs. He would entitle his book, The Vantage Point, which would be published in 1971.
Unlike other memoirs, that simply detailed the author’s life as a whole, LBJ wrote his with a slightly different intention. This was so that the reader could understand Johnson’s thought processes when he made his decisions.
Due to this rather unique way of writing his memoirs, his memoirs became an instant bestseller. If you so desire, you can still buy Lyndon B. Johnson’s memoirs today, over 50 years later!
Which are your favorite facts about Lyndon B. Johnson? Tell me in the comments!