Today in American History…Claudia Alta “Lady Bird” Taylor was born on December 22, 1912 in Karnack, Texas to Thomas Jefferson Jonson Taylor and Minnie Lee (Pattillo) Taylor.

Her nursemaid had said that she was as “pretty as a ladybird” and she was known by the nickname “Lady Bird” for her entire life afterwards.

Since the days of her youth, she always had a love and appreciation for wildflowers and nature. She once said “Where flowers bloom so does hope.”

As First Lady, she was instrumental in promoting the Highway Beautification Act which was developed to beautify the nation’s highways by limiting the use of billboards and by planting roadside areas.

“The biggest decision of all concerns our highways, the greatest public works program of any civilization … our challenge is to see that these highways are not only superbly functional, but also in harmony with our landscape and a pleasant asset to our lives. After all, this is a civilization where our favorite recreation is driving for pleasure.” – Lady Bird Johnson at the Presentation of Beautification awards to highway department officials in the East Room of White House, February 16, 1967.