and don't worry about the criticisms. >> the thank you for joining us on american history tv for this special look at rosalynn carter in her own words. next week, nancy reagan, the former hollywood actress and first lady of california who deployed her keen political instincts at the white house to guide ronald reagan's presidency toward success and who humanized the devastating impact of alzheimer's disease with her care for the former president in his final years. american history tv's first lady series is also available as a podcast. you can find it wherever you get your podcasts.

and the london johnson presidential library. ♪ ♪ ♪ this building at 1600

pennsylvania avenue, washington d.c., is the most important house in the nation. symbol of americans against al-qaeda power. it is also a home. a home for those 34 families throughout history whose head is the president of the united states. like any american home, this house has seen personal triumph and tragedy. it is now enjoy, frustration, and heartbreak. it has overtime at 168-year span, -- >> starting with the administration of james monroe, eight presidential daughters were married while living in the mansion. on six of these occasions, the daughters have chosen the white house itself as the scene for

the wedding. the last time it happened was 53 years ago, when president wilson's daughter, eleanor, was married in the new world. these occasions are so rare, it can truly be said such events happens but once in a lifetime. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> linda, will you trace first just how your courtship began, and when you realize that it was serious? >> the first part of your question, i really don't quite know when our coach it began. jeff and i have played bridge a lot together.

we didn't play as partners actually. it was usually someone else's partner. that's really how we met, over a bridge table. later in the summer, we start a double dating with my roommate who was visiting me at the time. that was really how our courtship began. >> the outward physical beauty is one of the first things that any man notices about a girl. later on, obviously you can get it is -- just an opportunity to know and to understand. she has a very keen mine, a very thoughtful person. >> his sense of humor, a great love of life, and a lot of energy. sometimes i think more than i have. we are both fairly serious. fairly quiet. we have a lot in common. >> we arrived at the decision neutrally. in other words, it wasn't a

spur of the moment thing on my part. we had gone through a lot of thoughtful discussion. we decided that we were right for each other and we would get married. later on, i went through some of the usual formalities associated with popping the question. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> on the 10th of september, the engagement became official. the parents of the bride to be announced that their daughter, linda bird johnson, would be web to captain charles as robbed of the united states marine corps. the wedding would take place in december in the white house. a courtship that had begun quietly, invited only family and intimate friends was now spotlighted in the national use. it would be a long time before chuck and lynda would know the pride moments they had shared

during the summer of 1967. the prenuptial round of festivities was launched in washington, with a black tie dinner dance. the host were friends of the bride for many years. now jack -- ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ for the stately washington club was the setting for lynda's first shower. hostess, linda's close friend

martha ross. the guests were friends that lynda had known from the cabinet, school days, career circles. ♪ ♪ ♪ showers are uniquely feminine.

the accent was on lingerie. >> this is for miss summers. how sweet. [applause] [inaudible] julie took me seriously, i told her i needed something to wear on my head. four pin curls! oh, this is from miss nestor. oh look! a little short. isn't that cute? look!

i just love that, look at the back. just beautiful. i can hardly wait. ♪ ♪ ♪ after a weekend of powers and showers, lynda thought she was going to plan a spa quiet sunday afternoon at the home of captain and mrs. gerard giles. she soon learned that not all prenuptial events are advertised on the social calendar. [inaudible] >> we came, and the first thing we saw was julie's car, it said mom and the marine. [inaudible]

i saw two cars. >> [inaudible] >> no, i wouldn't know when. isn't that lovely? look at that. do you think i dare use them? good, check doesn't know this. i know nothing about domesticity. [laughs] >> [inaudible] >> [laughs] all by yourself? did you get your mother to so? it it is beautiful. the print is lovely. i don't think you know this, is such a wonderful thing, if

there is a gorgeous little marine bulldog. it is terribly appropriate. [inaudible] it is lovely. >> with lynda caught up in the spirit, and the fun of her first showers, chuck wild away the hours quietly pursuing one of his favorite pastimes. ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪♪ been a reception by the justice tom clark, known since she was born in the >> then, a reception by justice tom clark, who had known lynda since she was born. the setting was the club and the emphasis was on nostalgia. an unforgettable evening, lynda and chuck turn tables on their hosts, leading the guests an impromptu celebration of the clark's 43rd wedding anniversary.

