LBJ Ranch and Texas White House

While we were in Fredericksburg, TX we drove out to the LBJ Ranch and Visitor Center.  It was well worth the trip.

We drove over to the Visitor Center, picked up a map and some info and went on a driving tour.  First stop was the school where he first went.

The Junction School is also where he returned in 1965 and signed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.  In fact, during is tenure in office, LBJ signed over 60 education bills in law.

We went around back for a peek inside.

Next, we drove over to the LBJ reconstructed birth place where he was born in 1908.  Nearby is the cemetery where he and his relatives are buried.

Lots of Johnson's are buried here.  The president died on January 25, 1973.

The driving tour took us around the airstrip and show barn where there are cattle and goats.  The ranch is still in operation and is a 'working farm' open to the public.

LBJ was very fond of his ranch and conducted a lot of presidential business out of here.

After the airstrip was built, he regularly flew there.  In fact he spent 480 days of his presidency here which was about 25%.

It occurred to me that building an airstrip, having the presidential jets flying into the ranch -- all must have cost a lot of money back in the 1960's.  Since he started out as a school teacher before he became a state representative, where did he get all his money to do this?  Or did taxpayers pay for all this?

When we got to the ranch house visitor's center, we parked and took a guided tour.

As we went over to the farm house I snapped a few pictures.

The place was known as the Texas White House.  It was bought from LBJ's aunt and both the ranch and the house expanded over the years.  Lady Bird wanted to make sure this portion of the ranch was open to the public and it was donated to the park service.  She used the place until her death at age 94.

Unfortunately, no pictures were allowed inside.  The guide took us through the office area that had been added.  LBJ liked 'high tech' and had an intercom system installed.  He had three TVs set up side by side in three different rooms in the house so he could monitor NBC, ABC and CBS's daily version of world events.  And he had extra telephones installed throughout the house.

The place reminded me a little bit of the Eisenhower Farm at Gettysburg.   And Truman's 'Little White House' in Key West.

The trip made me want to see more Presidential Libraries, Museums and 'white houses' so we will be on the look out for the next one.

Thanks for joining us today on the Roadrunner Chronicles!  And thanks so much for all the comments lately!

LBJ Library and Museum - Austin

Since we are in Austin, we wanted to see the LBJ Library and Museum.  We are never too sure what to expect at these things, but we found it to be quite interesting.  My first impression was that the building is large and mostly concrete.

 It is deceiving, though because inside, it is one of the better ones we have ever seen.  It was very well done.  First we saw the Presidential Limousine LBJ used while in Austin.

Then we saw the Introduction video of his life and presidency.  Nearby we walked though a gallery of famous award winning photos during his term.  (But no pictures allowed in there.)

LBJ was known for a lot of things -- one of them his humor.  He had a way of telling stories that were memorable and you can listen to some of his best ones at the display.  Then there was a replica of the Oval Office and his term highlighted on the walls.

The building is 10 stories tall with a few floors that are not open to the public.  From the second floor you can see some of the offices windows.

I found this display interesting:  famous people with links to LBJ who recognized the impact he had on their lives and careers.

I knew about LBJ and the Viet Nam War, the Civil Rights Act, his Great Society agenda and some other things.  But I was astounded to see the volumes of legislation he marshaled through Congress during his career.  Seeing pictures of him working the phones all hours of the night and day, cajoling, arm twisting and other forms of persuasion plus the lost art of negotiation --- he was in the middle of governing like I remember it.  Times and politics have changed since his time.

One of the coolest pictures was one Pam took of the dog tags of all those Heroes from Texas who died in the Viet Nam War.

Another great museum and time well spent learning more about about Presidents.  Thanks for joining us on the Roadrunner Chronicles!  Until next time...