[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 113 (Monday, July 16, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1530]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 BEHIND EVERY MAN, THERE'S A LADY BIRD

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 16, 2007

  Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, my grandmother influenced my life in so many 
ways and she educated me in the ways of the world more than anyone in 
my life, but to her dismay I broke from her staunchest southern 
belief--the Democratic Party. I don't know that she ever forgave me for 
being a Republican and during the 60s, in the heyday of LBJ, she was 
aghast that anyone could be anything else. Despite my political 
difference with President Lyndon Johnson, his contributions to Texas as 
President may only be surpassed by those of his First Lady. This week 
we said goodbye to one of the finest southern ladies politics and Texas 
has ever had the pleasure of knowing, Lady Bird Johnson.
  My grandmother always said, ``there is nothing more powerful than a 
woman--that has made up her mind!'' There are no truer words; and none 
that describe our former First Lady better. Claudia Alta Taylor 
Johnson, known throughout the world simply as Lady Bird, not only 
changed the landscape of Texas highways, but paved the way for the next 
generation of women. She was the best example of the powerful role 
women of her generation played--second to my grandmother of course.
  While Lady Bird will best be remembered for her love of the 
environment and the preservation of our natural resources, she was no 
wallflower in the business and political world either. She was her 
husband's staunchest supporter and was with him step-for-step 
throughout his entire career, but at the same time she also carved a 
path for herself in the business world by turning a debt-ridden Austin 
radio station into a multi-million dollar broadcast empire. Her resume 
reads like that of a modern-day Superwoman. Among her many 
achievements, she played a pivotal part in shaping legislation by 
lobbying and speaking before Congress in support of the Highway 
Beautification Bill, or better known as the ``Lady Bird Bill.'' She 
oversaw every detail in the creation of the LBJ Presidential Library, 
which became the model for Presidential libraries today, and served 
faithfully, and often in awe of her colleagues, as a regent of her alma 
matter, the University of Texas.
  Like my grandmother she came from a generation of women that were 
strong and influential. They possessed the grace of an angel, but 
wielded a heavy-hand in running their affairs--and those of their 
husbands' for that matter. Few women of their generation worked outside 
the home, but few men succeeded without the backing of them. Whether 
they devoted their time to their work or to their home, their influence 
undoubtedly changed the country we live in today. Texas Congressman Sam 
Rayburn, longtime friend of President Johnson and House Speaker, once 
told him, ``marrying Lady Bird was the wisest decision he had ever 
made.'' Few people know that Lady Bird originally told LBJ ``no,'' when 
he asked to marry her.
  Every Spring folks will head up Highway 290 to see wildflowers; and 
every bluebonnet we see throughout the Texas Hill Country and every 
tree we plant here at home along Will Clayton Parkway is a tribute to 
Lady Bird and her determination to ``Keep Texas Beautiful.'' Her legacy 
and influence will live on forever. I doubt that Texas, nor our 
country. will ever know a finer lady and patriot than we had in Lady 
Bird Johnson. As the saying goes, behind every good man, there stands a 
better woman. May God bless Lady Bird Johnson as she has blessed us.
  And that's just the way it is.

                          ____________________