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John F. Kennedy, Democratic National Convention, Los Angeles

1960

American, 1928-1984

It is not easy to imagine John F. Kennedy as the strongest presidential candidate. However, in 1960 he had just secured the Democratic nomination in Los Angeles and many critics were on the attack. As Associated Press' news analyst James Marlow wrote, "To this writer, who has seen every political convention since 1944, the nomination of Kennedy seemed the least enthusiastic of the past sixteen years. The answer may be that it is difficult to get emotional about a technician." Soon thereafter, Kennedy stepped to the podium and delivered an acceptance speech that was also critiqued, but laced with noble passages about a "New Frontier" that "holds out the promise of more sacrifice instead of more security." At his Presidential inauguration, he first voiced the idealistic refrain of "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country" for which he will forever be remembered.

In this photograph, Garry Winogrand chooses to record Kennedy's face as it appeared on a monitor. Later Kennedy would say about this campaign "We wouldn't have had a prayer without that gadget." The era of political bosses was being overtaken by the world of television and helped promote the youngest man ever to be elected to the presidency.

Gelatin silver print

12 1/2 x 18 1/2 in. (31.8 x 47 cm)

Sheet h.: 18 in.

Sheet w.: 20 in.

Pacific Northwest Bell, the Photography Council, the Polaroid Foundation, Mark Abrahamson, and the National Endowment for the Arts

83.54.1

Not currently on view

Resources

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, 200 Photographs from the Museum Collection, Dec. 8, 1983 - Feb. 5, 1984. Text by Rod Slemmons. No cat. no.

Portland, Oregon, Reed College, Heroes, Sept. 21 - Oct. 31, 1986.

Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Collection Highlights: 1945 to the Present, Sept. 12, 1996 - June 1, 1997.

Seattle, Washington, Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington, Coming to Life, The Figure in American Art 1955-1965, Feb. 25 - June 13, 1999.

Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Hero/Antihero, Dec. 21, 2002 - Aug. 17, 2003.

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