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.
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National Portrait Gallery Collection
Location
Currently not on view
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Frances O. Tames
