December 19, 2005
LBJMDB/RR: Tanned and hippy-haired
In the last couple of weeks, thanks to mentions on the Consumerist and Gawker, Minor Tweaks has seen a substantial uptick in readership. So, for many of you, this post will serve as an introduction to the Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Downstairs Bathroom/Reading Room (to read more about the LBJMDB/RR, click here). And what an introduction it is! Today we have not one, not two, but TWO new additions, both of which were donated by kind friends of the LBJMDB/RR, also known as KFOLBJMDB/RR.
The first is a 1972 newspaper clipping from the voluminous personal files of Mitch G. It features, according to the cutline, a "tanned, hippy-haired" LBJ chatting amiably with presidential nominee George McGovern. LBJ is giving McGovern "good homey down-to-earth advice" on how to lose a presidential election and fade away into a trivia question.
This photo is from the May 21, 1971, issue of Life magazine, donated by David G., a new member of the KFOLBJMDB/RR. Here LBJ and Lady Bird are, according to the cutline, joking about a bag of cookies. Sadly, the joke is not recorded. But it must have been a pretty good one because Lady Bird "dissolved in laughter" and LBJ then "reached down to gently squeeze her booted calf."
The cutline also notes that LBJ's hair has grown "considerably longer" since leaving office, but was apparently still shy of hippiness.
Posted by teb at 10:02 AM | Email this entry
August 10, 2005
LBJMDB/RR: The donations keep comin'
In the last few weeks, the Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Downstairs Bathroom/Reading Room has experienced a significant uptick in the number of contributions to its rapidly expanding collection of LBJ memorabilia. The most recent gift comes courtesy of the Institute of Dawn Adair, which procured a host of lovely items during a visit to the LBJ library in Austin, Texas. These items include postcards, two magnets, an iron-on patch (!), and a magnificent poster with a drawing of our 36th president’s head alongside the slogan "LBJ for the USA." We cannot sufficiently express our gratitude to the Institute of Dawn Adair, or IDA, so we will simply say "thank you" and leave it at that.
Of particular note is the postcard reproduction of a painting (see above) featuring no fewer than three LBJs. There is happy LBJ, pensive LBJ, and staring-off-into-the-distance LBJ. All of them appear to exist in a sea of swirling pastels. It shall be framed and hung in a prominent place. Probably next to the sink.
Posted by teb at 08:55 AM | Email this entry
July 26, 2005
LBJMDB/RR: Recent donations
The Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Downstairs Bathroom/Reading Room has recently received two important donations that immeasurably enhance the collection and will be enjoyed by bathroom-goers for years to come
The first is a decorative plate, courtesy of the Susann Foundation, featuring a portrait of a dour-looking Lyndon surrounded by other equally dour-looking white men, with and without mustaches. We would like to express our gratitude to the Susann Foundation for its continued support of the LBJMDB/RR and especially to its director, Susann, for being such a nice and thoughtful person.
We would also like to thank the Institute of Katherine and William for its recent gift of postcards, brochures and a magnet obtained from the LBJ Ranch in Johnson City, Texas. We here at the LBJMDB/RR are particularly fond of the shot showing LBJ and Lady Bird reclining languidly amongst the wildflowers. Also, the magnet is pretty cool.
Posted by teb at 09:52 AM | Email this entry
July 19, 2005
LBJMDB/RR: The poster in the window
On my walk home from work yesterday, I saw an LBJ campaign poster in the window of Second Story Books, a used bookstore near Dupont Circle. It features a large black-and-white photo of a grinning LBJ above the words "A Great Leader ... A Great Democrat." Naturally, I went inside to inquire about it.
With the help of a store employee, I removed the poster from the window and examined it. It appeared to be in very good condition.
"How much is it?" I asked.
The employee squinted at the barely legible markings on the tag.
"It’s two hundred," he said.
I expected it to be $25 or $50 at the most. Two-hundred was way too much (for me, anyway. Maybe it's a bargain for an original campaign poster). But I continued looking at the poster as if I still might purchase it. Why did I do this? Why not just be honest and say "Gosh, two-hundred? I can’t afford that!" No, I had to stand there carefully examining the poster as if my highly trained eye was searching for tiny defects.
