Over the past 132 years, Lucchese has enjoyed fitting many of the world’s most influential people, including several U.S. Presidents. One of Lucchese’s most loyal and memorable customers was Lyndon Baines Johnson, President from November 22, 1963 through January 20, 1969.

Lucchese can trace LBJ’s political ascension and enduring Lucchese loyalty in our El Paso factory's historical archives. Rumor has it that he began wearing Lucchese in the 1940s, but his name first appears in our official records in October of 1952 when he was a U.S. Senator. 

His wife, “Lady Bird” Johnson, also stepped into her own pair in December of 1952; their boots were purchased at a price of $75.00 each. Today, these beautifully detailed, handmade boots are on display at the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, Texas. 

In November of 1960, John F. Kennedy became President and Johnson served as Vice-President. On January 5, 1961, fifteen days before the inauguration, Johnson ordered Lucchese boots for JFK’s three-year-old daughter, Caroline. In addition to the boots, LBJ also gave Caroline and her brother John Jr. a pony who they named "Macaroni." 

Upon President JFK’s assassination in 1963, LBJ became the 36^th President of the United States. Throughout his political tenure, he continued to wear Lucchese and visited the factory multiple times. On July 6, 1966, he hosted Sam Lucchese and his son Cosimo at the LBJ Ranch for a private boot fitting.

On April 18, 1972, during a stay in the hospital, former President LBJ penned a letter to Sam Lucchese from his hospital bed, thanking Sam for thinking of him and encouraging the president to “get back in the saddle.” The President stated, “I trust that you know that when I am able to do that, it will be in a pair of Lucchese boots.”

President Lyndon Baines Johnson died on January 22, 1973.  

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Looking for something presidential? We suggest Collins and Knox, two styles fit for leaders.