Description:

Johnson Lyndon

Photo of Lyndon Johnson Sworn in Aboard Air Force One After Kennedy's Death, Cecil Stoughton's Own Original Vintage Photo

Original, first generation glossy, double-weight black and white silver print photograph, 10" x 8",  personally owned by Cecil Stoughton, with his unique numbering system on verso, his own file example.

A sobering scene taken by Kennedy's White House photographer. This famous scene depicts President Johnson taking the Oath of Office at Love Field in Dallas while aboard Air Force One, shortly after President Kennedy's assassination. Stoughton took numerous photos of the event, each taken in sequence at slightly different moments in time (and the parties present in ever so slightly different positions). Present are President Johnson, then Left to right: media liaison Jack Valenti, Judge Sarah T. Hughes (administering oath), Representative Albert Thomas (Texas), First Lady Lady Bird Johnson, Dallas Police Chief Jesse Curry, former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, Representative Jack Brooks (Texas), Deputy Director of Public Affairs for the Peace Corps Bill Moyers (in black), President Kennedy's physician Admiral Dr. George G. Burkley, and Special Assistant to President Kennedy Kenneth P. O'Donnell.

At 12:30 pm Central Standard Time on November 22, Kennedy was shot in Dallas while riding with his wife, Jacqueline, in the presidential motorcade. Vice President Johnson was riding in a car behind the president with his wife.  Immediately after shots were fired, Johnson was thrown down and sat on by Secret Service agent Rufus Youngblood, and the President's and Vice President's cars sped to Parkland Memorial Hospital. There were initial reports that Johnson might have also been shot, slightly wounded in the arm or that he had suffered another heart attack (he had suffered one eight years earlier that nearly killed him). Mrs. Johnson confirmed to reporters that he was fine and did not suffer any injury or illness other than being shaken at what he'd seen.

 

In the hospital, Johnson was surrounded by Secret Service agents, who encouraged him to return to Washington in case he too was targeted for assassination. Johnson wished to wait until he knew of Kennedy's condition; at 1:20 pm he was told Kennedy was dead and left the hospital almost twenty minutes later. It was decided that the new president would leave on the presidential aircraft because it had better communications equipment. Johnson was driven by an unmarked police car to Love Field, and kept below the car's window level throughout the journey. The President waited for Jacqueline Kennedy, who in turn would not leave Dallas without her husband's body, to arrive aboard Air Force One. Kennedy's casket was finally brought to the aircraft, but takeoff was delayed until Johnson took the Oath of Office. There was concern that since the Secret Service had taken the body of Kennedy from Parkland Hospital against the wishes of the Dallas medical examiner Earl Rose who had insisted an autopsy was required, the Dallas Police Department would seek to prevent Air Force One taking off. Assassination of the President was not yet a federal crime

 

For the inauguration twenty-seven people squeezed into the sixteen-foot square stateroom of Air Force One for the proceedings. Adding to the discomfort was the lack of air conditioning as the aircraft had been disconnected from the external power supply, in order to take off promptly. As the inauguration proceeded, the four jet engines of Air Force One were being powered up.

 

The Warren Commission's report detailed the inauguration:

From the Presidential airplane, the new President telephoned Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, who advised that Mr. Johnson take the Presidential oath of office before the plane left Dallas. Federal Judge Sarah T. Hughes hastened to the plane to administer the oath. Members of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential parties filled the central compartment of the plane to witness the swearing in. At 2:38 p.m. CST, Lyndon Baines Johnson took the oath of office as the 36th President of the United States.  Mrs. Kennedy and Mrs. Johnson stood at the side of the new President as he took the oath of office. Nine minutes later, the Presidential airplane departed for Washington, D.C.

 

On Stoughton's suggestion, Johnson was flanked by his wife and Jacqueline Kennedy, facing slightly away from the camera so that blood stains on her pink Chanel suit would not be visible. The photograph was taken using a Hasselblad camera. The inauguration was sound recorded by White House press secretary Malcolm Kilduff using Air Force One's dictaphone.

 

Cecil William Stoughton (January 18, 1920 - November 3, 2008) was an American photographer best known for being President John F. Kennedy's photographer during his White House years.  Stoughton was present at the motorcade at which Kennedy was assassinated, and subsequently took the only photograph on board Air Force One of Lyndon B. Johnson being sworn in as the next President.  

Provenance:  From the estate of Cecil Stoughton.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!
Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. ***PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR SHIPMENT TO BE SENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN THE ONE YOU HAVE ON FILE WITH INVALUABLE, YOU WILL NEED TO INFORM US OF THIS AS SOON AS PAYMENT IS SUBMITTED FOR YOUR WINNINGS*** Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000