Claudia Alta Taylor Johnson—known all her life as "Lady Bird"—entered the White House under especially trying circumstances. While struggling with her husband, Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973; see entry in volume 5), to establish a sense of stability and continuity for the grieving nation following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy (1917-1963; see entry in volume 5), Lady Bird followed one of the most beloved first ladies in history, Jacqueline Kennedy (1929-1994; see entry in volume 5). During her husband's administration, Lady Bird devoted her energies to helping her husband cope with the strains of his presidency, while also traveling extensively to speak in support of his administration's Great Society program.

Shy girl

Claudia Alta Taylor was born on December 22, 1912, in Karnack, a town in eastern Texas. The Taylor family was relatively wealthy and had several servants; a nursemaid of the infant girl...