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1252789
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4/6/76 - Remarks at the Dedication Ceremony for the LBJ Memorial Grove on the Potomac
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1252789
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4/6/76 - Remarks at the Dedication Ceremony for the LBJ Memorial Grove on the Potomac
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This file contains material relating to Lyndon B. Johnson.
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President's Speeches and Statements Reading Copies (Ford Administration)
Reading Copies of Presidential Speeches and Statements
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1252789
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6
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1976-04-06
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4
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1976
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1976-04-06
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4
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1976
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The original documents are located in Box 28, "4/6/76 - Remarks at the Dedication
Ceremony for the LBJ Memorial Grove on the Potomac" of the President's Speeches and
Statements: Reading Copies at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box 28 of President's Speeches and Statements: Reading Copies at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
THE PRESIDENT HAS
SWEE
REMARKS AT THE DEDICATION CEREMONY
FOR THE LBJ MEMORIAL GROVE ON THE POTOMAC,
TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1976
THE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
LBJ GROVE DEDICATION
THANK YOU, ToM.
(Secretary Kleppe introduces you.)
MRS. JOHNSON - LYNDA - LUCI - CHUCK
MR. VICE PRESIDENT
MY FRIEND AND FORMER COLLEAGUE GEORGE MAHON
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS AND
FRIENDS OF LYNDON JOHNSON
-I-
I WELCOME THIS OPPORTUNITY TODAY TO JOIN
IN CEREMONIES HONORING A GOOD FRIEND AND A GREAT
AMERICAN PATRIOT
-2-
IT IS ENTIRELY FITTING THAT IN THIS CITY OF BRONZE
AND MARBLE MONUMENTS WE CHOOSE TO REMEMBER LYNDON JOHNSON
WITH A LIVING MEMORIAL OF PINES HERE ALONG THE BANKS OF
THE POTOMAC
-3-
LYNDON JOHNSON AND HIS DEAR WIFE LADY BIRD BIRD, ,
WERE ARDENT CONSERVATIONISTS IN THE SPIRIT OF
TEDDY ROOSEVELT
Y
WHOSE OWN MEMORIAL STANDS AMONG
A GROVE OF TREES NEARBY
-4-
WASHINGTON HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN KIND TO THE
NEEDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT
-5-
DURING HIS PRESIDENCY, LYNDON JOHNSON
WORKED HARD TO RESPOND TO THOSE NEEDS IN A MORE SENSITIVE
WAY
-6-
HIS GOAL, HE ONCE SAID, WAS TO LEAVE TO FUTURE GENERATIONS
"A GLIMPSE OF THE WORLD AS GOD REALLY MADE IT, NOT AS IT
LOOKED WHEN WE GOT THROUGH WITH IT."
-7-
THIS GROVE OF PINES HELPS TO FULFILL
LYNDON JOHNSON'S DREAMS FOR AMERICA
-8-
STANDING HERE, AND LOOKING OUT OVER THE
VISTAS OF OUR CAPITAL, I BELIEVE THIS MEMORIAL ALSO HELPS
TO CAPTURE SOMETHING MORE:
-9-
THE EXCITEMENT AND INSPIRATION THAT MOVED LYNDON JOHNSON
WHEN HE FIRST CAME TO WASHINGTON, FRESH FROM TEACHING
SCHOOL, TO BEGIN WORK IN A CONGRESSMAN'S OFFICE.
-10-
FROM THIS VANTAGE POINT, VISITORS CAN ABSORB
THE CITY AS A WHOLE, INCLUDING THE CAPITOL AND THE GREAT
MONUMENTS TO WASHINGTON, LINCOLN AND JEFFERSON BEFORE
VISITING THE SHRINES OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY IN THIS
GREAT CAPITAL
-II-
I WOULD ESPECIALLY URGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO COME
TO THIS SPOT TO PONDER THE SIGHT THAT HAS QUICKENED THE
PULSE OF MANY YOUNG AMERICANS STARTING OUT ON THEIR
CAREERS IN GOVERNMENT -- JUST AS IT DID FOR LYNDON JOHNSON
-12-
IT IS THE VERY HEART OF A DEMOCRACY THAT
FRESH. VITAL IDEAS CONTINUE TO BE INFUSED INTO THE BODY
POLITIC
-13-
NO DOUBT, YOUNG PEOPLE MUST DO THEIR OWN THING
BUT I WOULD SAY TO THEM, AS LYNDON JOHNSON OFTEN SAID --
CONSIDER SERVING YOUR NATION IN GOVERNMENT, WHETHER AT
THE LOCAL, STATE OR NATIONAL LEVEL
-14-
AND LET THIS PLACE, THIS LIVING MEMORIAL TO
A LIFE DEVOTED TO PUBLIC SERVICE, BE THE INSPIRATION FOR
SUCH A DECISION
-15-
LET ME ADD ONE WORD OF THANKS
EXPRESSING
THE GRATITUDE OF THE NATION
TO A GREAT AND GRACIOUS
FIRST LADY, MRS. JOHNSON, WHOSE TIRELESS EFFORTS ON BEHALF
OF A MORE BEAUTIFUL AMERICA HAVE, IN LARGE MEASURE, MADE
THIS SPOT COME ALIVE WITH NATURE'S BLESS BLESS INGS
-16-
HER WORK FOR BEAUTIFICATION ALL ACROSS THE
LAND, AS WELL AS FOR PERENNIAL SPRINGTIME BEAUTY IN THE
NATION'S CAPITOL HAS CHANGED THE FACE OF AMERICA FOR THE
BETTER
-17-
I WAS PROUD
AS A CONGRESSMAN,
TO WORK WITH
MRS. JOHNSON IN THE FORMATIVE STAGES OF THIS MEMORIAL
GROVE
TO ALL OF US WHO PLAYED SOME PART IN ITS
CONCEPTION, THIS DEDICATION TODAY IS A DREAM BECOME
REALITY
-18-
AND IT IS A FITTING TRIBUTE,
NOT ONLY TO
THE FORMER PRESIDENT
BUT TO HIS FIRST LADY TO WHOM WE
,
ALL OWE so MUCH
END OF TEXT