Claudia Johnson

Lady Bird had astute grace with a business mind and was not afraid to roll up her sleeves to solve problems. By the time she became First Lady, she was already the owner of a successful radio and television station in Texas. She took the spouse’s role in presidential campaigning to new dimensions by taking a solo whistle-stop train trip on “The Lady Bird Special,” giving 47 speeches in eight Southern states. Best remembered for her wildflower beautification initiative, Lady Bird took the unprecedented step of using her influence as First Lady to pass legislation through Congress for the Beautification Act of 1965.