♪ ♪ ♪ >> justice and mrs. clark were not the only eyes of texas on linda. a few days later at her home, they welcomed linda to a texas style shower. will neeson is linda's godfather. they hosted colorful events was mrs. j.j. pickles, -- now president johnson's old congressional district. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> as lynda spent a carefree afternoon sharing a few

lighthearted moments with old texas friends, chuck was buckling down to more serious prenuptial activities. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> on the 17th of november, a small group of intimate friends gathered at the white house at the invitation of both lynda and chuck. the festivities were in honor of another couple who had already taken their vows 33 years ago. >> i have been very fortunate to have parents who show their affection. in one instance, i remember when i turned i think it was my 20th birthday, my father sent me a very pretty basket of flowers, spring flowers because my birthday is in march.

it was with a note. my father has not written me too many handwritten notes, i wish i had more of them, but this one was particularly sweet saying that so many days ago, you made me one of the happiest men in the world. and that day, he also sent my mother and identical basket of flowers with a note with the same idea. it did have that same feeling, thank you so much for giving us our first child. i thought it was a terribly sweet thing, he's a very romantic man. he does it on impulse. that is what i think the spirit of marriage and their philosophy, i think it is a thing every day that changes. it's by no means static, it's not what you think it is going to be. i think it's changing, and i think you have to have your own work and your own interests, my mother's communication as well as trying to be a partner with his in his affection, he does very well. i think that has always been their philosophy and i'm very happy to say that this november, they celebrate their 33rd, so

they must have something. >> private moments are few and far between. the marriage of a president's daughter is so rare, and event so intriguing, that the public seizes upon every facet of the bride and groom's activities. their hopes for the future, their outlook on life. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> you are both two energetic, optimistic young people, but it can be a brutal world, like anyone just before they get married has to think about what's ahead. do you think about that? >> yes, but i'm not basically optimistic, i am basically melancholy. >> truck, do you consider yourself melancholy? >> i think both of us are very serious. we like to look at the brighter side of life, at the same time, we understand the ramification

of so many of the things that are taking place and things that we do, the times in which we love. >> the time in which chuck and lynda lived demands much. the obligations of a man in uniform are only a reflection of the responsibility of the man itself. ♪ ♪ ♪ e then ready and willing to pick up >> since america's founding fathers stepped ashore, there were men ready and willing to

take up the cause. over the years, many of these men standing forth from the marine barracks at eight and i. the evening for a, a tradition of the court is an echo out of the past, a reminder of the days when the nation's finest pirates off the shores of jump away. and a salute to the brave men of today. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> i'm basically an infantry officer and i think one of the most rewarding and challenging assignments for any infantry officer is to have man over a rifle company [inaudible] . ♪ ♪ ♪

>> i'm sure i'd be scared, like all the wives of the men around the globe, but if chuck wants to go, he feels very strongly about it, and i will just have to have faith in him. >> for linda, the swirl of parties and elections continued. providing no small challenge for the hostess is as far as many planning was concerned. how many festive meals can a perspective bride angle before it begins to show on the waistline? the secret, mrs. mcnamara knows. go light on the calories and heavy on the -- the wife of the secretary of defense invited lynda and mrs.

johnson to a special shower given by the cabinet wives and their daughters. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> the pre-wedding round of parties that had been launched in washington. now it was time for texas to get some momentum. on the 24th of november at the exclusive dallas club, chuck and lynda where the guests of honor at an event given by mrs. warren one word, who are longtime family friends. the psychedelic decorations in smith's from your front yard do not typify san antonio, but they did set the stage for her colorful poolside party. linda's maid of honor demonstrated that texas is not all blue skies and white

lychee. in fact, some of the prairie gets downright abstract. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> checked also found that texas is no place to escape the watchful eye of his future father-in-law. it was a busy texas weekend filled with dinners, parties and dances in their honor. dallas, houston, san antonio and to cap it off, a kitchen shower in austin. lynda left some room for doubt as to her ability to cope with the various kitchen accessories

