Letter, Lady Bird Taylor to Lyndon Johnson, 11/11/1934?

Specific Item Type:

Correspondence

Type:

Text

Format:

Paper

Identifier:

pp-ctjandlbj-letters-ctj-11-11-34

Date:

1934-11-11

Date Note:

Precise date uncertain: extrapolated here by LBJ Library archives staff

Time Period:

Pre-Presidential (Before Nov. 22, 1963)

Transcript:

[November 11, 1934 ?]
Sunday
My dearest love –
Today I’m going to see Aunts Ida and Ellen--Pop’s sister and sister-in-law--he asked me to be sure and lay eyes on them while I was out here if just for a minute.
And in the morning I’m putting out for Atlanta where Aunt Effie is, in the sanitarium. I should have gone on today but I did so want a little company and cousin Carolyn will go with me tomoro. Should I have gone on today, dear? (Please don’t think so--its so lonesome!)
I’ll arrive in Atlanta tomoro afternoon and it’s a
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question of how many days I’ll have to spend there with Aunt E. before I can get away decently, without breaking her heart. I expect to get back to Texas next Saturday if I have to make the trip all in one day.
Love, I had quite a shock two or three days ago--it just suddenly struck me--(as I’ve told you)--while all my friends and kith and kin were tearing their hair about me--what about your mother? She cares just as much about you as they do about me,--heaven knows with even more cause--and
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what reason has she to accept me…I felt real bad about it. I want to see her, Lyndon--and tell her how much I love you and that your happiness is a fine and treasured thing to me, too. I would like for her to like me as a person--not just on your word. And I want her to know all the good things about me--what there are--and all my short-comings too…I didn’t feel as earnestly about this when I was there before, dear. Somehow knowing you has done a lot for me--about sloughing off the
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selfishness in which my life has encased me.
Have I forgotten to tell you in several days what a superior person I think you are, as a lover and as a man and in practically all ways, my dear?! Being away from you has done me good, Lyndon. Its made me want you. Its made me see us in a clearer perspective. You see, when I’m with you I in so can’t see--you are so good to me that I am all engulfed and I can’t realize all the depth of my feeling for you.
Honey, the roses are dear.
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I pick them up one at a time and hold them in my hand and just drink them in--they’re so beautiful. And all beautiful things I think belong to me.
Elaine, my cousin with whom I spent last night here, thinks you are a wonderful person-- from your pictures (I’ve them all 3) and all I’ve told her about you. (I’m really a pretty good press agent--I could sell you to your worst enemy, if you ever had one!)
I wonder what Welly will have to say, about the business and about me. Bless his
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heart, we’ll have to sell him on the idea too! He’s a grand person, Lyndon.
I’m glad you sent me your mother’s letter. It was really a wonderful letter, honey. And I liked her frankness about me Lyndon--you know how I like that. That’s why I want to see her and tell her so many things. I’m just beginning to realize--so many how important it this all is that to her--I’ve been rather blind and self-centered.
Beloved there we can’t plan on Thanksgiving. I can’t get home before Nov. 17. Or
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Thanksgiving is upon us. You mustn’t mind. I love you. I adore you. Shall write tomoro from Atlanta.
Adios for a day or two
My [caro] beloved--
Bird