Liz Carpenter, an author and former press secretary to Lady Bird Johnson, dies in Texas at 89

Former press secretary for Lady Bird Johnson dies

AUSTIN, Texas — Liz Carpenter, an author and former press secretary to first lady Lady Bird Johnson, has died. She was 89.

Carpenter died Saturday at University Medical Center Brackenridge in Austin, her daughter Christy Carpenter told The Associated Press. She had been ill with pneumonia.

Carpenter covered Congress and the White House for the Austin American-Statesman before she joined the White House staff as executive assistant to Lyndon Johnson when he was vice president.

Carpenter was Lady Bird Johnson’s press secretary from 1963 to 1969, including the years when Johnson was first lady.