Lyndon Baines Johnson's Birthday is an optional state holiday in Texas, that is always observed on August 27th.
It commemorates the birthday of Lyndon Baines Johnson, the 36th President of the United States, on this day in 1908.
History Of Lyndon Baines Johnson Day
Lyndon Baines Johnson was born on August 27th 1908, in a farmhouse in Stonewall, Texas, not far from Johnson City, which his family had helped settle.
Johnson was a high school teacher before embarking on his political career. He won election to the House of Representatives in 1937.
In the 1960 presidential campaign, Lyndon B. Johnson was elected Vice President as John F. Kennedy's running mate.
On November 22nd 1963, following the assassination of Kennedy, Johnson was sworn in as the 36th United States President, promising to deliver on his vision to build "A Great Society" for the American people.
In 1964, Johnson won the Presidency with 61 percent of the vote and had the widest popular margin in American history - more than 15 million votes.
Johnson did not stand for re-election in 1968 as Sen. Eugene McCarthy declared his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination, an unprecedented move for a party that had a sitting president. Robert Kennedy threw his hat into the ring shortly afterwards, leading Johnson to make a television announcement that he would neither seek nor accept his party's nomination for the presidency.
Johnson died suddenly of a heart attack at his Texas ranch on January 22nd 1973.
After his death, the Texas State Legislature created a legal state holiday to be observed every year on August 27th to honor their state's native son.
The holiday is optional for state employees and state offices do not close, but are staffed by a "skeleton crew."
