Sam Houston Johnson | |
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 Johnson in 1968 | |
| Born | Sam Houston Johnson (1914-01-31)January 31, 1914 Johnson City, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | December 11, 1978(1978-12-11) (aged 64) Austin, Texas, U.S. |
| Education | Texas State University Cumberland School of Law (LL.B.) |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent(s) | Samuel Ealy Johnson Jr. Rebekah Baines |
Sam Houston Johnson (January 31, 1914 – December 11, 1978) was an American businessman. He was the younger brother of PresidentLyndon B. Johnson.
Sam Houston Johnson was born inJohnson City, Texas on January 31, 1914, toSamuel Ealy Johnson Jr. and Rebekah Baines.[1] He attendedSouthwest Texas State Teachers College, as had his brother Lyndon, and theUniversity of Texas at Austin.[2] He received a law degree fromCumberland School of Law in 1934.[3][4]
For most of his life, Johnson was an aide and adviser to his older brotherLyndon B. Johnson; he was part of a network of supporters his brother used to maintain awareness of and control over political activities in Texas. When Lyndon Johnson was appointed Director of theNational Youth Administration inTexas in the 1930s, Sam Houston Johnson replaced him as chief aide toCongressmanRichard M. Kleberg.[5]
Johnson later worked for the National Youth Administration in Texas. He also worked as an appraiser for theFederal Land Bank inHouston, and reported to his brother on its activities.[6]
DuringWorld War II, Johnson worked on the staff of theWar Production Board.[7] In addition, he was employed as a member of his brother's Senate staff and worked on Lyndon Johnson's campaigns.[8]
Besides working for and with his brother, Johnson also worked as an insurance executive and as theMexico representative of a Texas international trucking company.[9][10]
Johnson was analcoholic. In his later years, his drinking, coupled with physical disability caused by a broken hip, limited his effectiveness as a member of his brother's organization.[11][12]
In 1970 Johnson wrote a memoir,My Brother Lyndon, which praised his brother in most respects, but was critical in others.[13] At the time, Johnson indicated that he was estranged from his brother, but said his book was not the cause. The two reconciled before Lyndon Johnson's death.[14]
According to published accounts, Johnson stopped drinking in 1972 and underwent a religious conversion, becoming a regular attendee at services of Austin's non-denominational Community Church.[15]
HistorianRobert Caro interviewed Johnson as one of his numerous sources while conducting research forThe Years of Lyndon Johnson. According to Caro, he at first considered Johnson to be unreliable, largely as a result of his drinking. Caro said that he considered Johnson more credible in their subsequent encounters, largely because of his sobriety and religious conversion.[16]
In 1976 Johnson was diagnosed with cancer and had a malignant tumor removed from his lung.[17] His lung cancer returned, and Johnson died at Holy Cross Hospital inAustin, Texas on December 11, 1978.[18] He is buried in the Johnson Family Cemetery inStonewall, Texas.
In 1940, Johnson married Albertine Summers. They divorced in 1944. Their children included a daughter, Josefa Roxane (or Roxanne) (b. 1941), and a son, Samuel Summers (b. 1942).
In 1955, Johnson married again to Mary Jane Michelson Fish. They later divorced.[19]
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