A White House Diary

Having already read A White House Diary, I wanted my own copy to savor. Mrs Johnson must have had a terrific education in her little Texas town. Her writing is fluent and engaging, like a good letter from a friend. There's no way of knowing how much help, if any, she had writing this book, but there's no whiff of the ghost about it. I had the good fortune to meet Mrs. Johnson in the late 1970s when she was serving as a University of Texas regent. She was charming, a real straight shooter, very much her own person and better looking than her photographs, though no beauty. Mrs. Johnson seems to have had the gift of friendship, and the class to refrain getting back at her critics in print. Though treated badly by the Kennedys and their hangers-on, she spoke no evil about them, though she must have been mighty tempted. Goes well with Lady Bird: A Biography of Mrs. Johnson by Jan Jarboe Russell, although the second book is sometimes more laudatory than necessary. A White House Diary avoids much of the excuse-making of later first lady books.

This book is one of the best books you will ever read about what went on behind the scenes at historic events. When you remember the mood of the nation after the assassination of President Kennedy, reading how the government moves on is quite inspiring. Ladybird always thought of herself as a plain, unimportant woman. Read the book...judge for yourself. I highly recomend this book for everyone in your family to read.

Lady Bird Johnson became the First Lady under tragic circumstances. At the outset of this volume she speaks of the Kennedy assassination. She makes a a strikingly sad description of Mrs. Kennedy immediately after the shooting so beautifully and neatly dressed, her clothes stained with the blood of her husband. She shows great respect for Jacqueline Kennedy, and tells the story in a restrained and direct way. In fact certain qualities characterize Mrs. Johnson, and her diary throughout. She writes positively about people, and it is rare when she has a negative word or implication in regard to them. Perhaps this is the sign that she is a political wife, and certainly she was the wife of one of America's greatest twentieth century politicians. Anyone reading this Diary cannot be but amazed at the tremendous amount of people the Johnsons knew and their seemingly continuous involvement with them. Another element which is consistent in the work is its not focusing on the words and deeds of the President. This is really Lady Bird's story. And while her role as Presidential wife, deference to her husband is always there she primarily talks here about what she saw and heard. Her role as mother also plays a good part here. Still the work reveals much about the Johnson's rich world of acquaintances, political contacts. One of the little known stories about Lyndon Johnson was that he as a young politician went out of his way to help rescue Jews from the Nazis. One moving visit spoken about in the Diary is to an Austin congregation consisting in good part of those saved and their descendants. Lady Bird like her husband had a great appetite and appreciation for life. She writes in a direct way about her world of interests, including her social and charity work. She does not focus on the great historical events but on day- to- day life of her family. This is a very fine and informative book. Anyone who truly appreciates American political life will greatly enjoy this.

Bought this book for my in law since he loves to read. He mentioned for me to give it a whirl so I did. Great details from a woman whose life itself was under a microscope.