Lady Bird Johnson was no mere White House photo prop.

The former Claudia Taylor once was described by husband Lyndon Johnson as “the brains and money of this family.” Her business acumen helped point him to the White House, and she was a steadying influence on a man noted for his moodiness and volatility. Among other accomplishments, her efforts as an environmentalist led to the Highway Beautification Act.

Author Betty Boyd Caroli examines Lady Bird’s exceptional life in a discussion of her new book Lady Bird and Lyndon: The Hidden Story of a Marriage That Made a President.