Lady Bird was granted a long life and gave us so much from it. She has been part of my political conscience since my early childhood, when President Kennedy was assassinated. She loved America and Americans and with her gentle but firm guidance, she raised our consciousness about our beautiful land. "Make it green" was an unwritten bylaw for my generation.

Few sights in America are as breathtaking as the wildflowers she invited generations to sow across Texas. Every time I'm treated to the sight of horizon-to-horizon bluebonnets, I think of her and will remember her from now on.

And as much as she loved our land, she loved her husband. They were a model of a loving couple; team-mates and soul-mates, two halves of the same thing. Now, they are at long last reunited, though their joy at being together comes with our sorrow at her loss.

I've been lucky enough to visit the LBJ library and to visit the ranch. The stories of the Johnsons' strength and compassion warm the heart and are an example for us all.

My prayers are with their family and friends. You are suffering a great personal loss, but know that our love, admiration and compassion surround you.

Posted by HillWilliam4Edwards08 on July 12, 2007 at 10:41 AM

That was beautiful. Thank you for your thoughts.

As a resident of Austin, I didn't realize until recently that she was the main one responsible for our beautiful Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail. Thousands of people use this trail every day and it is considered one of our city's treasures.

Thank you Mrs. Johnson.

Every spring we always look forward to seeing blankets of wildflowers along the roads here in Texas.

Thank you Mrs. Johnson.

Lady Bird Johnson was the kind of person who truly made the world a better place.

Thank you Mrs. Johnson.

Perhaps Lady Bird Johnson’s death is a reminder of her life reflecting how some first lady’s have the ability to be President and can have a profound effect on this country?

Unfortunately, some Republican’s can only ‘stand by their man’ as far as male Presidential Candidates go. Looks like some people in this country are in need of either a male or female President to take on Women’s Rights either way.

In the meanwhile, Republican’s who happen to be female will let the Catholic Church ministers and their male president tell them what to do as far as abortion goes. Isn’t it a pity? I guess George Bush’s morals are everybody’s morals in the Republican Party who want to brag about their morals, always looking the other way and challenging too little too late when it comes to the Iraq war.

Posted by ElizabethJW on July 12, 2007 at 12:15 PM

That's a great point. Here's an article from the Los Angeles Times on how Lady Bird Johnson broadened the job description of First Lady.

I thank her for the memories of two White House wedddings, her unending support for civil rights and the poor, and for making our green spaces a little more vibrant with wildflowers.

I admired her gentle Southern charm and uncanny understanding of ecology.

She threw out native American seeds hoping to see our praires regain their color. What she did is re-establish plant populations that had almost become extinct from too much chemical spraying for "weeds."

Johnny Appleseed has a new friend to keep him company in heaven today.

Bless her and her family who must miss her terribly.

democrats cannot leave politics out of anything. A woman was lost and all you can do is bash Bush some more. Shame on you!!! Lady Bird Johnson was a great woman and did right by America even when America was at it's lowest point ever. She was the epitomy of a woman and her hospitality and genuine love for this country will be greatly missed. We will miss her.

ElizabethJW: I don't know what brain spasm leads you to disrespect a tribute to Lady Bird, but I take offense for that reason and another.
Your petty, back-handed poke at the Catholic Church was waaay out of line.
The "pro-life", "pro-family" gurus that the Republicans kiss up to are the likes of Pat Robertson, and Oral Roberts, and others of the Born-again brigade, who are as virulently Anti-Catholic, as you are.
You need to look past your own nose before you start bad mouthing other people.