Description:

Kennedy John

JFK State Trip to Ireland and Italy. White House Photographer Cecil Stoughton's Own Personalized Album of 56 large 8" x 10" Spectacular Vintage Photos.

 

Exquisite red calf leather photo album, personally owned by White House photographer, Cecil Stoughton. Who was best known for being President John F. Kennedy's photographer during his White House years. Stamped with decorative tooling to the front, with the spine of the album stamped with Stoughton's initials of "CWS", and the location of the photos of "JFK in Ireland and Italy". Dated along the bottom of the spine as "1963". Interior of the spiral bound album lined with red damask silk, 9.5" x 10.5" x 2". Contains 56 large 8" x 10" first generation glossy period color photos, on double weight paper stock. Each with Stoughton's unique numbering system on verso. Slight scuffing and rubbing to the album cover, with the spiral casing holding the photos detached from the cover.

JFK in Ireland serves as a profile of John F. Kennedy's 1963 visit to Ireland while he was President of the United States. Kennedy referred to this visit as "the best 'four days of his life'" and it occurred five months before his assassination. His speech started with "I am glad to be here, it took 115 years to make this trip and 6,000 mile, and 3 generations."  Kennedy was proud of his Irish roots and made a special visit to his ancestral home in Dunganstown, County Wexford, while in the country. There, he was greeted by a crowd waving both American and Irish flags and was serenaded by a boys choir that sang “The Boys of Wexford.” According to the BBC report that day, Kennedy broke away from his bodyguards and joined the choir for the second chorus, prompting misty-eyed reactions from both observers and the press. Kennedy met with 15 members of his extended Irish family at the Kennedy homestead in Dunganstown. There he enjoyed a cup of tea and some cake and made a toast to “all those Kennedys who went and all those Kennedys who stayed.” His great-grandfather Thomas Fitzgerald had left Ireland for the United States in the middle of the Great Famine of 1848 and settled in Boston, becoming a cooper. Generations of his descendants went on to make their mark on American politics.

 

On July 1st he arrived in Italy for a 2 day visit, made that much more significant with Kennedy being the first (and last) Catholic President. When Air Force One landed at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport (officially known as Fiumicino-Leonardo da Vinci International Airport) on July 1, 1963, there was just a smattering of people to welcome its most famous passenger, the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy. The welcome for the Leader of the Free World was rather subdued because of the recent emotional event which had shaken the country—and much of the (religious) world—within the previous weeks; Rome and all of Italy was still mourning the death of the beloved “Good Pope John,” Pope John XXIII, who had died of stomach cancer back on June 3 at the age of 81. Because of the death and funeral of Pope John and the recent ceremonies for the coronation of the new pontiff, Giovanni Battista Cardinal Montini of Milan—now Pope Paul VI—President Kennedy offered to cancel the trip to Italy altogether. The Italian government had looked forward to welcoming President Kennedy; they insisted that he come. 

If there were worries about how the first Catholic president of the United States would handle a delicate matter of an audience with the pope, it provided fodder for journalists covering that leg of the trip. Would JFK adhere to traditional practice, whereby Catholics, when presented to the pope, kneel, grasp the pope’s right hand, and kiss the papal ring, which is the physical symbol of the Petrine office? Even JFK—ever the political realist—acknowledged the conundrum that faced him. President Kennedy decided to call upon his old friend, the archbishop of Boston, Richard Cardinal Cushing, for some sage advice about the Vatican aspect of the trip. The cardinal told the president to stay away from Rome until all ceremonies for the new pope were concluded: “It’s the biggest day of the man’s life and you don’t want to take the play away from him.” As Pope Paul’s coronation was to take place on the Sunday President Kennedy’s plane was due to land in Italy, it was decided Air Force Once would be diverted to Milan and the Lake Como region for a brief respite before going on to Rome the following day, a Monday (July 2), for the official events. Thus the moment came, amid the crush of photographers and members of the press: the pope and president shook hands. Obviously pleased and delighted, Paul VI, the new pope, resplendent in his red mozzetta and stole, offered his hand to the president of the United States, dressed in an everyday blue business suit and tie. President John F. Kennedy, realizing the import of this moment, gave a slight nod of his head in the pontiff’s direction and they both shook hands, solemnly. Both men knew how important this was officially; they both knew how special this was emotionally.

 

This wonderful set of 56 large original photos personally owned by Kennedy's White House photographer, Cecil Stoughton, were taken during from President Kennedy's trip in 1963 to both Ireland and Italy. He was accompanied by his sisters, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, and Jean Kennedy Smith. Included within the album are the following noted photos:

 

  1. Photos of JFK at both Dublin and Shannan airports

 

  1.  President Kennedy at Saint Patrick's Hall in Dublin Castle, with the Lord Mayor of Dublin.

 

  1. Numerous photos of President Kennedy's motorcade, with Kennedy in an open top convertible, passing through Naples Italy, several with Castro Nuovo visible. Many of the images even show Kennedy standing in the open limo waving to the massive crowds who are within near touching distance of the limousine.

 

  1. President Kennedy visiting the tomb of the unknown soldier in Rome

 

  1. Twelve photos of President Kennedy at his ancestral homestead in Duganstown, Ireland, including enjoying the tea and cake.

 

  1. President Kennedy addressing a crowd at Eyre Squire, Ireland.

 

  1. President Kennedy visiting the tomb of the unknown soldier in Rome

 

  1. President Kennedy arriving at NATO headquarters in Naples, Italy

 

  1. President Kennedy at City Hall in Rome, Italy

 

  1. Photos of President Kennedy with the Arch Bishop

 

  1. President Kennedy with Prime Minister Harold Macmillan in England.

 

 

This fantastic set of photos includes a vast array of close up photos of a charismatic Kennedy during his speeches, passing in his motorcades (always in his beloved open top convertibles), visiting his Irish homestead, and visits with the Vatican. One is in awe at the massive crowds and Kennedy's incredible presence. But one is equally in awe at how accessible he was riding about in open cars, and talking in the middle of vast crowds, and walking through masses of people.  This period of our nation's history, one in which the President would be accessible, would end tragically when only 5 months later. Since Kennedy's assassination, presidential ground transportation and accessibility has greatly evolved. The most high tech and secure vehicle in presidential history belongs to the current commander in chief. Though most of the details of "The Beast" are classified, instead of being an open vehicle, it is known that the president's limo is equipped with 8-inch thick plates of armor that are capable of stopping an IED, 5-inch multi-layer windows that make the vehicle's door's weight equal to the weight of a door on a 757 airplane, a night vision system, on-board systems for fresh oxygen and even a blood bank, located in the trunk, stocked with the president's blood type.

 

An important, historic set of photos, personally owned by Kennedy's White House photographer, neatly housed in a stunning red leather album.



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