“The Same Thing that Happens to All Brides”
“The Same Thing that Happens to All Brides”
Luci Johnson, the American Public, and the White Wedding
This chapter examines the white wedding at the pinnacle of its popularity by focusing on the wedding of Luci Johnson, daughter to President Lyndon B. Johnson, and Patrick Nugent in 1966. It first considers the various criticisms against the white wedding, especially about the appropriate way to celebrate the event as Americans became increasingly uncomfortable with the white wedding's size and scope. It then discusses the debate sparked by Luci's wedding that largely focused on disagreements over whether a wedding should satisfy public or private goals. It argues that Luci's wedding was an illustration not only of the dominance of the celebration style but also of ongoing public concerns about the power of individuality, community, and cultural authority in American life.
Keywords: white wedding, Luci Johnson, Patrick Nugent, individuality, community, cultural authority
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