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 america's 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 triumphs and tragedies. it has known joy, frustration, and heartbreak and it has -- ♪ ♪ ♪

>> starting with the administration of james monroe, eight presidential daughters were married while living in the mansion. it's on six of these occasions, the daughters had 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 blue room. these occasions are so rare can truly be said such events happen once in a lifetime. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

linda, will you trace for us 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 courtship began. we played bridge a lot together. we didn't play as partners, actually. he was usually somebody else's partner. but that is really how we met, over the bridge table. and then, later in the summer, we started double dating with my roommate who was visiting at the time. that is really how our courtship began. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> the outward, physical beauty is one of the first things that any man notices about a girl. later on, you obviously can't establish a relationship on this alone. it's just an opportunity to know and to understand her better. she has a very keen mind, she's very thoughtful person. >> he has a sense of humor, a great love of life, and a lot

of energy. somebody says he has more than i have. he is very serious. and fairly quiet. we have a lot in common. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> we arrived at the decision mutually. in other words, it wasn't a spur of the moment thing on my part. we had gone through quite a bit of thoughtful discussion and we decided that we were right for each other and we would get married. and 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 burr johnson, would be web to captain -- of the united states marine corps.

the wedding would take praised in december in the white house. if you can quietly, confided only in family and interment friends, was now in the national news. it would be a long time before they would again know the quiet moments they had shared during the summer of 1967. the prenuptial round of festivities was launched in washington at the black tie dinner. the hosts were friends of the bride for many years. -- ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

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♪ ♪ ♪ the stately washington club was the setting for lynda's first shower. hostess, linda's close friend -- ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ the guests were friends linda had known from her school days, and career circles. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ -- or a uniquely feminine innovation. and this one particularly so for the access -- oh, this is from a summer's. [inaudible] [applause] [inaudible] [laughs] >> julie took me seriously. i told her i needed something to wear on my head. >> [laughs] >> four pin curls. >> [laughs] >> oh, this is from --

>> oh boy. >> oh, look! very short. oh, isn't that cute? look. i love that! look at the back. just beautiful! [inaudible] ♪ ♪ ♪ >> after a weekend of parties and showers in her honor, lynda thought she was going to spend a quiet sunday afternoon at the home of captain and misses -- she soon learned that not all prenuptial events are advertised on the social calendar. >> [inaudible]

>> i love to open presents! we came in and the first thing we saw was -- and it said, my man is -- [inaudible] >> [inaudible] >> i saw two cars, and i didn't see -- >> [inaudible] -- no, i wouldn't know. isn't that lovely? you think i would dare use them? good, now -- and she, i know nothing about domesticity. [inaudible] [laughs] [laughs]

did you sew this all by yourself? or did you get your mother to? oh, it's beautiful! lovely! i don't think you notice this wonderful thing. there is a gorgeous -- jesse has done a terribly appropriate job. [inaudible] lovely! >> with a lynda caught up in the spirit of her first showers, chuck wild away the hours quietly pursuing one of his favorite pastimes. >> ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ then, a reception by justice tom clark and mrs. clark, who

have known linda since she was born. the setting was the -- club and the emphasis was on nostalgia. in an unforgettable evening, lynda and chuck turned the tables on their hosts, leading them to a wedding anniversary celebration. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> justice and mrs. clark were not the only eyes of texas. a few days later at her home, mrs. willard decent welcomed linda to a texas style shower. -- co-hosting the colorful event, mrs. j.j. -- a representative of texas in president trump's unsold 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 the 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 think it was my 20th birthday. my father sent me a very pretty basket of flowers, spring flowers, with an out. and my father hadn't written me too many hand written notes. this one was particularly sweet. so many days ago, you may be one of the happiest men in the world. and that, he also gave my mother a basket of flowers. it did have that same feeling. thank you so much for giving us our first child. and i thought it was a terribly sweet thing. he does it on impulse. that is the spirit of marriage. their philosophy, i think it is -- it's not what you think it's going to be. i think it's changing.

i think you have to have your own work and your own interests. as well as trying to be a partner. -- i think that has always been their philosophy. i am happy to say that they celebrate their 33rd anniversary, so they must have something. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> private moments are few and far between. the marriage of the president's daughter is so rare, the event so intriguing, that the public seizes upon every facet of the brides groom's activities. their hopes for the future, their outlook on life. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> you are both two energetic, optimistic young people. it can be a brutal world. do you think about what's ahead? >> i am not basically

optimistic. i am basically melancholy. >> are you melancholic? >> i think both of us are very serious. we like to look at the brighter side of life, but at the same time, we understand the ramifications of so many of the things that are taking place and the things that we do and the times in which we live. >> but time in which chuck and lynda live demands much of young people, but the obligations of the man in uniform -- ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> 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 sounding fourth. the evening parade, is an echo out of the past. a reminder of the days when the nation's finest -- and they 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 at the company level is to have men over a rifle company in combat. ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ i'm sure i'd be scared like all of the wives of the men serving 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 luncheons continued. providing no small challenge for the hostess as far as menu planning was concerned. how many festive meals county

