In memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The LBJ Presidential Library honors the extraordinary life and work of the civil rights leader

“We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn’t matter with me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop … And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over, and I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the promised land.”

–I've Been to the Mountaintop speech, delivered April 3, 1968

On April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was fatally shot by a sniper while standing on the balcony outside his room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. As news of the tragedy spread across the nation, riots broke out in cities and the National Guard was deployed in Memphis and Washington, DC. As Americans took to the streets in grief and anger over the assassination, President Johnson sent a letter to Dr. King's widow, Coretta Scott King, to share his own grief and determination to continue fighting for the causes of justice, equality, and love that Dr. King embodied.

Today, and everyday, the LBJ Presidential Library honors the life, work, and legacy of Dr. King.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil rights leaders meet with President Johnson on March 18, 1966.Photo by Yoichi Okamoto, LBJ Presidential Library

From Our Collection

Letter to Coretta Scott King from President Johnson, April 5, 1968.Donated in memory of Mrs. Lois Woolman Wheeler, Mr. Donnel Floyd Wheeler, their deceased child Redonia, and Willie Wheeler, LBJ Presidential Library
The front page of The Dallas Times Herald from April 5, 1968LBJ Presidential Library


Links to telephone conversations
Phone conversation between MLK and LBJ on November 25, 1963.LBJ thanks Dr. King for his recent statement, discusses the heavy burdens he faces, and says he will ask Congress to pass tax and Civil Rights bills. Dr. King expresses support for LBJ, and says bills should be passed as tribute to President Kennedy.
Phone conversation between Ivan Allen Jr., Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia and LBJ, 4/4/1968, 11:00 pm.Allen thanks LBJ for his statement upon the death of MLK, reports on the situation in Atlanda, LBJ's call to Coretta Scott King, Rioting in Washington DC, postponement of LBJ's trip to Honolulu, LBJ's 3/31/1968 speech, Lady Bird Johnson thanks Allen for his work.

President Johnson's Daily Diary pages
President Johnson's Daily Diary, April 4, 1968
President Johnson's Daily Diary, April 5, 1968
President Johnson's Daily Diary, April 6, 1968
President Johnson's Daily Diary, April 7, 1968

President Johnson and his staff watch television reports of Dr. King's assassination on April 4, 1968.Photo by Mike Geissinger, LBJ Presidential Library
President Johnson meets with civil rights leaders the day after Dr. King was assassinated. After the meeting, they all went to King's memorial service at the National Cathedral. April 5, 1968. You can find Tom Johnson's notes from the meeting here..Photo by Yoichi Okamoto, LBJ Presidential Library
Whitney Young and an unidentified person at the White House gate after he and other civil rights leaders met with President Johnson on April 5, 1968.Photo by Mike Geissinger, LBJ Presidential Library
President Johnson and others going to the Memorial Service for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., at the National Cathedral. April 5, 1968LBJ Presidential Library

Educational Resources

Other educational resources available at lbjlibrary.org/education

Bonus Content

The President: April 1968
Starting at 10:04 to 14:48: Film footage from April 4th and the days after, showing riots, LBJ meeting with civil rights leaders, and LBJ's address to the nation proclaiming a Day of Mourning for Dr. King, and more.