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US farewell to former first lady US farewell to former first lady
(about 4 hours later)
Former US presidents and first ladies have been heading to Texas to pay their respects to the late widow of former US President Lyndon B Johnson. Former US presidents and first ladies have attended a private funeral in Austin, Texas, of the wife of former US President Lyndon B Johnson.
Claudia Alta Taylor Johnson, widely known as Lady Bird Johnson, died on Wednesday of natural causes aged 94.Claudia Alta Taylor Johnson, widely known as Lady Bird Johnson, died on Wednesday of natural causes aged 94.
Her funeral is due to take place in Austin, Texas, later on Saturday in a televised service. First Lady Laura Bush and former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter were among some 1,800 people attending Lady Bird Johnson's funeral.
Ceremonies began on Friday at the wildflower centre she founded in 1982 to preserve native flora. She will be buried on Sunday next to her husband at the LBJ Ranch.
Both Laura and Barbara Bush were due to attend the funeral service, as was former President Bill Clinton and presidential candidate and Senator Hillary Clinton. She's once again united with her man for rides together through the ranch in the sky Tom Johnson, family friend
From the wildflower centre, Lady Bird Johnson's casket was moved to the LBJ library and museum at the University of Texas. Ceremonies began on Friday at the wildflower centre Lady Bird Johnson founded in 1982 to preserve native flora.
From the wildflower centre, the casket was moved to the Lyndon B Johnson library and museum at the University of Texas.
There it was placed in the exact spot where her husband's casket lay after his death in 1973.There it was placed in the exact spot where her husband's casket lay after his death in 1973.
The building remained open overnight as members of the public filed past to pay their respects. The building remained open overnight as more than 11,500 members of the public filed past to pay their respects.
"She's once again united with her man for rides together through the ranch in the sky," Tom Johnson, a family friend and chairman of the LBJ Foundation, said at the funeral on Saturday.
Seeking beautySeeking beauty
Her daughter, Luci Baines Johnson, said her mother had lived her "94 delicious years" to the fullest.Her daughter, Luci Baines Johnson, said her mother had lived her "94 delicious years" to the fullest.
"As long as she drew breath, she was wanting to discover and make an impact on beauty," she said."As long as she drew breath, she was wanting to discover and make an impact on beauty," she said.
A lot of it was desperately painful, but on balance I loved it Lady Bird Johnson on her White House years Obituary: Lady Bird JohnsonA lot of it was desperately painful, but on balance I loved it Lady Bird Johnson on her White House years Obituary: Lady Bird Johnson
Lady Bird was a staunch supporter of her husband's ambitious policies of civil rights and on tackling poverty. Lady Bird Johnson was a staunch supporter of her husband's ambitious policies of civil rights and on tackling poverty.
A popular first lady, she was also one of the most influential, quietly advising her husband as he came under fire for escalating the Vietnam War, the BBC's James Westhead in Washington says.A popular first lady, she was also one of the most influential, quietly advising her husband as he came under fire for escalating the Vietnam War, the BBC's James Westhead in Washington says.
But she was perhaps best-known as a tireless environmental campaigner, correspondents say.But she was perhaps best-known as a tireless environmental campaigner, correspondents say.
She raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to beautify Washington, and the 1965 Highway Beautification Bill was known as the "Lady Bird bill".She raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to beautify Washington, and the 1965 Highway Beautification Bill was known as the "Lady Bird bill".
On her years in the White House, she once recalled: "A lot of it was desperately painful, but on balance I loved it."On her years in the White House, she once recalled: "A lot of it was desperately painful, but on balance I loved it."