Kemp B. Johnson House

Transcription

[Civil Rights protestors] >> RARELY ARE WE MET WITH A CHALLENGE TO THE VALUES AND THE MEANINGS OF OUR BELOVED NATION. THE ISSUE OF EQUAL RIGHTS FOR AMERICAN NEGROS IS SUCH AN ISSUE. [applause] >> PRESIDENT LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON IS PERHAPS BEST REMEMBERED FOR PASSING LEGISLATION TO UPHOLD CIVIL RIGHTS, IMPROVE EDUCATION, AND HELP THE POOR. HE WAS A MAN OF THE PEOPLE, AND HIS LEGACY IS CELEBRATED HERE AT THE LBJ STATE AND NATIONAL PARKS. [rooster crowing] >> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PRESIDENT JOHNSON WANTED THE PUBLIC TO SEE HERE WAS HOW LIFE WAS LIKE WHEN HE GREW UP. AND WHAT MADE HIM DO MANY OF THE LEGISLATIVE ACTS THAT HE DID. [music] >> THE VISITORS CENTER CHRONICLES HIS LIFE FROM BOYHOOD... TO HIGH SCHOOL... THAT'S HIM CIRCLED ON THE RIGHT... THROUGH HIS AND LADYBIRD'S TIME IN THE WHITE HOUSE... AND FINALLY HIS RETIREMENT HERE IN STONEWALL. A SELF-GUIDED TOUR TAKES PARK VISITORS TO THE ACTUAL PLACES THAT HIGHLIGHTED LBJ'S LIFE, HIS CHILDHOOD HOME, HIS FIRST SCHOOL, AND WHAT HE CALLED HIS WESTERN WHITE HOUSE, THE PLACE WHERE PRESIDENT AND MRS. JOHNSON SPENT THEIR FINAL YEARS. >> THE PARK IS SO UNIQUE. IT HAS SO MANY THINGS ABOUT IT. IT'S AN HISTORICAL PARK CAUSE IT'S A PRESIDENTIAL PARK. BUT ALONG WITH THAT, IT COMES WITH SOME REALLY NEAT THINGS THAT TOUCH BASE WITH NATURE. THE NATURE TRAIL, AND THE DEER AND THE BUFFALO. AND IN THE SPRING, THE FIELDS ARE BEAUTIFUL WITH WILDFLOWERS. IF YOU LIKE TO GO SWIMMING, WE HAVE A SWIMMING POOL. WE HAVE TENNIS COURTS. EVEN A BASEBALL FIELD. NO MATTER WHAT YOUR INTEREST IS, YOU CAN REALLY ENJOY THE PARK AND HAVE A WHOLE DAY OF ACTIVITIES. >> HERE, CHICK, CHICK, CHICK, CHICK! >> AND THEN THERE'S A UNIQUE PLACE... CALLED THE SAUER/BECKMANN LIVING HISTORY FARM. >> THIS IS A TRUE WORKING FARM. IT WAS ALL VERY BASIC. NO RUNNING WATER, NO ELECTRICITY. IT DEPICTS LIFE AS A WORKING FARM IN 1915. >> IT WAS ONE OF THE IDEAS OF LBJ TO ACTUALLY HAVE THIS HAPPEN, THE CONCEPT OF PEOPLE REALIZING WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE WITHOUT ELECTRICITY AND RUNNING WATER. AND HE SAID, PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO KNOW THAT IF WE DON'T SOMEHOW PRESERVE THAT. >> WELCOME TO OUR PARLOR. COME ON IN. >> THE TEARS THAT COME IN PEOPLE'S EYES WHEN THEY COME AND VISIT... >> SO WHERE WAS GRANNY LIVING AT? >> IN OKLAHOMA. >> ...POINTING WITH PRIDE TO A YOUNG GRANDCHILD, THIS IS THE WAY WE DID IT. OR, THIS IS JUST LIKE MOMMA DID IT. >> CONSERVATION, HERITAGE, HISTORY, THIS PARK LIVES AND BREATHS THAT EVERY DAY.