Statue #36: Lyndon B. Johnson

Rapid City, South Dakota

Lyndon Johnson, America's 36th President (1963-1969) will always be associated with America's bloody war in Southeast Asia. His statue was sponsored by a Rapid City businessman in memory of three classmates killed in that war; and the desk on which Johnson sits -- likely browbeating a member of Congress -- has an engraved map of Vietnam. Also on the deck is a copy of a treatise, "The Prince," written by the unscrupulous political theorist Machiavelli. Overall, not a flattering portrait for a president otherwise well regarded for his civil rights accomplishments. But not on this street corner, where he's positioned -- when we visited -- in front of a gun store.

Amazing Arcana of the Presidents

Johnson's idea of a joke was to take visitors on a tour of his Texas ranch in his amphibious car, then yell, "The brakes don't work!" and drive into the river.

[Discover more fascinating details in the Roadside Presidents iPhone app!]

City of Presidents

Since 2000, Rapid City has commissioned and installed bronze statues of every former U.S. President on its downtown street corners. Visitors are encouraged to take a walking tour of the City of Presidents and inspect the nation's metallic Commanders in Chief. Paper guides are available year-round at the city's main Visitor Center at 512 Main St.