A favorite First Lady, Betty Ford

First Lady Lady Bird Johnson

 

 

Born: December 22, 1912 

Birthplace: Karnack, Texas 

Died: July 11, 2007 

Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson was First Lady of the United States from 1963 until 1969, during the presidency of her husband Lyndon B. Johnson. 

 

Second Lady of the United States

John F. Kennedy chose Lyndon Johnson as his running mate for the 1960 election. At Kennedy's request, Lady Bird took an expanded role during the campaign, due to Jacqueline Kennedy's pregnancy. Over 71 days, she traveled 35,000 miles (56,000 km) through 11 states and appeared at 150 events. Kennedy and Johnson won the election that November, with Lady Bird helping the Democratic ticket carry seven Southern states.

As the Vice-President's wife, Lady Bird often served as a substitute for Jacqueline Kennedy at official events and functions because of Mrs. Kennedy’s pregnancy. The Johnsons were accompanying Kennedy in Dallas when he was assassinated, and Lyndon was sworn in as President two hours later.

First Lady of the United States

 

As First Lady, Johnson started a capital beautification project (Society for a More Beautiful National Capital) to improve physical conditions in Washington, D.C., for both residents and tourists by planting millions of flowers. Her beliefs regarding the importance of national beautification can best be summarized in her statement that "where flowers bloom, so does hope." She worked extensively with American Association of Nurserymen (AAN) executive Vice President Robert F. Lederer to protect wildflowers and the planting of them along highways. Her efforts inspired similar programs throughout the country. She became the first president's wife to advocate actively for legislation when she was instrumental in promoting the Highway Beautification Act, which was nicknamed "Lady Bird's Bill" and sought to beautify the nation's highway system by limiting billboards and by planting roadside areas. She was an advocate of the Head Start program.

Johnson created the modern structure of the First Lady's office; she was the first to have a press secretary and chief of staff of her own and an outside liaison with Congress. Her press secretary from 1963 to 1969 was Liz Carpenter, a fellow University of Texas alumna. Carpenter was the first professional newswoman to be press secretary to a First Lady, and she also served as Lady Bird's staff director. Johnson's tenure as First Lady marked the beginning of the hiring of employees in the East Wing to work specifically for the First Lady's projects.

 

During the 1964 election, Johnson traveled through eight Southern states in her own train to promote the Civil Rights Act, at one point giving 45 speeches over five days. It was the first solo whistlestop tour of a First Lady.

Johnson continued her Whistlestop Tour in October 1964. However, this time it would be aboard a Braniff International Airways Lockheed L-188 Electra turboprop aircraft that would take her on a multi state aerial tour including the states of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Indiana and Kentucky. Braniff dubbed the Lockheed Electra "The Lady Bird Special" after the ground Whistlestop Tour Train. Besides the "The Lady Bird Special" script being painted on the sides of the aircraft a special route map of the tour was also painted on to the lower front part of the aircraft's fuselage near the main entry airstairs.

In 1970, Johnson published A White House Diary, her intimate, behind-the-scenes account of her husband's presidency spanning November 22, 1963, to January 20, 1969. Beginning with Kennedy's assassination, Mrs. Johnson recorded the momentous events of her times, including the Great Society's War on Poverty, the national civil rights and social protest movements, her own activism on behalf of the environment, and the Vietnam War. Johnson was acquainted with a long span of fellow First Ladies, from Eleanor Roosevelt to Laura Bush, and was protected by the United States Secret Servicefor 44 years, longer than anyone else in history.

 

http://www.ask.com/wiki/Lady_Bird_Johnson?o=2800&qsrc=999&ad=doubleDown&an=apn&ap=ask.com

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Your characters wardrobe.

 

Your main character should either stand out from the rest of the secondary people or not? That’s a tough question. 

 

Personally, I try to dress mine to fit their age and style of the time but I’ve read stories which have dressed them in a more punk style. This reminds me of when I was growing up and always wanted to dress like Twiggy with mini-skirts or bell-bottom pants like Cher used to wear. It makes me wonder if my characters would’ve dressed in similar clothes?

Let’s talk about vanity. Does your character want to fit in with the rest of the crowd even after the culprit is exposed after her effort? Will she dress any differently? 

 

When drawing out a character sketch on your lead character, make sure you include the wardrobe. How do you want the public to perceive this person?

 

It’s all in the perception. Give the audience what they need to see and then you’ll be able to pull them into the story.

Hopefully, I've given you some thoughts and ideas to consider. Please leave me a comment. You can find me on my website, threads, and Facebook. Please share.

      Barb

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Characters. Where do they frequent?

 

   Do your characters like the same thing? Do they enjoy frequenting the same coffee shop, diner, liquor establishment? What about music? By not having the same tastes and interests, you are hereby opening scenes that will or can develop into conflicts between the protagonist and the secondary characters. If you are a mystery writer, the killer may have found another reason for murder.

Speaking of murder, does the killer versed in poison and completely dislikes coffee? Hmm...is the main character fussy? Will she only drink a certain brand of tea?

      I love my little corner of south Minneapolis because it's where I grew up, but also it has all that I need for my books. I have a coffee and wine bar plus a theater and the rest, I make up. It's always nice to have a fictional corner, but my old neighborhood suits me fine.  Here are the links to see pictures of Riverview Wine Bar and Coffee Shop  and the Riverview Theater.

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The Washington Monument

  

   Hail to our former First Ladies and Mrs. Hamilton.

                 Betsey Hamilton

Dolley Madison

                                     Louisa Adams 

These three ladies with Dolley stewing the pot, rallied to raise money for Washington Monument.

