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The core exhibition of the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, Texas, is located on Floor 4 just off the Great Hall. It contains artifacts from throughout the life and presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973).
A Life in Politics
The first section of the core exhibition is A Life in Politics. It covers the many years of LBJ’s public service, from his time in Congress and the Senate all the way up until his nomination as Vice President under John F. Kennedy (1917-1963). Artifacts include LBJ’s passport, numerous awards, photos, campaign buttons, and documents.
Some of the more interesting items to me personally were a copy of Johnson’s address about the space race on January 14, 1958, and his space budget. The letter certifying he was elected Senate Minority Leader on January 2, 1953, is also displayed.
Nov. 22, 1963
The next section of the core exhibition at the LBJ Presidential Library is November 22, 1963. It’s the most somber section of the museum, dealing with the assassination of JFK and LBJ’s swearing-in as President.
Some of the documents on display include the cards Johnson read from as he made a statement from Andrews Air Force Base after Kennedy was assassinated.
Transition of Power
In the section Transition of Power, a pair of photos show Johnson meeting with former Presidents Eisenhower (1890-1969) and Truman (1884-1972) to ask for advice the day after the assassination.
An entire wall is dedicated to LBJ’s address to Congress and includes the cards he used during his speech. A copy of the Warren Report investigating the assassination sits nearby.
Finally, a hand-written letter from Jackie Kennedy (1929-1994) written the day after JFK’s funeral thanks LBJ for his kindness and support. It’s displayed next to a photo of the President laying a wreath at the funeral.
Civil Rights
The core exhibition of the LBJ Presidential Library continues with a section on Civil Rights. It highlights the important progress Johnson made on the issue, including desegregation, voting rights, and more.
On display are a literacy test once used to disqualify African American and other minority voters as well as the desk LBJ used to sign the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Great Society
The next section covers Johnson’s Great Society, which was a set of domestic programs launched by the President in 1964 and 1965 aimed at eliminating poverty and racial injustice.
Topics covered included LBJ’s positive and lasting impact on health care, education, the arts, the environment, and immigration.
The Great Society section ends with statistics on how Johnson’s programs greatly improved the lives of many Americans as well as a list of countries wishing to duplicate some of the programs.
Foreign Policy
After a short section on space, the exhibition continues with a section on Foreign Policy. Most of it centered around American relations with the Soviet Union. A teletype machine used to communicate directly with the Soviets as well as declassified letters between the two powers are on display.
Vietnam War
The final section of the core exhibition at the LBJ Presidential Museum dealt with the Vietnam War. In addition to the several artifacts and photos, there was a topographical map of Khe Sanh used by LBJ and his advisors to follow the conflicts on the ground.
The exhibition continues with Johnson’s refusal to run for a second term as President, followed by letters thanking him for his service and dedication to the country.
Conclusion
Overall, I think the core exhibition was very well done. It covered not only LBJ’s successes but also criticized his failures, especially regarding the Vietnam War. It helped me to greater understand the man in power during one of the most turbulent times in American history, and to appreciate his legacy.
