This silent stock footage reel gives a brief look into President Lyndon B. Johnson’s life during his term of office. Some of the footage is from White House pool news sources, while other material was shot by official White House photographers and is essentially LBJ “home movie” footage. LBJ was the 36th President serving during the years of 1963-1969. He originally served as the Vice President under John F. Kennedy until JFK’s assassination in 1963. The footage is spliced a bit with intermittent blank slides. It still does an amazing job at contrasting the luxurious side of life as the American President; taking calls by the pool with wife and equipped with a poolside attendant; versus the stressors, mounds of paperwork to be signed and passed off and the constant shuffle from city to country meeting the press and the people.
The film begins at LBJ’s Ranch known as the Texas White House. He is pictured swimming in the pool with his two beagles he called “Him” and “Her” (:29). He takes a call while relaxing on lawns chairs (1:08). He and wife; Claudia Alta Johnson, return to the pool for laps (1:20). Bleached aerial footage shows bombs cascading and popping across Vietnam (2:06). Civilians wave welcome signs for the President’s arrival (2:52). Hands stretch and reach frantically to shake LBJ’s hand (2:58). He spins away from the camera with two neat soft serve ice cream cones (3:17). The film flicks to a birthday party for the president (3:23) as he lays a brown sweater against himself showing his approval for the gift (3:59). Guests sit cross legged or kneeling on the ground passing Lyndon gifts (4:25). Night falls as he shakes hands with flashing cameras and news reporters (4:36). Flames lap at the background with more welcome home signs for the American President (5:26). Ink wells sit in front of thick stacks of paperwork (5:44); legislature and bills to be signed and passed along. Three associates stand nearby to move the paperwork to and from the visibly exhausted President (6:15). He greets a man stepping from a plane (6:32). LBJ and cabinet members (7:13) arrange a meeting outside around a long table at a farm. A neon sign informs viewers the film is in Anchorage at this point (8:03). The 36th president delivers a speech in the rain (8:16). A fire burns near an overstuffed Christmas tree (9:17). He is pictured among family at the holidays (10:12). Their two daughters were named Lynda Bird and Luci Baines. The White House is pictured nestled in thick white snow (10:53). A casket appears draped in the US flag as LBJ attends the funeral of President John F. Kennedy at Arlington (11:14). Fighter jets soar overhead in formation (11:41). Snowy branches hang in front of the Washington Monument (11:48). LBJ is pictured addressing a joint session of Congress on March 15, 1956 (11:53). Humphrey and McCormack are captured behind LBJ. This speech took place after the “Bloody Sunday” beatings of civil rights marches in Selma, Alabama. During this speech he would call upon Congress to ensure the voting rights of black Americans. A wide shot follows of the White House in icy winter again (20:09). LBJ steps from a US passenger plane (21:17). He greets waving hands upon arrival (21:27). General Westmoreland is pictured appearing before a joint session of congress in 1967 (22:40). A memo is pictured about a meeting with the Secretary of State (24:05). Gideon Rafael (25:27); the Israeli diplomat is pictured. LBJ delivers a press release outside as reporters snap photographs all around him (26:59). The film begins to wrap up as he is pictured with his daughter and granddaughter (27:45) and his wife Lady Bird (27:52).
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
