Rebekah Baines Johnson

Rebekah Baines Johnson was the wife of Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th President of the United States, and the First Lady of the United States from 1963 to 1969. She was known for her support of the National Park Service, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the Texas Hill Country. As First Lady, she worked closely with Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the United States Department of the Interior to promote the Highway Beautification Act. Her efforts were also influenced by her relationships with Ralph Yarborough, Hugo Black, and Earle Cabell.

● Early Life

Rebekah Baines Johnson was born in Haskell, Texas, to Joseph Wilson Baines and Rebecca Jane Baines. She grew up in a family of modest means and was educated at Baylor University and the University of Texas at Austin. During her time at university, she was influenced by the works of William Faulkner, Ernest Hemingway, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Her early life was also shaped by her relationships with Sam Rayburn, John Nance Garner, and Coke Stevenson.

● Career

As the wife of Lyndon B. Johnson, Rebekah Baines Johnson supported her husband throughout his career, including his time in the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. She was also a strong advocate for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Great Society programs, working closely with Martin Luther King Jr., Thurgood Marshall, and Hubert Humphrey. Her career was influenced by her relationships with Eleanor Roosevelt, Bess Truman, and Mamie Eisenhower.

● Personal Life

Rebekah Baines Johnson was known for her strong personality and her support of the arts and conservation. She was a close friend of Georgia O'Keeffe, Ansel Adams, and Rachel Carson, and worked to promote their work through the National Endowment for the Arts and the Sierra Club. Her personal life was also influenced by her relationships with Adlai Stevenson II, Nelson Rockefeller, and Barry Goldwater.

● Family and Legacy

Rebekah Baines Johnson was the mother of two daughters, Lynda Bird Johnson and Luci Baines Johnson. Her family was close to the Kennedy family, particularly Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Robert F. Kennedy. Her legacy continues to be felt through the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum, which were established in part through her efforts. Her family's legacy is also tied to the work of Walter Cronkite, Eric Sevareid, and Edward R. Murrow.

● Later Life and Death

Rebekah Baines Johnson passed away on September 12, 1977, in Stonewall, Texas. Her death was mourned by Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, and Richard Nixon, among others. Her later life was marked by her continued support of the Democratic Party and her work with the United States Department of State and the United Nations. Her legacy continues to be celebrated through the work of the National Park Service, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the Texas Hill Country. Her memory is also honored through the work of Bill Moyers, Cokie Roberts, and Dan Rather.