Former White House Press Secretary to Speak Oct. 28

WACO, Texas - Liz Carpenter, former press secretary and staff director for Lady Bird Johnson and former speech writer for Lyndon Johnson, will speak at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28, in the Jones Theater in the Glennis McCrary Music Building on the Baylor University campus. Carpenter is the featured speaker in this year's Roy B. Albaugh Phi Beta Kappa Lecture.
Carpenter, who was born in Salado, graduated from the University of Texas with a bachelor's degree in journalism. After graduating, she went to Washington D.C. and began a career in journalism that spanned more than 50 years.
During her time in the capital city, she became friends with fellow Texans Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson. When Johnson became vice president in 1960, he asked Carpenter to become his executive assistant, the first time a woman had filled that position. While Johnson was president, Carpenter served as the president's speech writer and as Mrs. Johnson's press secretary and staff director.
After Johnson finished his final term as president, Carpenter returned to Austin. She became a founder of the National Women's Political Caucus and chair of ERA America. In addition to writing numerous articles for The New York Times, Texas Monthly and Modern Maturity, Carpenter is the author of Ruffles and Flourishes: A Simple Girl Who Found Adventure in the White House, Getting Better All the Time, Unplanned Parenthood and The Confessions of a Seventy-Something Surrogate Mother.
Carpenter served as president of the National Women's Press Club and advisor to Leadership America. She was named a Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Texas and was inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame.
The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Dr. Phillip Johnson, professor of Spanish, at (254) 710-6003.