From Goodreads: "The world was shocked and frightened when President John F. Kennedy was gunned down by an assassin's bullet in 1963. What would happen to the government of the most powerful nation on Earth? When Kennedy s vice president, Lyndon Baines Johnson, took the presidential oath of office on Air Force One just hours after the assassination, the White House photographer was there. Cecil Stoughton's iconic photo showed the world that the smooth and orderly transfer of power called for in the U.S. Constitution had occurred. His photo helped ease the shock, tension, and fear in an anxious country."
Goodreads - Assassination and Its Aftermath
This is a fairly short book, but is heavy in content. The book tells how four people became connected in Dallas in 1963. It also tells how Cecil Stoughton took pictures of the Kennedys and how he captured one of the most iconic photos in history. We learn about what he was feeling while in the midst of history taking place. This book focuses on the photographic evidence from history and the impact it made on Americans at that time.
I really enjoyed this book. I love the awe and fascination that surrounds the Kennedys. My mom was just a kid when Kennedy was shot and my dad was just a teenager. I think it is so interesting that I have such a fascination for JFK considering I'm so young. I wonder if other youngins have the same wonder and desire to read about JFK that I do. I read the book "The President Has Been Shot!": The Assassination of John F. Kennedy by James L. Swanson and I found it very interesting. It really focused on the details of the day and what happened with Kennedy before, during, and after, as well as what was happening with Oswald before, during, and after. Assassination and Its Aftermath took a different path and focused on the photographer, Cecil Stoughton, who was on hand and captured history. It was so interesting to read how he felt and his split second decision to go with Lyndon B. Johnson after he found out Kennedy was dead. I wonder what his photographs might have looked like if he had chosen to stay with Jackie instead of going with Johnson. Would he have taken pictures of the widow? Or would he have respected her while in mourning and shock from the death of her husband? This book portrayed what Stoughton really felt while trying to get everything together and ready to photograph Johnson taking oath of office. It was a high energy event that was nerve-wrecking for all involved. I also really enjoyed hearing stories from other people who were present and seeing the same facts, details, and personal accounts cross between books.
I honestly feel that photography is a lost art. A lot of people claim to be "photographers" and they have a business, but I don't feel like they understand the magic that exists in photography. I'm definitely not a professional photographer, but I enjoy taking pictures of events for people. I enjoy capturing that one moment that no one else captured. For example, when I was on the yearbook staff I was able to get up close and personal to take pictures during the homecoming ceremonies. I was the ONLY person that captured the ever famous and loved kiss that is given to the queen from her two escorts. I was the only person that captured it! In today's world everyone has a phone and everyone can take a picture of anything or everything happening. I love that this book really embodies the significance a photograph can have, especially the significance of this event. If that had taken place a week ago the media would have been all over it and everyone on the plane would have had phones out to record the event or even live stream it. I just really like how this book captures the value of the photographs that Stoughton took instead of focusing on everything else that was going on that day.
This book is very short at 64 pages, but has very large pictures throughout the entire book. I really enjoyed reading about the events from the photographer's perspective and seeing how Kennedy, Johnson, Stoughton, and Oswald's paths crossed at one location. There could have been a LOT more included historically, but this is geared towards middle school aged children, and with that in mind it is just right. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars and it will be a book that will remain on my shelf for years to come!
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