President Lyndon B. Johnson Inauguration medal

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: RITDSA-0138

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

One three inch (70 mm), weighing 170-gram (5.9 ounce) bronze medal. On one side is a high relief bust of LBJ, his signature surrounded by stars. Bust has artist name on it - Ralph J. Menconi. Medallic Art Co. Back side of medal reads President of the United States of America with presidential seal and LBJ quote "On this occasion, the oath I have taken before you and before God is not mine alone, but ours together. We are one nation and one People..." Inaugurated January 20, 1965.

Ralph Menconi became known in the art world as the “Sculptor of Presidents” because of an important series of medals he produced commemorating all the Presidents of the United States. Presidents Eisenhower, Johnson and Nixon sat personally for him, and President Johnson also commissioned a portrait medal for his own use.

Dates

Creation: January 20, 1965

Creator

Menconi, Ralph (Joseph) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to researchers.

Biographical / Historical

Lyndon B. Johnson was our nation's 36th president. This medal, commemorating Lyndon Baines Johnson's January 20, 1965 Inauguration, was LBJ's favorite medal, which he gave out as a gift. The medal was issued by Presidential Art Medals (PAM) and struck by the Medallic Art Company (MACO), which together produced a number of series in the 1960’s, including the presidential series designed by Ralph J Menconi (1915-1972).