Lyndon B. Johnson was born in the Hill Country of central Texas, August 17, 1908. He spent most of his boyhood in Johnson City and on a farm near Stonewall, Texas. His father was a livestock dealer, who bought and sold cattle.

As a schoolboy, Lyndon learned easily and had trouble keeping busy. Often he played pranks on the other children, because he didn't have enough to do. Outside of school he worked as a shoeshine boy in a barbershop. One summer he obtained a job herding goats.

In play activities, he was exceedingly active and daring. He learned to ride a stubborn Mexican burro, which no other boy could stay on, and even managed to ride a steer. During the winter he trapped wild animals near his home. At school, he played baseball, usually as pitcher or outfielder.

Following high school, he worked for a few years, then enrolled at Southwest Texas State Teachers College, where he worked to pay his way and made a notable record. In 1930, he became a teacher of public speaking and debating in the Sam Houston High School of Houston, Texas.

Young Johnson began his political career in 1931 as secretary to a newly-elected Congressman from Texas. In 1937, he was elected to fill a vacancy to Congress, and was re-elected to five consecutive terms. During World War II, he served with distinction as Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy.

In 1948, when he was only forty years of age, he was elected to the United States Senate, where he rose rapidly to Majority Leader. In 1960, he was elected Vice-President along with John F. Kennedy for President. On November 22, 1963, when Kennedy was assassinated, he became President.

As President, he was a very active and capable leader. He asked Congress to pass many laws to transform American into a Great Society with better conditions for living. In compliance with the Southeast Asia Defense Treaty of 1954, he sent troops to protect South Vietnam from Communist aggression by North Vietnam. In 1969, he retired to his ranch in Texas, but died four years later.

This colorful and authentic book has been written by Dr. Thomas Frank Barton, Professor of Geography at Indiana University. Dr. Barton possesses the rare ability to write simply and interestingly for children. He has written two other popular volumes in the Childhood of Famous Americans series.

From the dust jacket