AP Photo Of Kennedy, Eisenhower Added To Cold War Exhibit
WASHINGTON, DC (January 30,, 2008) - The 1962 Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph of President John F. Kennedy and former President Dwight D. Eisenhower walking together at Camp David following the Bay of Pigs invasion has been added to an exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery.
The Associated Press photograph by Paul Vathis was included in an exhibit titled "The President and the Cold War" after lobbying by AP newsman Larry Margasak. Margasak requested the photograph be displayed after he visited the exhibit a year ago and was dismayed that a different news photograph had been used instead of the better-known, prize-winning photograph by Vathis.
"Political photojournalism is all about the moment," said J. David Ake, AP assistant chief of bureau/photos in Washington, at a ceremony at the museum in honor of Vathis. "Composition helps, lighting helps, focus helps, but if you don't have the moment, you don't have the picture. Paul had the moment."
As with all great photographs, there's a story behind the story of this picture. It was taken taken in April 1961 after the abortive Bay of Pigs invation. It shows Kennedy and Eisenhower in conversation, trying to show a united front after the disastrous attempt to overthrow Cuba's Fidel Castro. Their backs are to the camera as they walk down a path. Eisenhower grasps his hat, Kennedy walks stiffly like he did because of his painful back. It was a scene the world was not supposed to see, because it was after the two leaders had posed for handshaking pictures and after Kennedy's press secretary Pierre Salinger told photographers "that's it," meaning no more pictures.
A passage in the book Breaking News: How The Associated Press Covered War, Peace, And Everything Else reveals the rest of the story behind this Pulitzer winner. After the photo opportunity Eisenhower said to Kennedy, "I know a place where we can talk," and they walked down a path toward a cottage. Vathis was squatting and putting away his equipment when he looked up and saw the two presidents walking away. "They looked so lonely, the young president and the older war hero, and the stripped trees in the background, two men burdened with major troubles," Vathis said. "The picture snapped into my mind immediately." But a Secret Service agent called Moose who knew Vathis from the Eisenhower years was in the way.
"Moose, spread your legs; I want to make a picture," Vathis whispered.
"Paul, Pierre said the lid was on," the agent said.
"Moose, spread your goddamn legs. There's a picture here."
The book says Vathis made two pictures through the agent's legs, holding his Hasselblad and 180mm lens close to the ground, but Salinger heard the shutter and was mad. "I said the lid's on!" the press secretary yelled, to which Vathis replied that he was just taking the film out of his camera. Moose told the photographer, "Get the hell out of here."
Vathis, based in Harrisburg, PA, worked 56 years for the Associated Press. He died in 2002. AP says that ten members of the Vathis family attended the museum ceremony to install the famous image in the exhibit.
The National Portrait Gallery show opened July 1, 2006, and runs through February 24.
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