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Obit: Lady Bird Johnson (11 July 2007)

11 Jul 07 - 06:54 PM (#2100304)
Subject: Obit: Lady Bird Johnson
From: Rapparee

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Lady Bird Johnson, the former first lady who championed conservation and worked tenaciously for the political career of her husband, Lyndon B. Johnson, died Wednesday, a family spokeswoman said. She was 94. Johnson, who suffered a stroke in 2002 that affected her ability to speak, returned home late last month after a week at Seton Medical Center, where she'd been admitted for a low-grade fever.


11 Jul 07 - 06:56 PM (#2100306)
Subject: Obit: Lady Bird Johnson, the former first lad
From: GUEST,Bob

One of the nicest ladies who ever lived died today.
Lady Bird Johnson, the former first lady who championed conservation and worked tenaciously for the political career of her husband, Lyndon B. Johnson. She was 94.

Saw them both on a trip to the states in 1975. The looked a lovely couple.

She is at peace with her partner now.

Rest in peace Ladybird.


11 Jul 07 - 06:58 PM (#2100309)
Subject: RE: Obit: Lady Bird Johnson
From: katlaughing

Oh, that is so sad. I really held great affection for her and her wildflowers.

Thank you, dear Lady.


Love,

Kat


11 Jul 07 - 07:06 PM (#2100317)
Subject: RE: Obit: Lady Bird Johnson, the former first lad
From: Rog Peek

Yes, Lyndon B. was a lucky man.


11 Jul 07 - 07:26 PM (#2100324)
Subject: RE: Obit: Lady Bird Johnson
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko

She was a wonderful woman and her efforts for conservation came at an important time. I truly believe that she had an impact on helping people become aware of the environment which grew with the environmental movement.

Bob, your trip might have been earlier than you remember. Lyndon Johnson passed away in 1973.


11 Jul 07 - 07:34 PM (#2100331)
Subject: RE: Obit: Lady Bird Johnson
From: GUEST,Bob

Sorry your right Ron it was 1968. I was also there in 1971 and 1975.

Apologies, it's an age think with me !

Please look upon it as a senior moment.


11 Jul 07 - 07:36 PM (#2100333)
Subject: RE: Obit: Lady Bird Johnson
From: GUEST,Greycap

With absolutely no disrespect intended to this dear lady's passing, I fail to see the slightest connection with music.
Am I wrong?
    All obituaries start in the music section. The volunteers and I move the non-music obits to the non-music section when we see them.
    -Joe Offer-


11 Jul 07 - 07:39 PM (#2100336)
Subject: RE: Obit: Lady Bird Johnson
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko

You are right, but so what?


11 Jul 07 - 07:40 PM (#2100337)
Subject: RE: Obit: Lady Bird Johnson
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko

Ooops... that wasn't directed at you Bob!   I have senior moments too!!


11 Jul 07 - 07:40 PM (#2100338)
Subject: RE: Obit: Lady Bird Johnson
From: GUEST,Bob

Possibly sir you are correct.

I only wished to converse and express my condolences with other friends here from America.

We do talk about other things from time to time.

I am old enough to remember her and she was part of my generation.

Thanks.


11 Jul 07 - 07:47 PM (#2100347)
Subject: RE: Obit: Lady Bird Johnson (11 July 2007)
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko

I'm glad you posted Bob. We do need to remember people like her.

She was part of our lives and she set a fine example.


11 Jul 07 - 07:56 PM (#2100354)
Subject: RE: Obit: Lady Bird Johnson (11 July 2007)
From: Herga Kitty

Remembered from my teenage years (in England) - all the way with LBJ. And because LBJ followed JFK.

Kitty


11 Jul 07 - 09:24 PM (#2100405)
Subject: RE: Obit: Lady Bird Johnson (11 July 2007)
From: GUEST,Bob

When someone of your generation passes on Ron you can't help but reflect on those years when they were an important figure in society.

As we all get older I think we go into recall a lot more. It's wonderful how the mind recalls the happy times and erases the bad.

Sadly the death of this fine lady will mean nothing to the younger generation. To me she set the trend as the first "first lady" to create a role for herself which was more than just a smile and a wave on the arm of a president.

I only saw LBJ and his wife from a distance, it was the taxi driver that informed me who they were. LBJ was a very imposing figure of a man. It was hard for him to fill the shoes of JFK, I think he did a fine job.
She reached a great age and lived a full life.


11 Jul 07 - 09:28 PM (#2100407)
Subject: RE: Obit: Lady Bird Johnson (11 July 2007)
From: wysiwyg

A sweetie, a funlover, and a dignified lady. Uncommon combination.\

~S~


12 Jul 07 - 11:51 AM (#2100728)
Subject: RE: Obit: Lady Bird Johnson (11 July 2007)
From: SINSULL

She was a gracious and dignified lady. I remember the TV satirists having great fun with her plea that each of us "plant a tereee or a buuush or a shruuub." But we all did plant something.

The White House didn't have the glitz and glamour of the Kennedy years but there was a certain elegance. And it came from Lady Bird. While Johnson exposed his gall bladder surgery scar or picked up the family dog by the ears, Lady Bird was always a lady.

They, of course, inherited Viet Nam. Sad, bitter times. I did not envy her living in the spotlight. My feeling was that she would have preferred not to.

RIP, First Lady.


