Austin, TX
From the Archives: When US presidents and candidates for the top office visited Austin
On Nov. 5, if things go as expected, American voters will choose the next president of the United States.
Austin has been no stranger to presidents and presidential candidates holding big rallies in the city. Republican Former President Donald Trump, who is seeking a comeback to the White House, hosted an invitation-only mini rally on Sept. 25 at a private jet hangar in East Austin before recording an episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast in the comedian’s studio in the city. Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democrats’ pick for the top of the ticket, skipped a stop in Austin for a big rally with Beyoncé in Houston on Oct. 25.
President Joe Biden delivered a speech on civil rights at the LBJ Presidential Library at the University of Texas in Austin in July. Trump inspected an Apple facility here in 2019. Over the course of several days, Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter attended a civil rights summit to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act at the LBJ Library in 2014. It was surely the largest assemblage of presidents ever to attend an event in Austin.
Obama visited Austin often during his eight years in office. His predecessor, Bush, lived in Austin for five years as Texas governor. On the night of Nov. 7, 2000, a big crowd gathered on Congress Avenue in chilly weather to cheer on candidate Bush, but they went home unfulfilled. The election was not decided for more than a month, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in his favor in the case Bush v. Gore.
President Lyndon Baines Johnson grew up 50 miles west of Austin in Johnson City. He represented the Austin area as a U.S. congressman before becoming a U.S. senator, vice president and president. The American-Statesman recently documented all his offices in the Austin area.
In February 2016, journalist Sarah Thurmond, in a nifty feat of research, summarized earlier visits from major presidential candidates and office-holders in Austin Monthly magazine. Here are some highlights
- Dec. 27, 1899: Two-time Democratic candidate William Jennings Bryan came to Austin to visit Texas Gov. James Hogg, who offered a “wild panther hunt” as entertainment. Said panther was actually the pet of a saloonkeeper.
- May 3, 1901: President William McKinley became the first president to visit the Texas Governor’s Mansion, after a carriage ride along Congress Avenue.
- April 6, 1905: After a trip up a flag-festooned Congress Avenue, President Theodore Roosevelt spoke to a large crowd outside the Texas Capitol.
- June 11, 1936: President Franklin D. Roosevelt, during a 20-minute nighttime stop, pressed a button to light up fireworks during the groundbreaking for the Texas Memorial Museum, which was recently renovated in a grand manner.
- Sept. 27, 1948: President Harry S. Truman stumped before a big crowd at a downtown train station during his famous “Whistle-stop Campaign.”
- Feb. 18, 1959: President Dwight D. Eisenhower made a “rest stop” at Bergstrom Air Force Base on his way to visit Mexican President Adolfo López Mateos. Of course, LBJ, then the Senate majority leader, was there to greet him.
- Sept. 13, 1960: President John F. Kennedy campaigned through several Texas cities before speaking on the steps of the Capitol.
- May 22, 1971: President Richard M. Nixon spoke at the dedication of the LBJ Library. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson were present.
- July 25, 1984: President Ronald Reagan, campaigning in Austin for the second time, addressed a crowd assembled at what was then called Auditorium Shores, alongside Vice President, and future President, George H.W. Bush.
Perhaps the most famous presidential visit was one that never happened. Kennedy was scheduled to address a gala crowd at Municipal/Palmer Auditorium on Nov. 22, 1963. Earlier that day, he was assassinated in Dallas.
AUSTIN, Texas – A 28-year-old Austin woman who was reported missing earlier this week has been located, according to the Austin Police Department.
What we know:
Police announced Saturday that Ghadah Alharbi has been found following a public appeal for information about her whereabouts.
Alharbi was last known to have contacted family members by phone around 8 p.m. on June 16. Her disappearance was described by investigators as out of character, prompting concern from both her family and the Austin Police Department.
Authorities said she had left her vehicle at her residence in Central Austin near Mueller and was known to use ride-share services for transportation.
Dig deeper:
The Austin Police Department’s Missing Persons Unit had requested the public’s assistance in locating Alharbi on Friday, citing concerns for her well-being.
