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Lyndon B. Johnson Johnson NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE "It is impossible to live on this land without being a part of it. without being shaped by its qualities." Lyndon B. — Lyndon B. Johnson Johnson NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE . TEXAS that he could pass the examination for a teacher's cided about his future, he went with several veloped that aided the State and benefited the certificate. He was always proud of having scored friends to California to seek his fortune. He re­ youth during the Depression. Young people were * «nitli$ gemefbete (Bebutten: 100 percent in Texas and U.S. history. After teach­ turned home in a few months after having worked put to work building roadside parks, repairing @ol)n oon Sam 3ol)nfon, gebottn am ing for 2 years, he turned to farming and the at odd jobs up and down the coast to pay his room school buildings, and learning trade skills. More 27. Sluguft. — 'study of law. In 1904, he was elected to the State and board. When he could not find a job, he went than 75,000 students were able to continue in legislature and served 12 years. He worked hard hungry, or as he called it, "that was the time I Texas colleges because of NYA assistance. John­ to preserve the Alamo, to aid victims of drought, went on a diet." Back in Texas, he got a job driving son had a good background for this job. "Sure, I "Official announcement of birth: A son to Sam and to provide pensions for Confederate veterans a tractor for a road construction crew. Gentle guess I know a little bit about youth's hard lot in Johnson born August 27th." Thus Lyndon Baines and their widows. In 1907, he married Rebekah prodding from his parents and the stirrings of life," he said at the time. Johnson's birth was announced in the September Baines, a native of McKinney, Tex. She had worked ambitions eventually persuaded him that he should Received my early education in a country 9, 1908, issue of the German-language weekly, her way through her final year at Baylor University continue his schooling. school in the Hill Country. After schooling, Fredericksburger Wochenblatt. This simple report and was teaching in Fredericksburg when she In February 1927, he enrolled in Southwest Texas I got a job as a day laborer on the high­ made no predictions for the future of the first met Sam Johnson. State Teachers College in San Marcos. While in ways. I chopped weeds, earned a dollar child of a young Texas legislator, Sam Ealy John­ The young couple settled in Sam Sr.'s old home college, he worked as a janitor and as an assistant here and a dollar there, always with an son, Jr., and his wife, Rebekah. But the baby's on the banks of the Pedernales River. The next in the president's office. He edited the school idea in my mind of finishing a college grandfather did: "I have a mighty fine grandson, year their first son, Lyndon Baines, was born newspaper and was a member of the college de­ education. smart as you find them. I expect him to be a United there. Two daughters, Rebekah and Josefa, also bating team.The Dallas Morning News, speaking States Senator before he is forty." This prediction In early 1937, Representative James P. Buchanan were born in that house. In 1913 Sam Johnson, of his college days, once reported: missed by only 4I/2 months. Lyndon Johnson be­ died. Johnson announced for the special election Jr., moved his family to Johnson City to provide a came 40 years old on August 27, 1948, and took He recited his lessons aloud as he worked to fill the House seat, campaigned as a staunch better education, in which he strongly believed, his seat in the Senate on January 3, 1949. He alone after other students had left the supporter of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and for his children. The house they chose was a small surpassed even his grandfather's expectations school. He practiced oratory in the halls won. He took his seat on April 10, 1937. As a Victorian structure, complete with gingerbread when he became Vice President of the United which he kept clean. He made speeches young Congressman, he brought rural electrifi­ trim and lightning rods. Two more children, Lucia States in 1961 and the Nation's 36th President on to walls as he wiped them down. He told cation to the people of the Hill Country, increased and Sam, were born here. The Johnsons lived in November 22, 1963. tales of the ancients to the door mats water reserves by helping build a series of dams on this house until the children graduated from high which he shook free from dust. the lower Colorado River, and obtained for poor The Texas Hill Country has been home to the school except for a brief period when they re­ families in Austin the first federally supported Johnson family for well over a century. Sam Ealy turned to the farm along the Pedernales. In need of money, he took a year out to teach the low-cost housing project in the United States. Johnson, Sr., President Johnson's grandfather, fifth, sixth, and seventh grades at the Welhausen The years in this house were happy ones for the 9 78 27 was born in Georgia in 1838. In 1846 the family Grade School in Cotulla, Tex. He returned to In 1941, Johnson ran for the Senate seat vacated REPR!*. Johnsons. A constant stream of political and moved to Texas and settled near Lockhart. To­ Southwest Texas State Teachers College and by thedeathof Morris Sheppard.In a closely fought family acquaintances passed through the home. gether with his older brother, Tom, they began graduated with a B.S. degree in August 1930. The election, he lost to former Texas Gov. W. Lee Often there were last-minute guests who sat organizing cattle drives to Kansas' railheads in next month, he began teaching public speaking at O'Daniel—the only race Johnson lost in his politi­ down to one of Mrs. Johnson's country dinners. the late 1860's. In a rather loose partnership with Sam Houston High School in Houston. He stayed cal career. But he tried again and was elected to On a quiet summer evening, hide-and-seek, kick the two brothers were three nephews, Jesse, there 1 year and was then offered an opportunity the Senate in 1948. Johnson soon assumed in­ the-can, and baseball—the games that are the John, and James Johnson. Johnson City was laid which opened up a new field to him. creasing responsibilities and powers—Democra­ basis of childhood memories—were played. out on James' land. tic Whip in 1951, Minority Leader in 1953, and In November 1931, Richard M. Kleberg, one of the Lyndon's mother made sure that he was a good Majority Leader in 1955—and exercised in each After returning from service with Company B, owners of the King Ranch, won a seat in the House student: position a talent for bringing together people of 26th Texas Cavalry, Confederate States Army, of Representatives in a special election. Johnson diverse interests. Elected Vice President in 1960 Sam Johnson met and courted Eliza Bunton. They Many times I would not catch up with the had worked hard in the campaign, and Kleberg as the running mate of John F. Kennedy, Johnson were married on December 11, 1867. Almost fact that Lyndon was not prepared on a asked Johnson to go to Washington with him as traveled as America's spokesman to many trouble anything could happen on the frontier to which lesson until breakfast time of a school his secretary. Johnson accepted the offer and spots in the world. The assassination of President Sam brought Eliza. In August 1869, a band of day. Then I would get the book and place resigned his teaching position. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, brought Lyndon Indians killed and scalped a husband and wife it on the table before his father and devote He began learning the intricacies of national Johnson to the Nation's highest office. who lived a short distance from the Johnsons. A the whole breakfast period to a discussion politics and found the atmosphere to his liking. group of men was organized to chase the Indians of what my son should have learned the The American electorate in November 1964 gave He plunged into the affairs of the "Little Con­ and a fight took place at Deer Creek. Three men night before, not with Lyndon but with President Johnson a full 4-year term with the gress," an organization of Congressmen's secre­ As the Nation's principal conservation agency, were wounded and carried back to the Johnson my husband. largest percentage of the popular vote ever re­ taries and in his second year won election as its the Department of the Interior has basic responsi­ home where Eliza cared for them. This fight, how­ ceived. During his administration three major Of course Lyndon was too well trained to speaker—a notable feat for a newcomer. Vice bilities for water, fish, wildlife, mineral, land, park, ever, did not end the Indian menace. A short time civil rights bills were passed. Medicare began, interrupt this table talk and, forced to President John Nance Garner presented Johnson and recreational resources. Indian and Territorial later Eliza, alone with her baby daughter, saw an and Federal aid to education grew rapidly. A listen, he would learn. That way, and by with a gavel, made from a tree planted by Gen.
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