Photographing History
http://americanhistory.si.edu/maroon/
Fred J. Marroon, a Washington free-lance photographer, took these
pictures
of President Nixon, his family, and staff from 1970 to 1974. The
images are located at the National Museum of American History and are
part
of the organization's mission in exploring the role of photo-journalism
in shaping our historical memory. This site will not only be of
interest
to those studying Nixon but also those studying photojounralism,
because
Marroon spends time discussing the process and art of creating some of
the most memorable images of Nixon in and out of the White House.
These are not photographs of "great political moments" (there is,
however,
a significant section on Watergate); instead, the photographs show
Nixon
and his staff at quieter moments, capturing a facial expression or
action
that speaks volumes about that turbulent time. The image at the
left
shows President Nixon walking in between the columns of the White House
on the way to his office in the West Wing, December 14, 1970. Not
surprisingly, Marroon took home a first-place prize in the 1971
White
House Press Photographers Awards for this emotive and moving picture.
A beautiful collection that shows several
aspects of President Nixon's
career, including several family photos and other personal moments,
which
humanize a man who often seemed so distant. The pictures
are
by Ollie Atkins, official White House photographer for Nixon from his
first
election in 1968 until his resignation in 1974. Prior to the
presidency,
Atkins also had the chance to photograph Nixon several times as
Vice-President
to Dwight Eisenhower. I have included this citation in multiple
sections
of the image gallery because Atkins photographed much of Nixon's career
with beautiful photographs.
