Piece Comment

Review of Lady Bird Johnson: Legacy of a First Lady


This is an excellent, uplifting journey through Ladybird Johnson’s life, and her growth and transition to first lady under tragic conditions. It’s wonderful to hear her voice, rendered here in excerpts from interviews she's given and speeches she's made. It is especially poignant to hear a portion of her first audio diary entry, made the day after JFK’s assassination. Nuanced choices of music are a production plus, but the strength is in the spoken word. Wisely chosen excerpts create a rich experience. The hour contains a wide range of voices, from historians to those who worked with her or know her, and they pinpoint her influence on LBJ, and on the capital, and the nation –– particularly in the areas of environment, race, and education. She truly is a force for good. sl