I love the Great Hall of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library. It’s ceremonial staircase ascends into a four-story glass encased view of the archives collection, which emanates a lustrous red glow throughout the entire space. Mirroring the archives on the opposite wall is a nearly four-story Presidential Seal, beautifully etched into the travertine wall. The feeling of the overall space is both elegant and restrained. Another design feature that I love are the photographic Presidential portraits lining the walls, with their respective first ladies beneath them. If you look closely at the photo below, they’ve left space for the next President on the far right. I’m wondering what the protocol will be in the event the Hillary Rodham-Clinton is elected our next President… will they place former President Bill Clinton beneath her portrait? I guess time will tell.
The monolithic ten-story LBJ Presidential Library and Museum was completed in 1971 by architect Gordon Bunshaft of Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill. This is one of 13 Presidential Libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration… that’s two down and 11 to go! I know it sounds kinda nerdy, but there’s something so rewarding about walking through these time capsules that include tv-shows and other elements of the era, to help add perspective to the time in which the Presidents governed.
This particular library tours starts with a very poignant look at the events that thrust LBJ into the Presidential seat… the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The photo below shows then Vice President Lyndon Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson comforting First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy aboard Air Force One after the assassination.
Additionally, the LBJ Presidential Library has rotating exhibits. I feel fortunate to have been there on one of the last days of the Selma Exhibit: March to Freedom. The exhibit featured photos by renowned civil rights photographer James ‘Spider’ Martin as well as select photos from the April 2014 Civil Rights Summit at the LBJ Presidential Library.
Earlier this year I attended a Los Angeles exhibition at the Fahey/Klein Gallery titled March to Freedom that also focused on the 50 year anniversary of the march to Selma. It included the photos of Stephen Somerstein, Flip Shculke, and Steve Schapiro. Happily photographers Steve Schapiro and Stephen Somerstein were able to attend the opening night gala. It’s so hard to believe that these gentlemen witnessed that remarkable journey, and I feel so honored to have met both of them. Little did I know at the time of this exhibit that I’d also be seeing the exhibit at LBJ… maybe there’s an order to the cosmos that remains unseen.
Learn more about the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library Here.
