# 1318 - 1966 5c Beautification of America
Quantity: 128,460,000
First Lady Johnson was born on December 22, 1912, in Karnack, Texas.
Born Claudia Alta Taylor, the future Mrs. Johnson was nicknamed "Lady Bird" by her nurse, who said she was as purty as a lady bird. The daughter of a successful cotton planter and one of the largest landowners in the county, Lady Bird had a privileged childhood. She spent time in the fields of wildflowers surrounding her East Texas home, instilling an appreciation of nature that continued throughout her life.
Lady Bird was also a bright young woman, graduating third in her high school class at just 15 years old. She studied journalism at the University of Texas at Austin and graduated with honors. She planned to embark on a career in journalism or writing, but met Lyndon Johnson ten weeks after graduation and the couple began their whirlwind romance.
In 1960, Johnson accepted John F. Kennedy's request to serve as Presidential running mate. Lady Bird campaigned actively, filling in for the pregnant Jackie Kennedy, often with little notice. She called the Democratic Party the "party with heart" and traveled some 35,000 miles in 71 days. After Kennedy and Johnson won the election, she continued to fill in for Jackie when needed and traveled extensively with her husband.
Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson traveled across America while campaigning for the 1964 election. At a stop in Oregon, Mr. Johnson told the audience the unsightly junkyards and billboards along the roads "are driving my wife mad." This trip and speech inspired Lady Bird in her most famous undertaking: the Highway Beautification Act. She employed her quiet Southern charm to influence legislators and the media to see the importance of beautifying the country. Though the act was met with significant opposition, particularly from businesses who would lose valuable advertising space, the First Lady was very convincing and would not back down. Her diligence paid off, and the act, nicknamed "Lady Bird's Bill", passed in 1965. With the passage of this bill, the amount of junkyards and billboards along highways were drastically reduced, making room for artistic landscaping and wildflowers in bloom.
Lady Bird was outspoken on both the rights of women and minorities, and was the only woman present when her husband signed the Civil Rights Act. She stressed the importance of racial integration and embarked on a speaking tour, even after threats were made on her life. Lady Bird convinced her husband not to run for another term and they retired to Texas, though she remained extremely busy. She carried out new beautification projects in her home state, served as a regent of the University of Texas, and was awarded the Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal. Lady Bird also helped establish the National Wildflower Research Center. One of her final generous acts before her passing in 2007 was donating $300,000 to her church to help pay off its mortgage.
Quantity: 128,460,000
First Lady Johnson was born on December 22, 1912, in Karnack, Texas.
Born Claudia Alta Taylor, the future Mrs. Johnson was nicknamed "Lady Bird" by her nurse, who said she was as purty as a lady bird. The daughter of a successful cotton planter and one of the largest landowners in the county, Lady Bird had a privileged childhood. She spent time in the fields of wildflowers surrounding her East Texas home, instilling an appreciation of nature that continued throughout her life.
Lady Bird was also a bright young woman, graduating third in her high school class at just 15 years old. She studied journalism at the University of Texas at Austin and graduated with honors. She planned to embark on a career in journalism or writing, but met Lyndon Johnson ten weeks after graduation and the couple began their whirlwind romance.
In 1960, Johnson accepted John F. Kennedy's request to serve as Presidential running mate. Lady Bird campaigned actively, filling in for the pregnant Jackie Kennedy, often with little notice. She called the Democratic Party the "party with heart" and traveled some 35,000 miles in 71 days. After Kennedy and Johnson won the election, she continued to fill in for Jackie when needed and traveled extensively with her husband.
Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson traveled across America while campaigning for the 1964 election. At a stop in Oregon, Mr. Johnson told the audience the unsightly junkyards and billboards along the roads "are driving my wife mad." This trip and speech inspired Lady Bird in her most famous undertaking: the Highway Beautification Act. She employed her quiet Southern charm to influence legislators and the media to see the importance of beautifying the country. Though the act was met with significant opposition, particularly from businesses who would lose valuable advertising space, the First Lady was very convincing and would not back down. Her diligence paid off, and the act, nicknamed "Lady Bird's Bill", passed in 1965. With the passage of this bill, the amount of junkyards and billboards along highways were drastically reduced, making room for artistic landscaping and wildflowers in bloom.
Lady Bird was outspoken on both the rights of women and minorities, and was the only woman present when her husband signed the Civil Rights Act. She stressed the importance of racial integration and embarked on a speaking tour, even after threats were made on her life. Lady Bird convinced her husband not to run for another term and they retired to Texas, though she remained extremely busy. She carried out new beautification projects in her home state, served as a regent of the University of Texas, and was awarded the Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal. Lady Bird also helped establish the National Wildflower Research Center. One of her final generous acts before her passing in 2007 was donating $300,000 to her church to help pay off its mortgage.