Claudia "Lady Bird" Taylor Johnson

Lady Bird and Chocolate Nut Drops

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First Ladies - 1900 to 2000

Claudia "Lady Bird" Taylor Johnson*

President Lyndon B. Johnson*

Lady Bird and LBJ*

First Lady Bird and President Lyndon Baines Johnson
First Lady - November 22, 1963 - January 20, 1969
Quotes from Lady Bird -

• “Art is the window to man's soul. Without it, he would never be able to see beyond his immediate world; nor could the world see the man within.”
• “Where flowers bloom, so does hope.”

​Factoid - 

• Lady Bird Johnson a millionaire before becoming First Lady.  She owned a media empire in Austin, Texas. 

Bio - 

• Claudia Taylor was born in east Texas to wealthy parents. Her mother died when she was young and Claudia was raised by her father, an aunt, and household employees.  Her nickname of “Lady Bird” came from a nanny who said that she was “as pretty as a lady bird”.  Lady Bird moved to Austin, where she graduated from the University of Texas, earning two degrees - in history and journalism.  She met Lyndon Johnson in Austin and they married in 1934, having two daughters together. 
• ​Lady Bird inherited money and used funds to invest in a radio station in Austin, Texas.  She managed it for decades, even as First lady. The station expanded to include an FM station and a television station, making Lady Bird a millionaire in her own right. She donated $10,000 to promote Lyndon’s bid for Congress. He won and she ran his Congressional office when Lyndon enlisted in the Navy during World War II.
• In 1963, Lyndon Johnson became President, when John F. Kennedy was assassinated.  A few weeks later, Lady Bird and Lyndon moved into the White House and Lady Bird began a successful time as First Lady. 
• Lady Bird's agenda included lobbying for environmental legislation and she continued her endeavors long after leaving the White House.  One of her achievements including the Highway Beautification Act of 1965, also known as “Lady Bird’s Bill.  
• Lady Bird also continued Jackie Kennedy's restoration of the historic authenticity of the White House.  She hosted art exhibits, festivals, writers, musicians, and actors in a support for the Arts and Humanities.
• Lady Bird also redesigned the White House East Garden, dedicating it as the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden and she created a Children's Garden on the South Lawn.
• After leaving the White House, she created the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas, as a place for researching  and protecting our Nation's wildflowers and environment.  Lady Bird earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal for her work with the environment.

About Lyndon (LBJ) - Lyndon Johnson became  the 36th President after John Kennedy’s assassination.  LBJ's Presidency began and continued through tumultuous times in the U.S., with the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy.  LBJ oversaw the Civil Rights Act - with the aim of stopping discrimination based on race, color, religion, and nationality.  He launched the "Great Society" to fight poverty and expand education and healthcare. Despite his domestic achievements, the escalation of the Vietnam War led to widespread protest. He chose not to seek re-election amid growing unrest.

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Chocolate Nut Drops

​Ingredients - Makes 6 dozen.
1 cup butter
2 or 3 eggs, slightly beaten
3 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups walnuts, chopped
2 cups light brown sugar, sifted
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon baking soda
4 squares baking chocolate, melted
2 teaspoon vanilla

Steps

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Prepare cookie sheets by greasing or lining with parchment paper.
2. In a mixing bowl, mix together butter and sifted brown sugar until light and fluffy.  Mix in eggs.  
3. In a separate bowl or on a sheet of waxed paper, sift together dry ingredients.  Mix into butter mixture alternately with milk.  Mix until smooth. 
4. Stir in by hand:  melted chocolate, chopped nuts, and vanilla.
5. Drop by teaspoonfuls (one-inch apart) on prepared cookie sheets.
6. Bake at 375 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes.  Cool 5 minutes on cookie sheet, then transfer to wire rack to cool.

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Photo Credits*
Lady Bird - oil painting - Elizabeth Shoumatoff, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; with LBJ - LBJ Library photo by Robert Knudsen,  Johnson Library Serial Number - "32686-19", Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Lyndon Johnson - Official White House Photo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons