The Lady Bird Diaries Review: Behind Closed Doors with a First Lady

The new documentary film The Lady Bird Diaries offers a fascinating look at one of America’s least examined First Ladies, Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Dawn Porter, known for documentaries like John Lewis: Good Trouble, the film explores Lady Bird’s perspective on her husband Lyndon B. Johnson’s tumultuous years as president in the 1960s. While LBJ has been extensively studied by historians, Lady Bird’s viewpoint has rarely been showcased. That makes this film revelatory.

Comprised primarily of Lady Bird’s own audio diaries that she secretly recorded during her White House years, The Lady Bird Diaries gives us an insider’s glimpse into milestone events like the JFK assassination, the Vietnam War, and the Civil Rights movement – but from Lady Bird’s unique vantage point. Beyond politics, we also gain insight into her personality and marriage to LBJ.

With no talking heads or modern commentary, Lady Bird essentially narrates her own story, edited together compellingly by Porter. It’s a transportive experience, as if Lady Bird has come back to candidly walk us through this pivotal period she witnessed firsthand.

In this review, we’ll analyze if The Lady Bird Diaries succeeds as an illuminating historical document and entertaining documentary. Does it provide new perspective and appreciation for this under-examined First Lady? Or does it feel like a dry history lesson? By looking at aspects like the narrative approach, archival footage, and Lady Bird’s revelations, we’ll determine if this documentary is worth your time.

Bringing a First Lady’s Story to Light

The Lady Bird Diaries has its origins in the extensive audio recordings that Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson made during her years as First Lady. While her husband Lyndon B. Johnson’s presidency unfolded, often chaotically, Lady Bird would retreat to the White House solarium and document her thoughts into a tape recorder. She recorded over 122 hours between 1963-1969, creating an invaluable oral history.

These tapes sat largely unheard for decades until historian Michael Beschloss was granted access and excerpted parts for his book Reaching for Glory: Lyndon Johnson’s Secret White House Tapes. But it was documentarian Dawn Porter who recognized the potential for a film focusing on Lady Bird’s perspective. When the LBJ Presidential Library authorized the full release of the tapes, Porter dove in to craft The Lady Bird Diaries.

To build out the visuals around Lady Bird’s voice, Porter and her team accessed an array of archival footage from the period – everything from home movies to network news reports. Getting many of these video materials meant convincing different archives to grant access. Animator Molly Schwartz also created over 100 illustrations to bring certain scenes and conversations to life.

In terms of source material, Porter pulled not only from the tapes but also Lady Bird’s diary entries and her book A White House Diary. This allowed Porter to fact check dates and details to ensure accuracy. Interviews with LBJ administration members like Jack Valenti and Liz Carpenter helped provide additional context. The result is a rich tapestry of media all centered around Lady Bird’s candid audio recollections.

Porter, whose past documentaries have profiled figures like John Lewis and Barack Obama’s photographer Pete Souza, focused this project on finally giving Lady Bird Johnson her due as a compelling historical persona. While LBJ has been extensively examined, his wife has often been overlooked. The Lady Bird Diaries serves as a corrective by showcasing this thoughtful, intelligent First Lady who had a front row seat to pivotal events. Through her own voice, Lady Bird is able to tell her own story.

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Walking Through History with Lady Bird

The Lady Bird Diaries immediately pulls us into one of the most dramatic moments in American history – the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. We hear Lady Bird Johnson describe in vivid detail the day’s tragic events in Dallas, culminating with Lyndon Johnson being sworn in as president on Air Force One. “It all began so beautifully,” Lady Bird reflects, before that sunny day turned to horror.

We then journey through the swiftly unfolding early days of the Johnson presidency, with Lady Bird providing an insider’s perspective. She critiques her husband’s first speech and press conference, encouraging him to be more natural and conversational. As LBJ announces he will run for a full term in 1964, Lady Bird braces herself for the “next 10 months of unremitting toil” on the campaign trail.

Navigating the Civil Rights Act, Vietnam War escalation, and tensions with Robert Kennedy, Lady Bird observes it all, candidly sharing her thoughts and behind-the-scenes conversations. We get a window into LBJ’s bouts of depression and his wrestling with the decision to run again in 1968. Through Lady Bird’s tapes, we experience the unfolding of historic moments like the passing of the Voting Rights Act, the Watts riots, and the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy.