she'd received. >> i don't really know how to cook, but i'm sure that i will learn enough to keep chuck from starving before he goes to vietnam, and hopefully when he gets back he will be so hungry he will eat whatever i fix. >> when chuck and lynda returned to washington, they received a different kind of reception. a record snow had transformed the nation's capital into a somewhat premature christmas setting. the weather may have put a damper on trucks football, but festivities were not slowed in the least. for lynda, the passing of november had brought notably record snow and early you logs, but the sudden realization that

she soon be leaving the home where she had spent the last four years. she and chuck bid farewell to the dozens of staff members who keep the white house machinery moving smoothly. not only do they make the president's house function as the seat of executive power, but they also ensure that it serves as a home for his family. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> more farewells. this time at glass hills overlooking the potomac.

chuck and three other rates were soon to be out of circulation as soon as the white house today was concerned. soon, 26 of their fellow aides and their guests took the occasion to say goodbye. ♪ ♪ ♪ before chuck's proposal to lynda, no one ever heard of the social paid and >> before chuck's proposal to lynda, few people had ever heard of a social aid and fewer still acknowledged what the job entailed. lynda perhaps summed it up best. >> one of the things that they have to do is make people feel at ease. feel at ease. i think there's a lot of people that come to the white house who are a little apprehensive, i think that's what the social aids hope to do, so they can feel a little bit more at home to accept, extend the hospitality of the first family to the guests.

of course naturally i'm very partial to what chuck has done and how he has extended the hospitality. >> on for occasions, starting in 1842, the east room has provided the backdrop for a white house wedding. in each case, the task was the same. to transform to slightly haul into a proper setting for the marriage ceremony. and, in each case, the planners and workman had to contend with the problems unique to the time and circumstances. ♪ ♪ ♪

>> alice roosevelt and jesse wilson might have recognized today's east room, but not the strange equipment being installed to record the historic event. even making allowances for style and individual taste, the elegant appointments in which tradition of a white house ceremony have remained constant since the wedding of the first presidential daughter, maria has german row in the year 1820. and they give to the magnificent coffee services one of the the gift of the magnificent coffee service was one of the highlights of a memorable evening. and evening that was laced with an international accent. the dean of the diplomatic corps, ambassador's acosta,

presented the handsome gentility pattern services. i get from the world's ambassadors to washington. ♪ ♪ ♪ receiving the diplomatic corps during the early years of the presidency was a relatively simple matter. the administration of john adams, six missions were accredited to the new republic. today, along with their host, ambassador mrs. hairline, chuck and lynda discovered the number has grown somewhat. the ranks of the diplomatic corps have swelled to 117.

>> both washington and texas offered live and check with formal receptions. intimate parties, colorful showers, and now they're social calendar will be one of an upcoming event that did not seem to fit in any category. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ actually, chuck's fellow social

aides drip hoping up, under the relishing -- they brought to life history's most famous lovers. on hand, with such comfortably classic couples as anna and the king of sam. as well as 20th centuries, bonnie and clyde. >> extra energetic ounce. jim brady, louis, russell. [laughs] [applause] [laughs] i hope someday to get my picture on the back side of the box. >> you have to read it. you probably forgot about this,

the group here can kind of began before money comes around. i thought i would read this little announcement. it's not here for the press. it says the president, in a surprise move, -- [inaudible] is it wonderful when you can recognize talent? >> i think both of us are very serious, we understand the ramifications of so many of the things that are taking place. i would say both of us could be described on the serious side of the spectrum, i suppose, to the completely -- >> i am basically melancholy. >> i think both of us are very serious. >> we are both fairly serious. barely quiet. >> i would say both of us could

be described on the serious side. >> melancholy. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> as the parties and preparations lead chuck and lynda down to the final few days before the ceremony, gifts were pouring in from friends and well-wishers across the world. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ the 7th of december was

actually two evenings taking place simultaneously. first, in a quiet gathering in the white house, linda honored her bridesmaids. on the agenda, along with lots of reminiscing, where the antics of linda's nephew, baby lynn. [laughs] at the same time, at the army-navy club, chuck's friends, marines, and future father in law were toasting his last two days of bachelor hood. >> in wishing chuck the best of everything. he deserves it. i am sure he will get it. at this time, i would like to ask you to join me in a toast to the groom. a toast to the groom and discretion to you, his bachelor friends. to check. ♪ ♪ ♪

