Political Journalist & Writer
Liz Carpenter
Notes from Evan Smith
"Liz Carpenter has had a long career in politics and writing. Carpenter, born in Salado, Texas, started her career as a political journalist covering the Franklin D. Roosevelt White House for the Austin American-Statesman. She became a speechwriter for Lyndon B. Johnson while he was Vice President, most notably drafting the 58 words used by Johnson upon his return to Washington after the assassination of President Kennedy. During the LBJ administration, she served as press secretary and chief of staff for Lady Bird Johnson. Carpenter later became active in the women's movement. She helped found the Texas Women's Political Caucus in 1971, and traveled the country campaigning for the Equal Rights Amendment. She is also well-known for her sharp and ever present wit. In 1983, The University of Texas Board of Regents established the Liz Carpenter Lectureship. The lecture series has brought such distinguished speakers as Maya Angelou, Gerald Ford, and Bill Clinton to the university. Carpenter is also the author of many magazine articles and five books, including Getting Better all the Time, Start with a Laugh, and Unplanned Parenthood: Confessions of a Seventy-Something Surrogate Mother. She continues to write, and remains a sought-after public speaker." - Evan Smith, Texas Monthly Talks, Broadcast 1.27.05