Beyond politics, Lady Bird opens up about her marriage, family life, and passion projects. She describes balancing public duties with PRIVATE moments like dinners on the White House roof, weekends back home in Texas, and the weddings of her daughters Lynda and Luci. She also spearheads her “Beautification Campaign” to promote conservation efforts across the country.

In 1968, after a narrow election victory, an increasingly unpopular LBJ shocks the nation by announcing he will not seek re-election. As protests mount over Vietnam, Lady Bird sticks by her husband’s side but clearly feels the pain of the times. The final months flash by rapidly, ending with Richard Nixon’s inauguration in 1969.

While certainly illuminating major historical events, The Lady Bird Diaries succeeds most as a profound character study of Lady Bird herself. Through her vivid, thoughtful narration, we get to intimately know this under-appreciated First Lady. It’s a perspective on the 1960s we’ve rarely seen.

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Crafting a Visual Platform for Lady Bird’s Voice

From a technical standpoint, The Lady Bird Diaries represents an impressive feat of editing and visual storytelling. Director Dawn Porter had over 123 hours of candid audio from Lady Bird to condense into a cohesive feature-length documentary. The real artistry comes in how Porter builds out a visual language around Lady Bird’s narration.

The archival footage, spanning both public and personal realms, proves essential. We see White House events, TV news clips, campaign rallies, press conferences, and more to visually ground us in the timeline. Home movies show tender private moments, while Lady Bird reminisces over them. The footage takes on deeper meaning and perspective set against her narration.

To bring certain conversations and memories to life, animator Molly Schwartz contributes whimsical illustrated sequences. These animated scenes help pace the film and often convey nuances of mood and emotion through their visual metaphors. The animation never distracts but rather complements Lady Bird’s distinctive drawl.

The editing, handled by Ben Zwieg, is impressively fluid given the sheer volume of archival materials woven together. The film unfolds linearly to align with Lady Bird’s chronological storytelling on tape. But it occasionally plays with pacing, like when it batters us with a flurry of chaotic images reflecting 1968’s historic upheavals. The editing choices mirror Lady Bird’s mindset.

Periodic title cards and intertitles help convey dates, context, and Lady Bird’s writings. The cards have a handwritten, personal design to further echo her diaries. They aid the narrative without being overused. The soundtrack of era-appropriate tunes boosts immersion while never overpowering Lady Bird’s voice.

Overall the “you are there” verite feel pulls viewers into the 1960s. The home movie visuals lend intimacy, while the news clips provide necessary context. Schwartz’s charming illustrations act like memory markers at key moments. And Lady Bird’s rich voice ties it all together into an engaging living memoir. The Lady Bird Diaries succeeds as both a visual time capsule and a profoundly human story.

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Lady Bird Takes Center Stage

While The Lady Bird Diaries does not have lead acting per se, the “performance” at the heart of the film is Lady Bird Johnson herself. Through her candid audio recordings, Lady Bird emerges as the documentary’s star and narrator, guiding us through her unique perspective on 1960s history.

The key to the film’s success lies in Lady Bird’s incredibly expressive and descriptive voice. Her warm, slightly quaint Southern drawl immediately draws us in. The cadence, wit, and poetry of her narration brings enormous character. She vividly sets scenes, shares revealing thoughts, and waxes philosophical. It often feels like we’re sitting with a consummate storyteller.

We get a window into Lady Bird’s intellect through not just what she says, but how she says it. She critiques speeches with the savvy of a media analyst. Her turns of phrase reveal a quick and nuanced mind. She speaks with equal parts genteel grace and frank bluntness. The blend makes for consistently compelling listening.

Lady Bird also excels at toggling from the momentous to the mundane. In the same breath, she’ll ponder the Vietnam War then chat about gardening. These jumps between the public and private give us a wonderfully multifaceted sense of the woman. She comes across as fully human, complex and relatable.

Ultimately Lady Bird carries the entire film solely through her voice. That it never feels like a one-woman show is a testament to both her captivating abilities as a storyteller and to director Dawn Porter’s savvy use of visuals. But make no mistake, this is Lady Bird’s film start to finish. She deserves recognition for crafting an oral history that doubles as a masterclass in narration and character.

Examining Power Dynamics, Social Change, and One Woman’s Perspective

The Lady Bird Diaries explores a variety of potent themes relevant to both the 1960s and today. By centering Lady Bird Johnson’s point of view, it provides unique insight into power dynamics, social change, and the multifaceted roles of women.