>> by providing our good friend, chuck raab, with a wonderful bride, the president. >> i'm glad that you gave me an excuse, a legitimate excuse, for a night out. [laughs] [applause] ♪ ♪ ♪

let's drink to chuck, and many happy years ahead of him. and do that noble group that constitute the united states marines. >> this night was so special, chuck's friends spare no expense. talent was sought from the highest levels of government. a former marine private, now serving up chief of protocol, head of the program. >> ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

>> it seemed like it was just yesterday when the lady and white came in the door at garfield hospital, showed me something very small in a

blanket. i can still feel the night, how i felt in that very incredible night in march. i think it's the feeling that comes over every father with his first born. that, is this is what life is but all about -- . >> the courtship began quietly, privately, quite apart in the public eye. the wedding itself takes on an entirely new dimension. whether the bride's father is a monroe, grant, roosevelt,

wilson, or johnson, the wedding arrangements comprise a mammoth logistics operation.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ each of these preparations, no matter how small, how detailed becomes and its own way an important part of the wetting. which, and itself is an important part of white house history. so much so in fact, few details escape the 500 reporters and

photographers assigned to the wedding. >> with the wedding only two days away, the evident number of arrangements seems to revolve around two people. the social secretary, best able, and the minister who will perform the ceremony. ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

>> the world of prenuptial parties ended as it >> the world of prenuptial parties ended as it had begun. in georgetown, under the sun of the indian king. this particularly festive an intimate evening was a special offering from trucks parents, mr. and mrs. james s robbed of milwaukee, wisconsin. >> i am very grateful for the generosity of the robb family and the fact that they included me this evening. in fact, i'm very grateful to the entire robb family. it has given us much more than

a son to share and a son to love. we have also been blessed with trinity and david and we are very happy and proud to claim the mall. i guess it's natural, i suppose that all fathers worry a little bit about the man who will go out with their daughters. of course, i am no exception. the job that i hold does have certain advantages. [laughs] temporary, i realize. but chuck, i will give you a very special wedding present tonight and i want to do it here in the presence of your family and your friends. i am now going to proceed to

tear up, in your presence, all the secret service reports [laughs] [applause] for the period, that is the period when you lost interest in leading us down the stairway and being a bridge partner and you started spending your weekends at whiskey beach. this first wrist report starts out saturday, 2 pm, completed sunday, 3 am.

top secret, stamped whiskey beach. [laughs] [applause] chuck, here is all of your bachelor past used as a bunch of wedding confetti. [laughs] this has been a delightful experience for us all of this week and, particularly this has been a very pleasant evening. johnson and me, our hearts are filled with many memories. our chests swell with pride,

but the aches come up in our throat as we approach seeing our little one, our first born walk away with someone else. it seems like it was just yesterday when a lady in white attending the garfield hospital showed us a very small object in a very pink blanket. she was pink or than the blanket. i can still feel tonight the wonder that i felt on that very incredible night in march. i think it is a feeling that comes over every father with his first born. and that is this is what life is really all about. let us drink shoe life old and new, to our dear beloved first,

doug lynda. to the love of her life, chuck bob. and all the robb sudden whose family life will enlarge and enrich our own. for every day, of the very happy future that i know is going to be ours. and for the very happy tomorrow that we will all share together. ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the

sight of god and in the >> dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the site of god and in the face of this company to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony. which is an honorable estate, instituted of god, signifying onto us the mystical union that is betwixt cry and his church. puts holy estate christ adorned and beautified with his presence and first miracle that he rot in cana of gallantly. and has committed of st. paul to be honorable of all men. and therefore is not by any to be entered into an advisedly or unlikely, but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly and in the fear of god, into this holiest state these two persons present come now to be

joined. if any man can show just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak or else hereafter forever hold his piece. i require and charge you both as you will answer at the dreadful day of judgment when the secrets of all heart shall be disclosed, that if either of you know any impediment why you may not be lawfully join together in matrimony, you do now confess it. for be well assured, that if any persons are join together otherwise then as god's word allow, their marriage is not lawful. charles, will vow have this woman to thy wedded wife? to live together after gods artists in the holy estate of matrimony? will thou love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness

