Presidential Background: Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ), born on August 27, 1908, in Stonewall, Texas, became the 36th president of the United States, serving from 1963 to 1969. Raised in rural poverty, Johnson worked his way up through education and politics, earning a degree from Southwest Texas State Teachers College. He taught school before entering politics, first serving as a congressional aide and later as a U.S. Congressman in 1937. Johnson rose to national prominence as a U.S. Senator and Senate Majority Leader, where he was known for his mastery of legislative tactics. LBJ became president after the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963. He was elected to a full term in 1964, winning in a landslide. Johnson’s presidency was marked by his “Great Society” initiatives, which aimed to eliminate poverty and racial injustice. Key programs included Medicare, Medicaid, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. However, his presidency was also marred by the escalating Vietnam War, which deeply divided the nation. Johnson chose not to seek re-election in 1968, leaving office in 1969. He is remembered for his domestic reforms and the transformative impact of his Great Society programs, despite the controversy over Vietnam.

Presidential Library Location: Austin, Texas

Hours Of Operation: 7 days a week, 9 A.M.-5 P.M.

Home Location: Stonewall, Texas(Texas White House)/Johnson City, Texas(Childhood Home)

My Experience: Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to go to his presidential library in Austin, BUT I was able to go to his national historic site, which I would assume is what I would prefer over the other due to the fact that you can get a more in depth look and feel into his life. Here, you can see his boyhood home, his church, school, his gravesite, “Air Force One-Half“, and other locations on the large ranch area that he grew up on. When I went, I actually went twice within a month! Why? I went the 2nd time with my family after flying out to meet them for a family trip, and then the first time I went was with my late friend, Summer, and her boyfriend, Brad. On my first visit, it was the day that I was scheduled to take the flight home, so, I was a little rushed. Nonetheless, this was one of my more memorable moments and experiences with Summer in our friendship. She never really was the history buff that I was, but even she loved it. Growing up, she was a big animal lover, having grown up in Florida’s big horse community of Davie. She also loved interacting with cows, and when we got to the area of the ranch where the cows were, she JUST HAD to stop and get out to get closer to them and try petting them LOL. At the time, again, I was in a rush, so it didn’t make me too happy at the time. However, looking back now, I smile because I know she truly enjoyed the overall experience. We also had the chance to go tour the grounds of the Texas White House(LBJ and Ladybird’s home), Air Force One-Half, his childhood home(Which Summer even considered trying to go work for), his former church site, and his grave site. Thankfully. We covered most of this, even through the big hurry, but it truly is one of my most cherished memories looking back and considering it was the last and only vacation experience I’d get to have with one of my very best friends.