The unseen Kennedys
Words | Emma Juhasz Portraits | Richard Avedon Over 40 years ago, Richard Avedon met the Kennedys and now, a beautiful new book reveals his images of a first family in waiting THEY HAD GLAMOUR, charisma and youth – but also gravitas: with the election of John F. Kennedy in 1961 and [...]
Words | Emma Juhasz Portraits | Richard Avedon
Over 40 years ago, Richard Avedon met the Kennedys and now, a
beautiful new book reveals his images of a first family in waiting
THEY HAD GLAMOUR, charisma and youth – but also gravitas: with the election of John F. Kennedy
in 1961 and his elegant first lady, Jacqueline, America seemed to enter a new era. His presidency was
a time of promise and hope – and was dubbed the new Camelot.
Yet the 35th US President’s assassination – on 22 November, 1963, at age 46 – ended his time
in office after only two-and-a-half years. Even though his legacy may have become caught up in controversy, today,
JFK remains one of America’s most popular presidents ever.
His extraordinary appeal is attributed to his good looks, charm, wit and ability to articulate his policies. In addition, unlike any of his predecessors, Kennedy courted the media. Television may have been in its infancy, but Kennedy recognised the far-reaching impact it was to have, hence his memorable television debate with Richard Nixon during the 1960 American presidential campaign which is thought to have won over undecided voters.
He was also friendly to the press: prior to his inauguration, legendary photographer Richard Avedon was given exclusive access to the nation’s first family – including three-yearold Caroline and new-born baby John Jr. – to shoot a series of portraits for the magazine Harpers Bazaar. The resulting portraits, both intimate and glamorous, not only helped to humanise Kennedy but also revealed a man and his family
who felt as though they were destined to govern.
Avedon donated the 200 images taken that day to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. Its curator, Shannon Thomas Perich, has selected 75 of these and published them for the first time in a book. The result is a volume that’s as glamorous, charismatic and endlessly appealing as its subjects.
THE GALLERY
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JOHN, JACQUELINE AND JOHN JR., The couple’s baby son was only six weeks old when the pictures were taken |
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CAROLINE AND JOHN JR. Three-year-old Caroline held John Jr. “responsibly and affectionately” according to LOOK magazine |
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JOHN AND CAROLINE “When I wanted President Kennedy to play with Caroline, she stood on his lap and he held her by the knees and she leaned way forward and he would say, ‘Let’s pretend you’re diving into the sea,’” Avedon recalled |
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JACQUELINE KENNEDY, “Jacqueline is ravishing,” said Avedon. “Today she’s the most beautiful woman in the world” |
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JFK “In a charming way, he was ill at ease…” Avedon observed. “Jacqueline said he was always at his best when talking to a crowd” |
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