             As we all know, Dolley was the first First Lady to open the White House to the public, to let everyone see the President's House, thus began her road to fame. After James' death, Dolley personified the, 'old' guard, the relic of the Revolution. She knew everyone and everyone loved her, and she loved them. She returned to Washington after James's death where her fame increased overnight. She was the 'queen' of Washington, usurping all First Ladies living in the White House.
    When building the Washington Monument, they knew who to turn to for support, our Dolley. She had the qualities needed to raise the money, and advertisers focused on her graciousness and luster as a woman. She was genuine. She presented to Washington Society all that was good. Money was raised through fairs, fundraisers and other solicitations.
    Ladies from the Revolution were given homage. Beside her was the widow of Alexander Hamilton, she'd never remarried after her husband was killed in that famous duel with Aaron Burr. John Quincy Adams' widow also attended. The two former First Ladies plus Mrs. Hamilton stood right out front as the parades marched, bands played and speeches were made, but all eyes were on one particular lady, Dolley. By now she was almost destitute, dressed in black from an earlier age but still looking as regal and beautiful as ever before, was Dolley. By now, the slave who had helped her save the Washington portrait, was giving her money for food.
    Railroad and coach fares were reduced for this event. People streamed in from far and wide to Washington to see what was happening and to witness Dolley laying the cornerstone of the monument. A 'delicious freshness' in the air captured Dolley as she smiled at them all. This beautiful eighty year old woman with the kind and gracious, gentle and forthright personality, had served, hosted, been invited, and enjoyed the company of everyone since the day of her birth and was loved by all.
    I like to think that she went home, poured a glass of wine, and said, 'Here's to ya, old girl! You done good!" She also would've had a twinkle in her eye.

      Barb 

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Holiday Ideas-why not!

 

    Greetings! Let's see who bugs you the most during the season and write about it, shall we?

Let’s look for new ideas by observing your relatives during the holiday season. What has always bugged you? Here is a list of irritants and annoyances. 

 

Here is a list:

1.    The mole on the persons cheek has hair growing and it’s either hilarious or horrible to look at and you’re sitting next to the person.

2.    You always get stuck next to your elderly great aunt who keeps patting your hand and telling you that you’re a good girl or boy.

3.    Who is always asking if so and so has a boyfriend/girlfriend or what are the marriage plans?

4.    You love your grandma, but she can’t hear worth a darn so you have to speak up all the time.  Then, there’s the time you asked if she’d like a refill of coffee and she didn’t hear you and it took about five times of raising your voice, before she did. While fetching the coffee, someone politely and softly asked if she’d like a cookie and Grandma heard the person. 

5.    Or, you wanted to sit by your favored niece or nephew, but they didn’t attend.

The list of course is endless and can easily be written into scenes in your writing whether it’s fiction or not. 

 

I had an aunt

who always called me Bev.

I did really love her

in spite of it.

A cousin in-law used to call me

the Jolly Green Giant

because I was tall and the bridesmaid dress,

was green with a pillbox hat.

I personally thought 

a string bean 

was better. 

Barbara Schlichting 

What I just wrote, is true.  My husband’s aunt who is now deceased could never get it through her head that my name was Barb. I corrected her many times, however, it never stuck. I had been a bridesmaid for my cousin when I was sixteen, tall and very thin. That’s what a cousin’s husband called me, the Jolly Green Giant. Don’t you think a string bean is better?

Go ahead and write in those annoyances and irritants, it’s well deserved!

Please leave a comment so that we can get to know each other better and share this to all of your writer friends and family. 

Barb

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Where to find ideas?

 Where do you find ideas?

      

       Not so very long ago, my family and I went to an Italian restaurant. We looked at the menu ahead of time and got lost trying to figure out what everything was! Neither of us had a clue. Our son suggested to research every word that has us stymied. We spent one hour trying to figure out what it was that we each wanted to have for dinner.

      We had so much fun and when the meal came, it was just as much fun to eat it as well as enjoy each other's company. The foreign meal got us to talk about vacations and where to go next. It's worth it to try different venues, you never know what's ahead.

      The meal was great, too!

       Barb Schlichting

        Barb's Books

First Friends, who was yours?

 

 

                               First Friends

         Here I am with a friend from grade school. I won't tell you her name simply because I don't have permission, but she was my first friend. I believe that we  walked to school together, too.  My older brother walked me when I was in kindergarten and I remember our mother standing or should I say, hiding, inside of an old phone booth to watch us cross a busy street. She must've peeked out because I waved to her. At the end of the day, I asked why she was in the booth but I don't remember the answer. It most likely had something to do with 'mind your own business'. My mother always got straight to the point but my dad was little gentler when it came to that sort of thing.

        My friend also recalled, as we grew older,  my baby brother stood near the fence and called out my name when we returned home. 

        Our fifty-five high school reunion just happened three weeks ago. Time has flown by faster than a speeding bullet, and I'm not sure that I like it or am prepared for it. Are you prepared for the future? 

         I might've went to the library with my friend, but don't remember. I read an awful lot as a kid and still do. I have a long list of favorite books and wouldn't know where to begin to name my favorite. Since I began to write about the first ladies with a dash of history and a dash of a little fun, I've since learned that when Thomas Jefferson sold his books to Congress, they became beginning of the Library of Congress. Did you know that?

        Did you know that Jefferson realized that for our country to survive, the populace must be educated and not just the wealthy? He began by building small schools and hired teachers, paying out of his pocket, also. That's how our educational system began. Read his biography. Thomas Jefferson. Visit Monticello. It's fascinating.

        Who was your first friend?

    Barb Schlichting

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