For The Lady Bird Diaries, director Dawn Porter drew from 123 hours of surprisingly intimate audio recorded by Claudia Alta “Lady Bird” Johnson during her years as first lady. The diaries begin as her husband, Lyndon B. Johnson, becomes president in the harrowing hours following JFK’s assassination in November 1963 and end on the family’s final day in the White House in 1969. Told from her point of view, the film reveals Lady Bird to be a more formidable presence than previously credited. As she reflects on the landmark issues of her husband’s presidency—civil rights, the War on Poverty, the Vietnam War—Lady Bird emerges as a careful observer, trusted advisor, and sharp-eyed political strategist during some of the most tumultuous and consequential years of the 20th century. The diaries are paired with archival footage, home videos, and hand-drawn animation, and through Porter’s expressive portrait, we encounter this complex woman at the forefront of the American story. KL