perspective bright handle before it begins to show in the waistline? the secret, mrs. mcnamara knows. go light on the calories and heavy on the bright colors. the wife of the secretary of defense invited linda and miss johnson to a special shower given by the cabinet wives and their daughters. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> the preerect whetting round of parties have been launched in washington. now it was time for texas to give it some momentum. on the 24th of november at the exclusive dallas club, chuck and lindy were the guests of honor at an event given by mrs. warren who are longtime family

friends. the psychedelic decorations in smith's front yard may 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. ♪ ♪ ♪ chuck 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 until neo-,

and to cap it off, a kitchen shower in austin. lynda left some room for doubt as her ability to cope with the various kitchen accessories she'd receive. >> 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 that he will like whatever i fix him. >> 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 and chucks football, but the festivities were not slowed in the least. for lynda, the passing of november had brought not only record snows and early -- but she had an organization she would 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 presidents 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 overlooking the potomac. chuck and three other rays were soon to be out of circulation as far as the white house roster was concerned. sun 26 of their fellow aides and their guests took the location to say goodbye. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> before chuck's proposal to lynda, few people have ever heard of a social aid and fewer still had any knowledge about what the job entailed. lynda perhaps summed it up best. >> one of the things they have to do is make people feel at

ease. i think a lot of people that come to the white house who are a little apprehensive, i think that is what the social aids hope to do, is to make them feel a little bit more at home. to extend the hospitality of the first family to the guest. and of course naturally, i'm very partial, to what chuck has done and how he has extended the hospitality. >> on four 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 the stately hall into a proper setting for the marriage ceremony. and in each case, the planners and workmen 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 and rich tradition of a white house ceremony have remained constant since the wedding of the first presidential daughter, mariah in the year 1820.

the gift of a magnificent silver tea and coffee service was one of the highlights of a memorable evening. an evening that was laced with an international accent. the dean of the diplomatic corps, ambassadors acosta, presented the handsome gently pattern service. 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. harrison, chuck and lynda discovered that the number has grown somewhat.

as a matter of fact, the ranks of a diplomatic corps have swelled to 117. both washington and texas had offered lynda and chuck with formal receptions. intimate parties, colorful showers, and another social calendar will be one of an a coming event that did not seem to fit in any category. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

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>> actually, chuck's fellow social aides drop the whole thing up. they brought a lot of history's most famous lovers. on hand was such comfortably classic couples a santa and the king of cyan, as well as the 20th century is bonnie and clyde. >> extra energetic ounce. jim brady, and lillian russell. [laughs] [applause] 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 begin before money comes around i thought i would read this little announcement. it says the president, in a surprise move, [inaudible]. isn't 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 be completely gay and carefree. >> i am basically melancholy. >> i think both of us are very serious. >> we are both fairly serious, fairly 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. >> at the same time at the army navy club, chuck's friends, fellow 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. this time i would like you to

join me in a toast to the groom. a toast to the groom and discretion to you, his bachelor friends. to chuck. ♪ ♪ ♪ for 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 to that noble group that constitute the united states marines. >> this night was so special, chuck's friends spared no

expense. talent was sought from the highest levels of government. a former marine private, now serving as chief of protocol, headed the program. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [applause].

>> it seemed like it was just yesterday when the lady in white came in the door at garfield hospital, showed me something very small and a blanket. i can still feel the night, how i felt in that very incredible night in march. i think it's a feeling that comes over every father with his first foreign. that is, this is, what life is really all about. ♪ ♪ ♪

>> a white house courtship may begin quietly, privately, quite apart from the public eye. but 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. ♪ ♪ ♪

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>> each of these preparations no matter how small or how detailed becomes in its own way an important part of the wedding. which in itself is an important part of white house history. so much so in fact, that few details escaped the notice of 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. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

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♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> the world of prenuptial parties undid as it hugs begun. in georgetown, under the sun of the indian king. this particularly offensive and intimate evening was a special offering from chucks parents,

of milwaukee, wisconsin. >> i am very grateful for the generosity of the raab family, and the fact that they included me this evening. in fact, i am very grateful to the entire rub 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 them all. i guess it is 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 realized.

