Portrait of Camelot

Portrait of Camelot: A Thousand Days in the Kennedy White House
by Richard Reeves with Harvey Sawler

Published to commemorate the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s election as president of the United States, this book is a revealing and intimate portrait of a leader, husband, and father as seen through the lens of Cecil Stoughton, the first official White House photographer. Stoughton’s close rapport with the president and first lady gave him extraordinary access to the Oval Office, the Kennedys’ private quarters and homes, to state dinners, cabinet meetings, diplomatic trips, and family holidays.

Drawing on Stoughton’s unparalleled body of photographs, most rarely or never before reproduced, and supported by a deeply thoughtful narrative by political historian Richard Reeves, Portrait of Camelot is an unprecedented portrayal of the power, politics, and warmly personal aspects of Camelot’s 1,036 days.

DVD INCLUDED: Packaged with a DVD created exclusively for this book, containing color and black-and-white film footage Stoughton created of the Kennedy family in the White House, in Hyannis Port, and on holidays.  352-page hardcover book w/ dust jacket containing 500 color & black & white photos.

Museum Provenance

Our exhibition The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden takes us through the roles of the presidency with artifacts that reflect both the personal and political aspects of life as a president. Items bearing the presidential seal are in recognition of the seal in our National Museum of American History, Behring Center.

Every Smithsonian purchase will arrive with a museum provenance card explaining how it is adapted from or inspired by an object or objects in our collection.