Lady Bird Johnson
Lady Bird Johnson succeeded Jackie Kennedy as the First Lady on the heels of America’s darling. Yet, she remained one of the country’s most famous first women. She was well-known for campaigning hard for her husband’s presidential campaign in 1964, bringing her train, called the “Lady Bird Special,” across various Southern states.
She supported working women and persuaded her husband, Lyndon B. Johnson, to appoint women to government positions. She pledged to “beautify” the country by advocating for removal of obnoxious advertising from roads and protecting California redwoods.
Lady Bird was the first First Lady to get a press secretary and staff director. Her importance to the president and leadership abilities place her in the top tier. Her favorite program as the First Lady was Head Start – a program intended to assist preschool children from low-income families prepares for their education.