Labors of Love

I found nothing more effective in communicating admirable character traits than the personal writings, correspondence, and diary entries of the First Ladies Lady Bird Johnson and Jackie Kennedy. Not only did the First Lady exhibit reveal their own grace, humility, and sincerity, it revealed the virtues of their husbands and relationships as a family. The kinship between the two families was remarkable as Jackie denotes in a letter to Lyndon B. Johnson, thanking him for his steadfast friendship throughout trying times.
Jackie notes the singularity of this close-knit relationship between a president and his vice president, in that it is usually more than tense. “But you were always Jack’s right arm…” She emphasizes his humility in working under John F Kennedy despite the fact that he himself was the more experienced senator and “taught Jack everything he knew.” This letter, meant for no audience other than Lyndon B Johnson, was a testament to their friendship. Jackie’s laboriously handwritten, several page letter emanates with sincerity and true appreciation. One can glean LBJ’s unique lack of hubris in his love of JFK and his family in such a letter. The correspondence exhibit in effect eliminates any skepticism of the legitimacy of their friendship.
Likewise, Lady Bird Johnson’s not to LBJ wipes away any doubt that the two had a warm, loving relationship. “In the name of tomorrow,” writes Lady Bird, “come eat, then sleep, and know that you are loved.” The perception the media gives us today of relationships in politics is so sensationalistic that a raw cynicism and mistrust of any government leader is now questioned. Notes such as these prove that there was a time of sincerity and companionship. Lady Bird and Lyndon B Johnson maintained a balance in their lives between work and more importantly, relationships. Lady Bird’s selflessness and genuineness as her husband’s friend was truly inspirational.

This montage not only portrays Lyndon B Johnson's love for his family, but the nature of his relationship with the Kennedy's. Jackie Kennedy gravely stands by his side as he is sworn in as president following JFK's murder.

The virtues of Lyndon B Johnson that surfaced in both the writings of Jackie Kennedy and Lady Bird arose again in each of the following exhibits. I was struck by his personability in the “sense of humor” exhibit, which played recordings of his hill country anecdotes. Lyndon B Johnson did not put on airs in the company of politicians. He related his past and lessons he learned growing up in the Texas hill country to his work. Johnson had a remarkable sense of place.
The actor portraying Johnson captured Johnson’s simultaneous humility and powerful presence. Entering the proscenium with a long stride, hearty Texan, “hello,” I immediately felt that this presence must be similar to the sense of the man in the flesh. The actor portraying Johnson said he had been called “an arm twister” as well as “a man of pure action”. These words communicate exactly the impression of Johnson I had after seeing the exhibits and then watching the performance. His stance, gestures, even the occasional chuckle throughout the performance impressed upon me his power as a speaker. I then made the connection between this powerful presence and his effectiveness with Congress. The Civil Rights Act could not have been passed without Johnson’s guiding hand.
Overall, the museum heavily impressed upon me the virtues of sincerity, friendship, humility, and sense of place. The Johnson’s and the Kennedy’s had a steadfast bond as both families valued these characteristics and found them in each other.