Object Details
Artist
George Tames, 1919 - 1994
Sitter
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 29 May 1917 - 22 Nov 1963
Exhibition Label
Born Brookline, Massachusetts
John F. Kennedy was politics’ answer to the matinee idol, and crowd response to his charismatic personality verged at times on frenzy. Heightening this phenomenon was Kennedy’s own zestful reaction to it, and this image by New York Times photographer George Tames offers a glimpse into how the chemistry between the idol-President and his fans worked. Tames took the picture at the airport in Pierre, South Dakota, in August 1962. Kennedy had just arrived to promote the election of Senate candidate George McGovern. After accepting a welcome from local officials, Kennedy was soon striding off toward an airport fence to conduct more important business—a round of handshaking with some of the thousands of admirers who were craning for a glimpse of him.
Nacido en Brookline, Massachusetts
John F. Kennedy era el equivalente político de una estrella de cine, y la reacción de las multitudes a su carismática personalidad a veces rayaba en frenesí. La reciprocidad entusiasta del propio Kennedy intensificaba el fenómeno, y esta imagen del fotógrafo del New York Times George Tames deja entrever la química entre el presidente-ídolo y su fanaticada. Tames tomó la foto en el aeropuerto de Pierre, Dakota del Sur, en agosto de 1962. Kennedy llegaba para promover la elección del candidato senatorial George McGovern. Luego de aceptar la bienvenida de los funcionarios locales, se encaminó enseguida hacia una valla del aeropuerto para un asunto más importante: estrechar la mano de algunos de los miles de admiradores que se esforzaban por verlo un instante.
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Frances O. Tames
Date
1962
Object number
NPG.94.242
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Copyright
© George Tames/The New York Times/Redux
Type
Photograph
Medium
Gelatin silver print
Dimensions
Image: 23.2 × 30.4 cm (9 1/8 × 11 15/16")
Sheet: 28 × 33 cm (11 × 13")
Mat: 55.9 × 71.1 cm (22 × 28")
See more items in
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Location
Currently not on view
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Topic
Exterior
Architecture\Building
Equipment\Camera
Architecture\Fence
John Fitzgerald Kennedy: Male
John Fitzgerald Kennedy: Arts and Culture\Literature\Writer
John Fitzgerald Kennedy: Politics and Government\Government official\US Congressman\Massachusetts
John Fitzgerald Kennedy: Military and Intelligence\Navy\Officer
John Fitzgerald Kennedy: Politics and Government\Government official\President of US
John Fitzgerald Kennedy: Politics and Government\Government official\US Senator\Massachusetts
John Fitzgerald Kennedy: Literary awards\Pulitzer Prize
John Fitzgerald Kennedy: Civilian awards\Presidential Medal of Freedom
John Fitzgerald Kennedy: Military award\Purple Heart
Portrait
Link to Original Record
Record ID
npg_NPG.94.242