Photo Classic
Under the Resolute Desk–
John F. Kennedy, Jr. was born on November 25, 1960 – 16 days after his father, John F. Kennedy, was elected president of the United States of America. Having spent his toddler years in the White House, the little boy that the public referred to as “John-John” had the White House as his playground. Even the Oval Office had him as its unofficial dweller. One such incident was caught on cam and became an iconic photograph. The image showed JFK, Jr. peering through what he imagined as a “secret door” while his father was at work. This endearing photograph put into context the myth and memory of Camelot – a young president running a powerful country while raising a young family just like other ordinary family men.
The photo was taken in October 1963. JFK called on photographer Alan Stanley Tretick to take photos of the little boy while his mother was out of the country. Jacqueline’s antipathy against her children being photographed and used for publicity is a known fact. A few weeks after the photo was taken, the Kennedys carried an advance copy of the Look magazine where the photos appeared as they traveled to Dallas where JFK was later on assassinated. Copies of the Look magazine issue hit the newsstands a few days after the assassination.
The desk in the photo is in itself an icon. The “Resolute Desk,” was gift from Queen Victoria to President Rutherford B. Hayes. It was built from a salvaged Arctic discovery vessel and it has been used by most U.S. presidents, including Pres. Obama. The “secret door” was an add-on to conceal the leg braces of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Ironically, he did not live to see its installation.
The photographer, Alan Stanley Tretick, is credited for many intimate photographs of President Kennedy and his children. Kennedy carefully controlled the release of his photographs to make sure it supported the image he wanted the public to see. Tretick skillfully captured the images for him. (Compiled by Tess Puzon-Rivera)
Sources:http://iconicphotos.wordpress.com/http://www.artvisionexhibitions.com/JohnFKennedy PhotographyExhibit.htn/ Kennedy Iconic Posters / James M. McPherson,To the Best of My Ability, The AmericanPresidents, Dorling Kindersley, London New York, London 2000.
