Cecil W. Stoughton
Encyclopedia
Cecil William Stoughton was an American
photographer. Born in Oskaloosa, Iowa
, Stoughton is best known for being President John F. Kennedy
's photographer during his White House
years.
He was a captain in the United States Army Signal Corps when he was assigned to the White House Army Signal Agency. Stoughton's behind-the-scene pictures of John and Jacqueline
and their children in their public and personal life were pivotal in shaping the public's view of the U.S. first family
. He took over eight thousand pictures of the family spanning the 34-month period beginning with Kennedy's inauguration and ending with his assassination
.
Stoughton took the only photograph ever published showing John F. Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy
and Marilyn Monroe
together. Stoughton was present at the motorcade at which Kennedy was assassinated, and was subsequently the only photographer on board Air Force One
when Lyndon B. Johnson
was sworn in as the next President. Stoughton's famous photograph of this event depicts Johnson raising his hand in oath as he stood between his wife Lady Bird Johnson
and a still blood-spattered Jacqueline Kennedy. Stoughton also served as White House photographer during Johnson's first two years in office, and recounted this service in an oral history contributed to the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum
.
In 2008, Stoughton appeared on the television series Antiques Roadshow and recounted his story and presented prints of his photographs from his personal collection, including a print of his photograph of Johnson being sworn in that Johnson had signed, and a photograph of Johnson in the Oval Office as he signed the photo of his swearing in.
He died in Merritt Island, Florida
, just nine months after his appearance on Antiques Roadshow describing his iconic photograph.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
photographer. Born in Oskaloosa, Iowa
Oskaloosa, Iowa
Oskaloosa is the county seat of Mahaska County, Iowa, United States. The population was 11,463 in the 2010 census, an increase from 10,938 in the 2000 census. -History:...
, Stoughton is best known for being President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
's photographer during his White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
years.
He was a captain in the United States Army Signal Corps when he was assigned to the White House Army Signal Agency. Stoughton's behind-the-scene pictures of John and Jacqueline
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Jacqueline Lee Bouvier "Jackie" Kennedy Onassis was the wife of the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, and served as First Lady of the United States during his presidency from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. Five years later she married Greek shipping magnate Aristotle...
and their children in their public and personal life were pivotal in shaping the public's view of the U.S. first family
First Family of the United States
The First Family of the United States is the unofficial title for the family of the President of the United States, who is both head of state and head of government of the United States. Members of the First Family consist of the President, the First Lady of the United States, and any of their...
. He took over eight thousand pictures of the family spanning the 34-month period beginning with Kennedy's inauguration and ending with his assassination
Assassination of John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the thirty-fifth President of the United States, was assassinated at 12:30 p.m. Central Standard Time on Friday, November 22, 1963, in Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas...
.
Stoughton took the only photograph ever published showing John F. Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy
Robert F. Kennedy
Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy , also referred to by his initials RFK, was an American politician, a Democratic senator from New York, and a noted civil rights activist. An icon of modern American liberalism and member of the Kennedy family, he was a younger brother of President John F...
and Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, model and showgirl who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s....
together. Stoughton was present at the motorcade at which Kennedy was assassinated, and was subsequently the only photographer on board Air Force One
Air Force One
Air Force One is the official air traffic control call sign of any United States Air Force aircraft carrying the President of the United States. In common parlance the term refers to those Air Force aircraft whose primary mission is to transport the president; however, any U.S. Air Force aircraft...
when Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
was sworn in as the next President. Stoughton's famous photograph of this event depicts Johnson raising his hand in oath as he stood between his wife Lady Bird Johnson
Lady Bird Johnson
Claudia Alta "Lady Bird" Taylor Johnson was First Lady of the United States from 1963 to 1969 during the presidency of her husband Lyndon B. Johnson. Throughout her life, she was an advocate for beautification of the nation's cities and highways and conservation of natural resources and made that...
and a still blood-spattered Jacqueline Kennedy. Stoughton also served as White House photographer during Johnson's first two years in office, and recounted this service in an oral history contributed to the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum
Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum
The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum is one of 13 presidential libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration. The library houses 45 million pages of historical documents, including the papers of Lyndon Baines Johnson and those of his close associates and others...
.
He died in Merritt Island, Florida
Merritt Island, Florida
Merritt Island is a census-designated place in Brevard County, Florida, United States. It is located on the east coast of the state on the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2000 census, the population was 36,090. It is part of the Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, just nine months after his appearance on Antiques Roadshow describing his iconic photograph.
