UVA Center for Politics

Center for Politics
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P.O. Box 400806
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Lynda Johnson Robb

Born March 19, 1944 in Washington DC, Lynda Johnson Robb is the daughter of President Lyndon B. Johnson and Claudia Taylor "Lady Bird" Johnson. She is the mother of three "almost perfect" daughters, Lucinda, Catherine, and Jennifer, and the wife of former U. S. Senator Charles S. Robb of Virginia.

In 1962, Mrs. Robb graduated from the National Cathedral School for Girls in Washington DC. From 1962 until 1966 she attended the University of Texas and George Washington University. In May 1992, she was inducted in the Phi Beta Kappa Society, Alpha Chapter of the District of Columbia. She holds an honorary Doctorate of Public Service from Norwich University, Northfield, Vermont, and an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Washington and Lee University. She is the recipient of numerous civic awards and honors throughout the years.

Mrs. Robb worked as a writer for McCall's Magazine from 1966 to 1968, and was a contributing editor at Ladies' Home Journal from 1969 through 1981. She left that post to campaign for her husband in his successful campaign for the office of Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1981. Mrs. Robb was First Lady of Virginia and has served as a member of the Selection Board of the President's Commission of White House Fellowships. Past positions include a Presidential appointment by Jimmy Carter to serve as the Chair of the President's Advisory Committee for Women (1979-1981); Chair of the Virginia Women's Cultural History Project (1982-1985); Chair of the Virginia Task Force on Infant Mortality; and, a Congressional appointment to serve as Commissioner on the National Commission to Prevent Infant Mortality (1989-1996).

Mrs. Robb is fond of listing her profession now as "professional volunteer," and she has indeed, served many organizations over the years, always focusing on the condition of children and women, including Reading Is Fundamental, the nation's largest children's literacy organization. She served as Chairman of the Board of Directors from 1996 until her term ended in 2001. She is a past member of the board of Ford's Theatre, the past Co-Vice Chairman of America's Promise, and a current member of the Board of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Research Center. In addition to her work on-going work as a member of the Board on behalf of RIF, Mrs. Robb is current President of the National Home Library Foundation.