It's awfully hard to hit the conversation in the one straight line because everything

leads to something else.

It's hard to have just one conversation in a complicated world, and the Johnson White

House in 1965 is a complicated place for sure.

Everything does lead to something else, ambition and insecurity, rich people and poor neighborhoods,

civil rights and the war, the burdens and the bonds of their marriage.

Still fresh from a landslide election, Lady Bird has a moment to get the American public

on board with her environment meets civil rights agenda.

But how?

Especially as the rest of the administration is struggling to keep its focus on the work

at home while things are spiraling abroad.

In best case studios and ABC audio, this is In Plain site.

I'm Julia Swag.

Oh well time flies with crystal clear eyes.

In 1965, the president of ABC, one of only three networks that comprise all of television

is a man named Leonard Goldinson.

When you're in that job, you can get on the phone with the president.

There's a lot of back scratching on the call.

It's early March 1965, year one of what's still a very popular administration.

And Goldinson isn't calling about hard news, civil rights, the war in Southeast Asia.

He's calling about the first lady.

We would like to do something since Lady Bird is interested in the cultural development

...