12 Jul 07 - 11:55 AM (#2100735)
Subject: RE: Obit: Lady Bird Johnson (11 July 2007)
From: Mrrzy

I like the thread title on some posts about The former first lad.

She was a sweetie - but I have to admit I had no idea she was still alive. When I saw her obit on a paper still in a bin I had to look to see what year it was...


12 Jul 07 - 01:33 PM (#2100840)
Subject: RE: Obit: Lady Bird Johnson (11 July 2007)
From: jeffp

She was an environmentalist before there was an environmental movement of any size. Our neighbor owned a gas station in NW Washington, DC. He planted it with gardens and won an award presented by the lady herself. He was very proud of the picture of the presentation, and rightly so.


12 Jul 07 - 03:31 PM (#2100932)
Subject: RE: Obit: Lady Bird Johnson (11 July 2007)
From: Greg B

Don't forget the Head Start program for inner-city youth,
which she pioneered.

I didn't like seeing LBJ pick her up by her ears, though.


12 Jul 07 - 04:03 PM (#2100957)
Subject: RE: Obit: Lady Bird Johnson (11 July 2007)
From: Leadbelly

"LBJ was a very imposing figure of a man. It was hard for him to fill the shoes of JFK, I think he did a fine job."

Are you really sure about this? Think of " Lyndon Johnson told the nation..." by Paxton.


12 Jul 07 - 04:25 PM (#2100976)
Subject: RE: Obit: Lady Bird Johnson (11 July 2007)
From: katlaughing

Lady Bird Johnson's two daughters and other family and friends ended their bedside vigil with a song and a prayer as the former first lady -- died.

How appropriate it seems for this dear lady to have had a song while she was leaving.


12 Jul 07 - 04:33 PM (#2100982)
Subject: RE: Obit: Lady Bird Johnson (11 July 2007)
From: gnu

One of the "better" ones. RIP.


13 Jul 07 - 04:49 AM (#2101383)
Subject: RE: Obit: Lady Bird Johnson (11 July 2007)
From: goatfell

I wasn't born when she was Amerca's first lady, but it is sad when someone dies. RIP


13 Jul 07 - 06:46 AM (#2101442)
Subject: RE: Obit: Lady Bird Johnson (11 July 2007)
From: GUEST,Bob

Leadbelly, I really don't judge a man on the words of a song.

This is just another Joe McDonald and the fish type of unpatriotic song.


13 Jul 07 - 07:01 AM (#2101449)
Subject: RE: Obit: Lady Bird Johnson (11 July 2007)
From: Big Al Whittle

Tom Paxton never wrote an unpatriotic line in his life. Love of one's country is more than agreeing with every damn silly thing the politicians come up with.


13 Jul 07 - 08:06 AM (#2101478)
Subject: RE: Obit: Lady Bird Johnson (11 July 2007)
From: Leadbelly

Thanks for your competent comment on Tom, weelittledrummer.
On the other hand I did not intend to lead a discussion about Lyndon Johnson, Bob. T'was only because of your absolute characterization of "he did a fine job". Maybe in internal US-politics but by no means in foreign things like Vietnam.


13 Jul 07 - 09:25 AM (#2101537)
Subject: RE: Obit: Lady Bird Johnson (11 July 2007)
From: goatfell

I'm from Scotland, and the was a custard over here called BIRDS, and the owner and his wife were known as LORD AND LADY BIRD


13 Jul 07 - 07:21 PM (#2102018)
Subject: RE: Obit: Lady Bird Johnson (11 July 2007)
From: RangerSteve

As it was pointed out earlier, the younger people won't appreciate her work, but I remember when billboards were all over the roads, blocking the view, and junkyards were right along the highways, with no attempt at hiding them. Sadly, the billboards are still around, but not nearly as numerous as they once were. For removing most of the billboards and junkyards alone, she deserves a lot of gratitude.


14 Jul 07 - 05:02 PM (#2102692)
Subject: RE: Obit: Lady Bird Johnson (11 July 2007)
From: GUEST,ifor

I am sure Ladybird was a kind and caring person but let us not get too dewy eyed about her husband.The anti war chant in 1968 was
"Hey!Hey!LBJ
How many kids
Did you kill today?"

He may have inherited the war but he took the criminal decision to escalate it ...and a million vietnamese ,mostly civilians died in the carnage.Many of the dead were mothers,sisters and daughters but of course we dont know their names.
The war broke both the US army and LBJ.


14 Jul 07 - 05:45 PM (#2102717)
Subject: RE: Obit: Lady Bird Johnson (11 July 2007)
From: Rapparee

This thread is not about Lyndon Baines Johnson OR the Vietnam War. If you want to discuss those, start new threads.


14 Jul 07 - 06:42 PM (#2102751)
Subject: RE: Obit: Lady Bird Johnson (11 July 2007)
From: Greg B

It was unthinkable to LBJ (or probably his wife) to be the first
US President to admit defeat in any war. Hell, even his successor
didn't admit defeat, but rather declared victory and went home. LBJ
in essence, resigned the presidency over his inability to resolve
the Viet Nam issue, and this in spite of having had more success
on thorny domestic issues since FDR.

He had terrible advice, from guys like Westmoreland and McNamara,
who were supposed to be the best and brightest but who were fighting
a different war in a different place than the one which was before
them, and who were too weak to give the advice to cut our losses.

Hmmm---- this begins to look all too familiar.