No visit to the Texas Hill Country is complete without visiting the LBJ State Park and Historical Site. Lyndon Baines Johnson was the 36th President of the United States, serving from 1963 through 1969. He was the Vice President of John F Kennedy, and took over the presidency upon Kennedy’s death. Many, even most, baby boomers remember his presidency well since it happened during the tumultuous 1960s, and his part in escalating the VietNam War was extremely controversial. Johnson was a Democrat, a United States Congressman who became a Senator and the Senate Majority Leader. He was chosen as JFK’s running mate, and became President in 1963. Johnson’s “Great Society” and War on Poverty was his passion, sadly the war derailed his domestic policy. Johnson’s accomplishments tend to be forgotten now, but this is the President who passed Medicare and Medicaid, and created public television. He signed civil rights bills into law that banned racial discrimination in public facilities, at work and in housing. The Voting Rights Act prohibited certain practices in southern states used since Jim Crow laws to disenfranchise African American voters (now many of those same states have voter ID laws, which also tends to disenfranchise the African American Vote). The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 he signed changed the country’s immigration system by encouraging greater immigration from regions other than Europe, which is so much in the news in the 21st Century. Johnson’s presidency marked the peak of modern liberalism, and had he not been ruined by the war, it is hard to know what other programs and legislation would have been passed for the betterment of the citizenry. His wife, Lady Bird Johnson (also LBJ) is responsible for the Texas wildflower bloom every spring.
I have been around the ranch and seen the grounds, but I have not yet toured the house. When I do, I will post all about the Texas White House!
General Store in Johnson City
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What a historical site. It must be great to wander around the historic park and learn about Johnson’s presidency. Thanks for sharing
I love the history of L.B.J.!
He is certainly an interesting character! I don’t think he gets enough recognition for the social justice he achieved.
We’d love to travel through Texas with a camper van and to visit places like LBJ State Park and Historical Site in Texas Hill County. Patience.
Hill Country is definitely worth a long visit!
I love your pictures! It really makes me feel like I’m there! Would love to visit and explore Texas one day.
Come on down!
I always find it… something, that JFK, who almost plunged the world into nuclear conflict and, of course, was also responsible for Vietnam, gets all the glory while poor old LBJ all the ignomy after quietly getting on and getting a LOT done, but there you go. Interesting place to visit for sure!
It does have to be said that LBJ has a mixed legacy…his escalation of Vietnam cost him his presidency, but his Great Society still lives on in medicare, medicaid, etc. He is an interesting person!
I did not know too much about LBJ before reading your post but it sounds like he accomplished a lot of good things while he was president.
His “Great Society” was a passion with him, and it is sad that he chose to escalate the Vietnam War, it truly did ruin his presidency. He does leave a legacy of caring for people.
I agree with you, If you do not visit this historical place it,s not completed. This place is very important for the Texas Hill Country. This man is the great opportunity for this world. I was read many books about this man. First time I see his home and childhood everything. That is very helpful for me. Thanks for sharing your information.
Very interesting. I really enjoyed reading this post. Are you able to explore the grounds there?
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Yes, you can drive the ranch, and get out of the car and walk around. I mean, obviously you can’t go in the pastures with the cattle!