In an update released Saturday, police confirmed Alharbi had been located but did not provide additional details about where she was found or the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
Police thanked the community and media for their assistance and cooperation.
The Source: Information in this article was provided by Austin police.
Following controversial comments from head coach Steve Sarkisian and recruiting battles with other contending teams, the Texas Longhorns have once again found themselves in the national spotlight ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Just like this time 365 days ago, the Longhorns are the favorites to win the SEC Championship by the time the postseason rolls around, as well as be contenders for the national championship — despite failing to gain a playoff berth in 2025.
Ahead of the 2025 season, Texas’ preseason hype centered around quarterback Arch Manning and his first year at the helm of the Longhorns’ offense. Despite predictions that Manning would win the Heisman and be the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Longhorns went on to a nine-win regular season with steady, ongoing improvements in Manning’s performance.
Now, the attention from national media seems due to the “all-in” season that the Longhorns are looking toward, with a huge roster turnover through the transfer portal suggesting that this is the make-or-break year for Texas — and Manning — to achieve any national championship hopes.
However, a “make-or-break” season isn’t necessarily what’s ahead for Texas in 2026.
Texas’ Championship Hopes Aren’t Necessarily Over After 2026
It’s fair to assume that the Longhorns are going all in for a national championship in 2026, given the emphasis on experienced transfer portal talent, coaching staff changes and even talk from some players about what the team’s goals are over the offseason.
But considering 2026 as the Longhorns’ last chance for a trophy in the immediate future isn’t as easily justifiable, especially when Texas may not be considering much of a rebuild after this season ends. Sarkisian himself didn’t deny that Manning may come back for another year with Texas in 2027, and many key playmakers on both offense and defense have several more years of eligibility left.
Especially looking at Texas’ incoming class of freshmen and history with the transfer portal, it’s likely that the Longhorns are setting themselves up for longevity more than immediate success. If Manning does decide to declare for the 2027 NFL Draft, incoming freshman quarterback Dia Bell will be an exciting prospect for Texas to bank on when looking for its next offensive leader.
It’s natural that the Longhorns should continue to generate national excitement, especially with the newest five-star commit to the 2027 class. Even so, Texas has a habit of bucking the trends and national predictions. The pressure was on in 2025 to win a national championship in Manning’s first year as a starter, and as more mock drafts continue to slate him as a first-rounder, that pressure has only heightened in what most onlookers see as his last year playing college football.
Whether the Longhorns will buckle under that pressure this go-around will be seen, starting with their home opener against Texas State on Sept. 5.
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AUSTIN, Texas — Austin city leaders gathered on East 11th Street on Juneteenth to celebrate the “Black Artists Matter” mural before it must be removed under an order from the Texas Department of Transportation. The mural and the city’s rainbow crosswalk are slated for removal in compliance with a Texas Department of Transportation directive requiring cities to remove political ideologies from roadways. Last October, Gov. Greg Abbott directed TxDOT to enforce the policy.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson stood on the blocked-off street where the yellow letters spelling “Black Artists Matter” are painted on the roadway’s surface. “We will never forget that when the state decided to target our murals, the community stood together to celebrate our city’s diversity, spirit, and creativity,” Watson said.
Watson criticized the state’s actions, saying, “The state government engages in negative rhetoric and threats, it targets communities that it disagrees with and seeks retribution.”
In response to the order, Watson formed the Public Spaces Task Force to identify other ways to celebrate diversity in Austin.
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Daphne McDole, chief executive officer of the African American Cultural Heritage District and a member of the task force, said she wanted the event held on Juneteenth because of its significance. “I wanted to do it on Juneteenth, it was significant to me because I knew that that was the day my community would be in the district. We will be celebrating over here all day, so it was appropriate,” McDole said.
Task force members said they are exploring alternatives to honor East Austin’s history and diversity. They noted that city leaders in San Antonio created rainbow sidewalks after removing rainbow crosswalks, but said Austin will pursue its own approach.
Task force chair Steven Rivas said the community is focused on preserving the meaning behind the markings. “We chose to come together as a community and find a way to respect what these markings mean and build upon them. If we can’t have them in the street, we’re going to put them off the street,” Rivas said.
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