Everyone called her Lady Bird or just Bird. Her real name was Claudia. A nanny called her Lady Bird because she was so pretty.

Lady Bird’s mother died when she was five. Her father and aunt raised her. She was a very good student. She graduated high school at age 15.

She went to college. She studied the arts and journalism in college. After finishing college, she worked as a reporter for a short time.

Lady Bird met and married Lyndon Johnson in 1934. Together they had two daughters. Lyndon loved politics. They moved to Washington, D.C. when he was elected to Congress.

Lady Bird helped her husband. She ran his office during wartime. Even in 1955, when Lyndon had a heart attack, she helped run his office. She was a skillful vote getter. The party called her their secret weapon.

Lyndon Johnson became president when John Kennedy died. Lady Bird wanted to be a useful First Lady. She put a sign on her desk that read, can do. She worked to preserve America’s natural beauty. She also promoted preschool education.

Lady Bird supported Lyndon’s civil right programs. She cared about women’s rights. She often asked Lyndon, What did you do for women today?

The Johnsons retired to their Texas ranch. After Lyndon died, Lady Bird founded the Wildflower Research Center. Historians rank Lady Bird Johnson as one of our greatest First Ladies.