and in health and forsaking all others, keep the only on to her so long as you both shall live? >> i will. >> lynda, will vow have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together after gods ardent ends in the holy estate of matrimony. will thou love him, come for him, honor and keep him and in sickness and in health and forsaking all others, keep the only on to him so long as you both shall live? >> i will. >> who gave this woman to be married to this man? >> her mother and i. ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ i charles take the linda. >> i charles take the linda. >> to be my why do i. live >> to be my went away. >> to having to hold, from this day forward. >> from this day forward. >> for better or for worse. >> for better or for. wars >> for which are over

poor. >> for richer or poorer. >> in sickness and in health. to love and to chair us. till death us do part. according to god's holy ordinance. and there are two i flight the my my trough. >> raise your hand, and then you take his right. >> i linda take the charles. to be my weather husband. do you have and to hold. from this day forward. for better or for worse. for richer or for poor. in sickness and in health. to love and you kara. till death us do part.

according to god's holy ordinance. and there to you i give the my trough. bless the lord this ring that he who gives it, and she who wears it, may a and buy peace and continue in favor until their lives and through jesus christ are, lord. repeat after me, ruth this ring iv web. in the name of the father and of the sun and of the holy ghost. amen.

bless, oh lord this ring that she who gets it and he who wears it may abide in by peace and continue in thy favor until their lives and through jesus christ, our lord. with this ring, i the web. in the name of the father, of the sun, and of the holy ghost. amen. let us pray era, our father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. give us this day, our daily bread. forgive us for our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever, amen. oh eternal dot god, creator and preserver of all mankind, give or are of all spiritual grace, the author of everlasting life. sendai blessing upon the, thy servants, this man, and this woman, who many blasts in thy name. that they living faithfully together may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt they're made, these rings given and received our tokens and pledges, and may ever remain and perfect love and peace together and live according to thy laws through jesus christ, our lord. almighty god, creator of mankind, who only art the wellspring of life, bestow upon

these thy servants. if it be thy well. the gift inherited of children, and grant that they may see their children brought up and thy faith and fear, to the honor and glory of thy name. through jesus christ, our lord. oh god, who has so consecrated the state of matrimony, that and it is represented the spiritual marriage and unity betwixt christ and his church. look mercifully upon these thy servants. that they may love, honor, and cherish each other, and so live together and faithfulness and patients, and wisdom and true godliness. that their hold may be a haven of blessing and peace. through the same jesus christ, our lord, who live with and rain eight with the and the holy spirit ever one god, world without and. amen. join your right hands now. those whom god have joined

together, left no man asunder. for as much as charles and linda have consented to gather in a wholly wedlock and have witnessed the same before god and this company, and there to have given and pledged their trough, each to the other. and have declared the state by giving and receiving rings and by joining hands. i pronounced that they are a man and wife in the name of the, father of the son, and of the holy ghost. amen. neil from the glass. god, the father, got the sun, got the holy ghost. bless, preserve, and keep you. the lord mercifully with his favor look upon you, and fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace.

that you may so live together in this life, in the world to come you may have life everlasting. amen. you may kiss your bride. take your bouquet. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪

>> as with all weddings, great and small, there are final events. the wedding photograph, gifts from friends, and the cake cutting. for the first time, captain robb's parents were able to see his talent as a social guest aide. -- many of whom were already familiar faces at the white house.

many a century of white house history was firmly span with the presidents of alice roosevelt longley. 61 years earlier, she was married in the east room. and attending her wedding, the former nellie grant, also married in the east room in 1874. ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ for captain and mrs. rob, it was an unforgettable, glorious day. filled with moments of tenderness. and for this, one of the most in houston the nation, it was one of those rare, magic events that happened only once in a lifetime. >> let us drink to life old and no. to our dear, our beloved first foreign, linda. to the love of her life, chuck, and all the robs, whose family life will enlarge and enrich our own. our every day of the very happy future that i know is going to be ours. and for the very happy tomorrow

that we will all share together. the first rose garden wedding. the naval photographic center produced this film. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