Idanell (Nellie) Brill Connally, born February 24, 1919 and died September 1, 2006, was the First Lady of Texas and the wife of John Connally. This extraordinary woman is known to the world as a witness to the assassination of US President John Fitzgerald Kennedy on November 22, 1963. Nellie Connally was indeed a famous figure in the history of Texas and the United States. Her name has always been associated with business and politics. Read more on houston1.one.
Texas’ daughter: young years
The eldest of the five Brill children living in Austin was the girl Idanell, born February 24, 1919, in an ordinary middle-class family. Her father was a leather merchant and made holsters for law enforcement officers.
Idanell attended elementary and high school in Austin. Her family placed great value on education. From an early age, she dreamed of becoming an actress and decided to pursue her dream by enrolling at the University of Texas in the late 1930s. She eventually became the Sweetheart of the University and was quite popular there. However, things didn’t work out as she had hoped. After meeting her future husband and thirty-ninth governor of Texas, John Connally, Idanell Brill abandoned her plans, falling head over heels in love. Years later, she told reporters that she recognized a tall, handsome brunette approaching and it was him. She just knew.
Life in power
After graduating from college, John Connally began working for the Congressman Lyndon Johnson in Washington. In 1940, Idanell Brill officially became Nellie Connally, marrying John on December 21, 1940, at the First United Methodist Church in Austin.
Over the years, John Connally’s political career developed. In 1962, he was elected Governor of Texas and re-elected for two additional terms. At that time, his wife became First Lady. She supported her husband and was engaged in creating gardens near the mansion and collecting state silver. She also took an active part in raising funds for the Texas Mental Health Association, the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Crusade and the Texas Tuberculosis Association’s Christmas Seals. All of them were connected due to the governor’s political initiative.
Later, Nellie Connally’s husband managed various political campaigns of Johnson and held quite high positions. Nellie rose with him on the waves of fame and each time felt how they crashed when hard times came.
The couple had four children: Kathleen, John, Sharon and Mark. In 1958, the first child, Kathleen, committed suicide at the age of 17, six weeks after she unexpectedly ran away. Such a loss had a significant impact on the girl’s parents. After the child’s death, they rarely mentioned it publicly.
The day that changed history
Nellie Connally forever remembered that day in Dallas. On November 22, 1963, she was in the spotlight. US President John F. Kennedy had come to Texas to help shore up his weak political support there and to try to mend the somewhat acrimonious relationship between Vice President Lyndon Johnson and Senator Ralph Yarborough.
That morning, the Connally family met the Kennedy family in the presidential limousine. At one point, Nellie Connally seemed to sense a threat and turned to the president, saying: ‘Mr. President, you can’t say Dallas doesn’t love you’. She was the last to speak to him, as shots rang out in a moment.
Later, when Nellie was interviewed, she recalled that she had seen the president clutch his throat, struck by a bullet. Then, she rushed to help her husband, closing the wound in his chest, which saved John Connally’s life. The woman forever remembered that day in Dallas: ‘It was a car full of yellow roses, red roses and blood. It was all around us’.
After this terrible incident, staying at her husband’s hospital bed, Nellie Connally wrote down in detail all the events of that tragic day. Only forty years later, based on her notes, she decided to publish the book From Love Field: Our Final Hours with President John F. Kennedy.
A legacy in the heart of Houston
In 1969, the Connelly family moved to Houston after completing a term as governor and first lady of Texas. Here, Nellie continued her charitable activities, raising funds for various organizations and a children’s hospital. Her foundation raised millions of dollars for charitable causes. She also made a significant contribution when, as a member of the Texas Historical Commission, she helped complete Tranquillity Park in Houston.
Because of her sincerity and kindness, Nellie Connally played the role of a strong, charismatic woman who did everything for the well-being of the city in which she lived. She devoted all her time to the development of the city and supporting charitable initiatives such as medicine, education and culture, historical preservation and social support.
After two years, the family was forced to return to Washington. Then-President Richard Nixon appointed John as US Treasury Secretary.
The power of a woman’s voice
After returning to Washington, the Connallys became even more respected. In 1974, Nellie attended Nixon’s impeachment hearings and visited the president often. In 1980, she took a direct part in her husband’s campaign, who decided to run for president. Unfortunately, he failed to win. Perhaps, this contributed to the fact that the couple declared bankruptcy in 1987. A series of business deals by the Treasury Secretary went awry, as a result of which debts amounted to $93 million and assets were only $13 million. The family went through a four-day auction of their personal belongings to pay off huge debts.
The final spot on the canvas of life
In 1988, Nellie Connally underwent a mastectomy after doctors diagnosed her with breast cancer. After such an unpleasant experience, the woman helped found the Nellie B. Connally Breast Center. A fund was created in her honor to support cancer research. Nellie continued her charitable activities wherever she could. Eventually, her contributions were recognized. In 1992, she was named an Outstanding Volunteer in Houston. The couple continued to live there. Idanell remained in the city after the death of her husband in 1993, who passed away because of pneumonia.
Nellie Brill Connally died alone in her sleep on September 1, 2006. She was 87 years old. She is buried in the Texas State Cemetery in Austin.
Nellie Connally left a significant mark on history through her unique experiences and participation in key events of the 20th century. As the wife of Texas Governor John Connally, she witnessed one of the most tragic moments in US history – the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. Her presence in the presidential car at the time of the tragedy has given her memoirs special significance for researchers. In addition, Nellie actively supported her husband’s political career, served as First Lady of Texas and was involved in charity work, dedicating her life to helping others. Her memoirs not only shed light on historical events but also reveal her views on the role of women in society and politics. Nellie Connally is an example of resilience, female strength and dedication to her family and community.