A major theme is power – how it is gained, maintained, and lost. We see LBJ ruthlessly consolidate his power after JFK’s assassination but then grow overwhelmed by its pressures. Lady Bird herself gains influence through her intelligence and partnership with LBJ, yet she bumps against gender barriers like hostility from the Kennedy clan.

The documentary also examines the seismic social changes of the 1960s. Civil rights, Vietnam War protests, youth counterculture – Lady Bird acts as our guide through this turbulent era. We understand the resistance to change that she and LBJ harbor, even as they champion reforms like the Voting Rights Act. The film explores how quickly the political landscape transformed during the Johnson presidency.

Of course, Lady Bird’s own evolution is central. At the start, she fits the stereotype of the deferential, supportive wife. But we soon see beyond this façade as Lady Bird embraces more activism and autonomy. Though she never calls herself a feminist, we witness her subtle rebellion against traditional gender expectations.

Above all, the film humanizes history through Lady Bird’s candid perspectives. She critiques LBJ’s speeches before the public hears them. She witnesses MLK’s funeral firsthand. She voices ambivalence about Vietnam before mainstream opinion turns. Getting an unfiltered insider account makes the issues resonate more deeply.

Perhaps most strikingly, The Lady Bird Diaries reframes expectations of what a First Lady can accomplish. Lady Bird declaring “this is my life too!” upon LBJ’s death reminds us of her partnership in his presidency. She emerges not just as a witness to history, but someone who helped shape it.

Resonating in a Modern Context

While rooted in 1960s history, The Lady Bird Diaries speaks provocatively to numerous modern cultural issues and debates. Watching the film, many themes reverberate into today in timely ways.

For one, Lady Bird’s balancing of public duty with private life mirrors constant tensions women still face. Her navigation of politics while raising kids, maintaining a marriage, and securing her own legacy will feel familiar to modern professional women juggling myriad demands.

The film also resonates amidst our polarized political climate. Seeing LBJ’s increasing demonization over Vietnam despite his earlier progressive reforms parallels how no leader today can keep all factions satisfied at once. Real change elicits real backlash – timely insight.

In addition, hearing Lady Bird’s candid, unfiltered voice provides a stark contrast to the carefully curated personas politicians and their families now maintain. Her frankness reminds us that even the President’s inner circle harbored robust dissenting views. There is something reassuring about peeking behind the curtain.

Meanwhile, the rapid social changes and unrest of the 1960s mirror our own era enormously. Today’s movements for racial justice, women’s rights, economic reform, and climate action carry echoes of the activism Lady Bird chronicles. Resistance and backlash remain endless cycles.

Of course, the looming catastrophe of Vietnam shapes the film’s tone, just as current overseas conflicts and threats add urgency to present politics. The weight of potential violence always burdens leaders.

Ultimately, gaining intimacy with a First Lady humanizes power and history itself. Much like how Lincoln made 1860s struggles tangible, Lady Bird’s insights breathe life into 1960s issues. The Lady Bird Diaries makes the past inspiringly vibrant and relevant once more.

An Absorbing Must-Watch for History Buffs and Beyond

The Lady Bird Diaries emerges as an impressive viewing experience that succeeds on multiple levels. As an illuminating history lesson, it’s first rate. Director Dawn Porter expertly pieces together Lady Bird’s audio chronicle into an engaging living document. We gain incredible insight into a pivotal era.

Equally important, the film works tremendously as a character study. Spending time with Lady Bird is pure joy. Her intelligence, wit, and candor make her the ideal guide through the 1960s maelstrom. She proves endlessly watchable whether reminiscing on public events or personal moments. Getting to intimately know this First Lady is a privilege.

The documentary should deeply satisfy history buffs, providing a textured on-the-ground feel for life in the Johnson White House. But it’s also entirely accessible to those with only a surface knowledge of the era. Anyone can appreciate Lady Bird’s resonant humanity and thoughtful voice. Her insights feel revelatory but never dense.

While lacking the glossy sheen of more manufactured documentaries, The Lady Bird Diaries’ raw intimacy is its strength. This is living history, with Lady Bird addressing us personally across the decades thanks to Porter’s masterful curation. For those seeking an illuminating perspective on a complex time, delivered by an unexpectedly captivating narrator, look no further. The Lady Bird Diaries is essential viewing.

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