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A few might know, but after leaving office in 1969, LBJ began to grow his hair long. While his hair, though long by conventional standards, might be considered short here, it should be noted that LBJ was born in 1908 and was considered an enemy by the Hippies, the first mainstream longhairs in over a century, so for his time and place and age, his hair was considered very long.
That's very interesting trivia. Who would have thought it. Thanks.
Thomas Jefferson had a ponytail. You can see it if you look at a nickel with a magnifying glass. It doesn't show on the most recent years where they've tried different images of him, but it does appear on the nickel as it appeared with the retirement of the Indian head in 1939, and continuously since then until the last few years.
If you google this - thomas jefferson ponytail - stuff will come up.
Bill
Yes, all of the Founders, I believe, had long hair tied in a ponytail. Benjamin Franklin had long hair as well know but unlike his fellow patriots didn't tie back.
It's amusing, then, to think that all of the 'patriots', the conservative types during the 1960s found long hair to be unAmerican and distasteful. I am talking to a girl from California; her father is ultra-Conservative and worships the Founders pretty much...But she said if he knew my plan was to grow my hair, he'd verbally ream me out. It's ironic. He worships guys who wore stockings and ponytails but would ream out a guy now for growing his hair.
Image of Thomas Jefferson.
Thomas Jefferson
It's interesting that you say LBJ was an enemy of the hippies. It was probably because of the Viet Nam war more than any other reason - LBJ was a Democrat and a Liberal Lion - He led the way to many of the Civil Rights that we take for granted today.
I think he left office broken hearted after the war overshadowed his other policies - that, and the difficulties he had to overcome the death of John Kennedy - the 60s were turbulent times.
thanks for sharing that picture of him... He looks relaxed and hopefully he was content and at peace by then.
I would point out LBJ got stuck with the war. Eisenhower first sent advisers to Viet Nam, by the time LBJ came we were there for many years.
Add to that the hundreds of JFK assasination theories, the many civil rights protests, the war protests, etc. LBJ saw the handwriting on the wall and bowed out.
broken hearted? I don't think so. When you go into politics you have to have a very thick skin, an ego that won't quit,
and be made of teflon.
I would not say he was an enemy of the hippies. He inherited an
unpopular war, Nixon was the real enemy of the hippies.
I say he was an enemy of the Hippies, yes, because of 'Nam. The "Hey, Hey, LBJ, how many kids did you kill today" chants and such.
LBJ actually never recovered sadly...He slowly killed himself. He had suffered a heart attack in 1955 which nearly killed him and was ordered by his doctor never to smoke again. The morning he left office, he began chain smoking again. When his daughters protested, he said "I've raised you girls. I've been President. Now it's my turn."
Outside of meeting McGovern to give an "endorsement" in the '72 election in that photo, he largely left public life. His last major public events were the opening of his Library, a speech on Civil Rights in 1972, and an interview a week before he died on Civil Rights with Cronkite.
It is said that he would sit, weep and listen to the song "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon and Garfunkel on repeat in his last days. He wasn't crazy--he was just deeply depressed. In a documentary I saw, friends and relatives said he refused to speak about anything regarding his political career except the very beginning of it.
Above is another pic from this period, which perhaps better reflects his mindset, health and emotional state. He died at age 64.
I didn't know these things that you shared about LBJ. Thank you for sharing your views.
I am fascinated by the history of the presidency - why any man would want that job is beyond me - it takes a heavy toll on each man in office. I have a friend who served as a secret service officer. He guarded Bush 2 but retired from service in 2009.
I often wonder why anyone would want the job. You essentially have to spend four years subjecting yourself to the job interview. (Read campaigning). Half the electorate hates your guts, you have to sell your soul to raise a ton of money,
We've got the best government money can buy.
I would mention that we almost had another long haired president.
John F. Kerry. Google photos of him testifying in front of congress in 1974.