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 and leading us down the stairway, and just being a bridge partner, and you started spending your weekends at whiskey beach.

this first report starts out, saturday, 2 pm, completed sunday, 3 am. top secret, stamped whiskey beach. chuck, here is all of your bachelor past used as a bunch of wedding confetti. this has been a delightful

experience for us all of this week and particularly this has been a very pleasant evening. miss 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 seemed like it was just yesterday when a lady in white attended us in -- and she was thinker than the blanket. and i can still feel the wonder that i felt on that very incredible night in march. and i think it is a feeling that comes over every father with his first born.

and i think this is what life is really all about. let us drink to life, old and new, to our dear, beloved first born linda. to the love of her life, chuck. and all whose family life will enlarge and and rich our own, for every day of the very happy future. and i know it will be ours. and for the very happy tomorrow that we will all share together. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

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♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ 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 state, instituted of god, signifying onto us the mystical union that is betwixt christ and his church. -- christ adorned and beautified this estate with his presence and first miracle that he roth in canine of gallery. and is commended by st. paul to be honorable amongst all men. and therefore, is not by any to

be entered into an advisedly or lightly, but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of god. into this wholly a state, these two persons present come now to be joined. if any man can show just cause why they may not lawfully rejoin 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 hearth shall be disclosed, that if either of you know any impediment where you may not be lawfully join together in matrimony, you do now confess it. be well assured that if any persons are join together otherwise that as gods were dot allow, their marriage is not lawful.

charles, wilt thou have this woman asked that wedded wife, to live together after gods ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? we'll talk about 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 lift? >> i will. >> linda, wilt thou have this man to die wedded husband, to live together after gauze ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? wilt adele love him, comfort ham, honor and keep him 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 giveth this woman to be married to this man? >> her mother and i. ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ i, charles, take the, linda.

>> i charles take the linda. >> to my wedded wife. >> to my wedded wife. >> to have and to hold. >> to having to hold. >> from this day forward. >> from this day forward. >> for better, for worse. for richer, for poorer. >> for richer, for power. >> in sickness and in health. >> in sickness and in help. >> to love and to cherish. >> to love and to cherish. >> till death us do part. >> till death us do part. >> according to god's holy ordinance. >> according to god holy ordinance. >> and dare to i plight the might drop. >> and they are too high plight be my drop. >> -- and allana you take us right hand now. i, lynda, take the, charles,. >> i linda take the charles. >> to my wedded husband. >> to my wet husband. >> to having to hold. >> to have a new hold. >> from this day forward. >> from this day forward.

>> for better, for worse. for richer, for poorer. >> for richer, for poorer. >> in sickness and it help. >> in sickness and in health. >> to love and to cherish. >> to love and to cherish. >> till death us through part. >> till death us do heart. >> according to god's holy ordinance. >> according to god holy ordinance. >> and they are too i give me my trough. -- >> bless the lord this ring that he who gives it and she who wears it may a in by peace and continue in thy favor on to their lives and through jesus christ, oh lord. repeat after me. with this ring, i the web. >> with this ring, i the web.

>> in the name of the father and of the sun and of the holy ghost. >> in the name of the father, the son, and the holy ghost. >> amen. >> amen. >> bless the lord, this ring, that she who gives it and he who wears it may abide in thy peace and continue in thy favor on to their life and through jesus christ, our lord. with this ring, i've a web. >> with this ring, i the web. >> in the name of the father and of the sun and at the holy ghost. ayman. let us pray. our father who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name. but i kingdom come, thy will be done. on earth as it is in heaven. give us this day our daily bread. and forgive us 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. -- oh, eternal god, creator and preserver of all mankind, giver of all spiritual grace, the author of everlasting life, send thy blessing upon these, nicer events, this man and this woman, who we bless in thy name, that they living faithfully together, may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, where of these rings given and received our tokens and pledges and may ever remain in perfect love and

piece together and live according to thy laws through jesus christ our lord. -- almighty god, greater of mankind -- the wellspring of life, we bestow upon these, thy servants, if it be thy will, the gift and heritage of children. and grant that they may see their children brought up and by faith and fear, for the honor and glory of thy name, through jesus christ, our lord. oh god who has so congregated the state of matrimony that 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 in faithfulness and patients, in wisdom and true godliness, that their home may be a behaving, a

blessing and a piece, through the blessing of jesus christ are lured, who live it and reign it in heaven -- will you join your right hands now? those whom god had joined together, left no man put asunder. for as much as charles and linda have consented together in wholly wedlock and have witnessed the same before god in this company and there to have given and pledged their trial each to the other and have declared this by giving and receiving brings and by joining hands, i pronounce you man and wife and the name of the father, and of the sun, and of the holy ghost. -- will you neil for the blessing?

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 and in the world to calm, you may have life everlasting. amen. you may kiss your bride. take your bouquet. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

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♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ as with all weddings, the great and the small, they have final obligations, the official wedding photographs, congratulations from friends and relatives and the kick cutting. ♪ ♪ ♪ for the first time, captains --

we're able to see their son display his talents -- presented them to the 500 guests, many of whom are already familiar faces at the white house. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ nearly a century of white house history was firmly spent with the presence of -- 61 years earlier, she too was

married in the east room and attending her wedding, the former -- 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, the most important house in the nation, it was one of those rare, magic events that happened only once in a lifetime. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> let us drink to life old and new, to our dear, beloved firstborn, linda. to the love of her life, chuck. and all of the robs, whose

family life is large and in -- will enrich our own. our every day for the very happy future and i know it will be hours. and for the very happy tomorrow that we will all share together. ♪ ♪ ♪