Video
Episode Two: Becoming the Texas White House
Transcript
Hi, I'm Ranger Joe, and welcome to the second installment of The Texas White House: Past, Present, and Future. I'm excited to share with you how President Johnson acquired the Texas White House and how it became an important part of United States history. As you learned in our last episode, Senator Johnson purchased a two-story home from his aunt, Frank Martin. When Senator Johnson bought the house, it needed major renovation and repair before Lyndon and his family could move in. The initial repairs and renovations were completed in July 1952. However, as Senator Johnson moved up in his political career, many more renovations were made to accommodate the increasing number of visitors the family would entertain at the home. Lyndon B. Johnson would fly back and forth from Washington, D.C., to the Texas Hill Country to recharge his batteries and improve his health. It was during these years that Lyndon B. Johnson's home in the Texas Hill Country began to take on a new meaning, both for the Johnson family and for the many people who visited. Not only would Lyndon use this place to recharge as a break from the hustle and bustle of Washington, D.C., but the ranch would also become a center of political power during his presidency. President and Lady Bird Johnson frequently said, "All the world is welcome to the LBJ Ranch and Texas White House." They hosted many barbecues at the LBJ Ranch for foreign heads of state. During his presidency from 1963 to 1969, he spent 490 days—one-quarter of his presidency—at the Texas White House. From there, President Johnson held cabinet meetings and worked tirelessly to accomplish his political goals. As required by law, the Secret Service became a permanent presence, protecting the President and First Lady on a full-time basis at the LBJ Ranch. President Johnson was briefed by his staff on the front lawn of the Texas White House on topics such as the Vietnam War, the Cold War with the Soviet Union, and domestic issues like the War on Poverty, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Space Race. Balancing their personal and public lives, the home was where the Johnson family could be together as a family. It was also a place where President Johnson could relax and unwind by walking in the fields around his ranch, going on solitary drives in his vehicles, visiting with family and friends, and occasionally playing dominoes with friends. After the presidency, President Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson would live at the Texas White House on a permanent basis. President Johnson passed away on January 22, 1973. After his death, Lady Bird Johnson became the public face and the hostess of the Texas White House. The Texas White House was a central part of President Johnson's life: he was born here, spent the most important parts of his life here, and died here, in his beloved big house on the river. Join us for our next episode about Lady Bird Johnson and her influence in the Texas Hill Country and beyond.
Description
Episode Two highlights the the renovations the Johnsons made to the house and how it became the Texas White House.
Duration
4 minutes, 44 seconds
Date Created
08/21/2022
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