"Hmm," I said finally. "I’ll come back."
"Right," the guy said.
Posted by teb at 10:54 AM | Email this entry
June 30, 2005
LBJMDB/RR: The Gendered World of LBJ
Thanks to an anonymous donor (Mitch Gerber), the Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Downstairs Bathroom has acquired a copy of Looking Back at LBJ, a collection of academic essays on our 36th president. The book includes an enjoyable essay with a lousy title -- "President Lyndon Johnson and the Gendered World of National Politics" -- that focuses on how LBJ treated women. We learn that he dictated the hairstyles of his staff members, encouraged them to lose weight, and declined to appoint one woman to a high-level position because she wasn’t "good looking." Charming stuff. We also find out that LBJ considered offering the very recently widowed Jackie Kennedy the ambassadorship to Mexico. Here is LBJ’s assessment of how the former First Lady would be received: "She’d just walk out on that balcony and look down on them and they’d pee all over themselves every day."
In honor of this gift, the Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Downstairs Bathroom is hereby rechristened the Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Downstairs Bathroom/Reading Room.
Posted by teb at 08:39 AM | Email this entry
April 23, 2005
LBJ: President, Texan, Man, Cheese Lover
Many people search their whole lives and never find what they’re after. They look and do not discover. They seek in vain. Filled with hope and fear, they reach a trembling hand into the darkness -- and fail to grasp.
Boy, that must suck. But I don’t really know because this morning I found exactly what I’ve been looking for: a Tuttle sterling silver cheese knife engraved with the initials of our 36th president, Lyndon Baines Johnson. Now I will finally be able to combine my two passions -- a love of cheese and a fondness for LBJ memorabilia.
There’s a lesson here and the lesson is this: There is no end to the crap available on eBay. Also, you know, keep dreaming because one day you might find your own LBJ cheese knife. Although probably not because how many of these things can there possibly be?
Posted by teb at 11:34 AM | Email this entry
March 14, 2005
LBJMDB: Super Lyndon
The ebay e-mail notifying me that I was the winner of the above 1964 REMCO LBJ rubber action figure began with the word "Congratulations!" And, indeed, congratulations are in order: This is a fine piece that will complement some of my other recent LBJMDB purchases.
Why an LBJ action figure? It’s not like he could shoot webs from his wrists or melt pennies with his eyes. But what our 36th president lacked in superhero gimmickry he made up in astonishing political acumen. Did the Incredible Hulk establish the Rural Electrification Administration, helping bring power to isolated communities across Texas? When was the last time Batman won the U.S. presidency by the largest margin in modern history (15 million votes)? And, furthermore, why was Aquaman always being pulled around by two flying fish on leashes? Please. You can’t put a leash on a fish.
Posted by teb at 06:37 PM | Email this entry
March 04, 2005
LBJMDB: Defining art
Above is a ceramic LBJ cigar ashtray. The ebay description says it is “a nice piece of art.” But is it? It’s nice, certainly, but is it art? Oscar Wilde told us that art should be useless and this ashtray is far from it: One can rest one’s cigar atop the hat and ash into the brim. That’s pretty useful, I would say, assuming you’re a cigar-smoker. And who doesn’t like a big fat stogie now and again?
Posted by teb at 02:07 PM | Email this entry
February 26, 2005
LBJMDB: Come ... Let Us Creep Each Other Out
Another new addition to the LBJMDB. This one's going next to the toilet-paper dispenser. I'm still searching for something to put the soap in. I've bid on two (!) LBJ engraved crystal ashtrays but I've been outbid both times. One was particularly snazzy and it went for over 40 bucks. Had the White House seal and everything. Buttons and postcards are easy to come by but engraved crystal ashtrays -- those are real treasures.
Posted by teb at 10:33 AM | Comments (0) | Email this entry
February 19, 2005
Our 36th president
The Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Downstairs Bathroom, or LBJMDB for short, remains under construction. The latest addition is a decorative plate featuring a portrait of Lyndon and Lady Bird in the center surrounded by strangely empty interior shots of the White House. Note classy gold leafing.
Posted by teb at 08:24 PM | Comments (0) | Email this entry