Lynda Bird Johnson Robb, daughter of former US President Lyndon B. Johnson and First Lady Claudia Alta “Lady Bird” Johnson, is an American editor, public servant, and former First Lady of Virginia. She has made significant contributions to children’s literacy as the chairwoman of the Board of Reading is Fundamental, the country’s largest children’s literacy organization. Additionally, she has served as the chairwoman of the President’s Advisory Committee for Women. Johnson Robb’s dedication to public service has earned her numerous civic awards and an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Washington and Lee University and Norwich University.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Lynda Bird Johnson
- Age: 79 Years, 79 Year Old Females
- Spouse/Ex-: Chuck Robb (m. 1967)
- Father: Lyndon B. Johnson
- Mother: Lady Bird Johnson
- Siblings: Luci Baines Johnson
- Children: Catherine Lewis Robb, Jennifer Wickliffe Robb, Lucinda Deshae Robb
- Born Country: United States
- Education: University Of Texas At Austin
Childhood & Early Life
Before her birth, Johnson’s mother, Lady Bird, had experienced three miscarriages, and her doctors told her and her husband that there was little chance for them to have a child. Lynda Johnson was born on March 19, 1944, in Washington, D.C., USA. It was her father’s idea to name her after both himself and his wife. Johnson has a younger sister, businesswoman and philanthropist, Luci Baines Johnson, who was born about three years after her, on July 2, 1947.
Johnson’s father served in the US military during World War II and saw combat in the Pacific Ocean theatre. He received the Silver Star for his service, alongside other military honors.
In the mid-1940s, Johnson’s father became active in politics. He was a US Senator and served as the Senate Democratic Leader before he unsuccessfully contested for the Democratic ticket for the 1960 US presidential election. However, after John F. Kennedy became the president, he was chosen to serve as the vice president.
Lynda Johnson grew up in one of the most prosperous times in US history. America was becoming the financial juggernaut it is today. They had just won a war, and so the belief in the government was at an all-time high. However, social inequalities and racial segregation still persisted as major issues in American society.
She was 19 years old when President Kennedy was assassinated, and her father became the President of the United States.
As the child of a successful politician, she had always attracted some amount of media attention. However, that could not have prepared her for what was to come when she assumed the duties of the First Daughter.
Her father took the oath of office in one of the most turbulent times in American history. He won the 1964 US presidential election by a landslide. His tenure has received praise for expanding civil rights, Medicare, Medicaid, and aid to education. However, it continues to receive criticism for escalating the Vietnam War.
Johnson attended the National Cathedral School for Girls before studying at the University of Texas at Austin, where she was part of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. She was briefly a student at Mercy College.
Family & Personal Life
In mid-1963, Lynda Johnson got engaged to then-Navy Lieut. Bernard Rosenbach, who was three years older than her. They amicably parted ways in April 1964.
She began a relationship with actor George Hamilton in 1966. Following the assassination of President Kennedy, the security around presidential relatives had been considerably increased. As a result, the Hamilton-Johnson couple became one of the first to receive Secret Service protection.
On December 9, 1967, Johnson married U.S. Marine Corps Captain Charles S. Robb in the East Room of the White House. The service was conducted by the Right Reverend Gerald Nicholas McAllister. The couple has three daughters together: Lucinda Desha Robb (born 1968), Catherine Lewis Robb (1970), and Jennifer Wickliffe Robb (1978).
Politics, Career & Social Service
From 1969 to 1981, Lynda Johnson Robb served as a contributing editor to ‘Ladies Home Journal’ magazine.
On May 9, 1979, President Jimmy Carter made her the chairwoman of the President’s Advisory Committee for Women. She led a committee of thirty individuals in implementing Carter’s mandate on raising awareness about equality for women in the cultural, social, economic, and political life of the United States.
After Charles Robb was appointed the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia (1978–82), Johnson Robb became the Second Lady of Virginia. From 1982 to 1986, she was the First Lady of Virginia.
She was appointed to chair the Board of Reading is Fundamental in 1996. In 2001, she vacated her position but continues to be associated with the organization as Chairwoman Emerita.
She is also on the Board of Directors of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Foundation and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Due to her mother’s health, Johnson Robb represented her at the state funerals of former Presidents Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford.