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Thousands mourn Ladybird Johnson

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Published: July 14, 2007 at 8:26 PM

AUSTIN, Texas, July 14 (UPI) -- An estimated 2,000 mourners gathered in Austin, Texas, Saturday for the funeral of former first lady, Lady Bird Johnson.

Current first lady Laura Bush attended the funeral at the Riverbend Centre, as did four former first ladies -- Rosalynn Carter, Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.

Clinton was accompanied by her husband, former President Bill Clinton, and Rosalynn Carter was there with her husband, former President Jimmy Carter.

U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, and Texas Gov. Rick Perry also attended.

Lady Bird Johnson -- who husband, Lyndon Johnson, was U.S. president from 1963-69 -- died Wednesday at 94.

Bill Moyers, who served as President Johnson's press secretary, spoke at the funeral service, recounting moments from Mrs. Johnson's life -- including her husband's succession to the presidency following the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, The New York Times reported.

Tom Johnson, an aide to President Johnson who went on to head CNN, spoke of her love of books and conversation, and her commitment to the beautification of America, The Austin American-Statesman said.

"Each and every one of us has been touched in some way by the magic that was Lady Bird," Johnson said. "Who can ever see another field of wildflowers or native plants without thinking of her?"

Topics: Bailey Hutchison, Barbara Bush, Bill Clinton, First Lady Laura Bush, Jimmy Carter, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson, Laura Bush, Lyndon Johnson, Nancy Reagan, Rick Perry, Rosalynn Carter, Tom Johnson, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, Hillary Rodham Clinton
© 2007 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

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