First published 1999
Lady Bird Johnson stands in the White House gardens, watching her husband conduct the business of the presidency while she quietly builds her own legacy. As Lyndon Johnson navigates the tumultuous politics of the 1960s, Lady Bird emerges as a formidable force in her own right. She champions environmental conservation across America's landscapes and fights for civil rights when the cause demands courage. Yet her public strength masks private struggles with a husband whose infidelities test their marriage. Lady Bird must balance her roles as devoted wife, political partner, and independent woman with her own convictions. Russell reveals how this First Lady wielded influence behind the scenes while maintaining grace under pressure. The novel explores the tension between Lady Bird's personal pain and her public purpose, showing how she transformed both the office of First Lady and the nation itself through her passionate advocacy for the environment and equality.
Genres: american-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, biographical-fiction
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: political-partner, public-vs-private
Setting: White House
Period: 1960s
352 pages · Hardcover · Scribner