A Liberal Arts Honors course taught by Harry Middleton, former director of the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum, will be featured in a C-SPAN “Lectures in History” series at 12 p.m. on July 7.
The series will spotlight the conclusion of Middleton’s popular course titled “The Johnson Years,” which explores the legislative activity that formed the basis of the “Great Society” and reviews the decisions that led to the trauma of Vietnam.
Each year, Middleton and his students toured the LBJ Ranch, where they had lunch with Lady Bird Johnson and her daughter Luci Baines Johnson. After Lady Bird’s death, the tours continued and students had the opportunity to meet with Luci and former members of Johnson staff members and aides.
Middleton began teaching “The Johnson Years” in spring 2003 – and it rapidly became a key offering, says Larry Carver, director of the Liberal Arts Honors Program.
“In this course students touched the face of history, learning from Harry and having presentations from former Johnson staff members and aides, Carver says. “The students’ final papers had the honor of becoming part of the LBJ School Library’s archive. I wish this course could have gone on forever.”
Middleton served as a speechwriter for LBJ during the White House years. Then Johnson asked him to become the director of his new presidential library and museum and Middleton held that post for 30 years. At age 91, he is now retired, spending his time in West Austin at a retirement center.
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