Recent Event Stirs Old Memories

I was a guest at an event 56 years ago, April 30, 1970, similar to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner April 25, 2026, that was marked by drama, however, not as shocking as the recent attempted assassination of President Trump.

President Richard Nixon was scheduled to speak at the event I attended that evening, but instead we were addressed by Vice President Spiro Agnew.

He explained that President Nixon would eventually speak and we all listened as Nixon broadcast to the nation that U.S. and South Vietnamese troops had entered Cambodia’s Parrot’s Beak area to clear out North Vietnamese and Viet Cong sanctuaries

The President’s announcement was a surprise and triggered nationwide anti-war protests. The Kent State shootings took place just four days later.

The reaction inside the ballroom was mixed. As I recall two or three of the attendees got up and walked out raising clinched fists in protest. Other than that there were no boos, or anti-war or anti-Nixon shouts. There was some scattered applause.

Bob Hope made an appearance and Roberta Peters sang the national anthem. I can’t recall the name of one person at my table.

The 27^th Annual White House News Photographers (WHNP) Awards dinner I attended was held at the Sheraton–Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. (later known as the Sheraton Washington Hotel and currently the Marriott Wardman Park.) I was invited by that year’s WHNPS’s president, George Thames, the longtime New York Times White House photographer.

At the time I was newly employed by IBM in its communications organization in Manassas, Virginia. I frequently hired George on a freelance basis. As a former newspaper reporter, I knew that if I wanted a photo that grabbed the attention of an editor opening an envelop containing a press release nobody could do it better than a newspaper photographer. And George Thames was one of the best. I was fortunate he was available and accepted assignments I offered.

The only direction George needed was a brief description of the article I was writing and he then created photos that captured it. There were no traditional “grip-and-grin” shots or self-serving ribbon cutting nonsense.

I was delighted to be given an invitation to the event and eagerly accepted.

George, who I never saw without a bowtie, was one of the most interesting and talented people I ever met in my career, and in one instance probably saved my career and even enhanced it.

The key IBM executive where I worked was tasked by IBM’s corporate headquarters to host a group of other IBM execs from Europe and the far East.

A briefing in the Capital with then House Majority Leader Hale Boggs (D-LA), was on the agenda and I was told to arrange photos, logistics, etc.

George was my logical choice to photograph the session.

As we were escorted into the congressman’s office George immediately scurried ahead of us, one of the cameras that hung around his neck, clicking incessantly. During the briefing George darted all over the office, into the drapes, behind the Congressman’s desk, shooting pictures over the shoulder of Boggs as he spoke, etc.

With each “loud” click of George’s camera the IBM executive looked over at me with a glare that could peel paint that silently said: “I hope you have a resume updated because you’re toast.”

When the briefing and Q&A session ended the IBM executive immediately apologized to the congressman for the “photographer’s rude intrusion”. Boggs looked puzzled, glanced over at George and said: “You mean George?”

He then summoned George to join them tossing his arm over George’s shoulders saying: “George and I came to Washington together. I’ve known him longer than most of my congressional colleagues,”

“George”, he added, “why don’t you take a few photos of this gentleman and me.”

At that point the exec’s demeanor abruptly changed and he thanked George, who he had never met before, like he was a long-lost friend. I was temporarily bulletproof for a few weeks following that.

Sadly, Congressman Boggs died shortly after our session in a plane crash in Alaska in 1972. His body was never found.

During our many sessions together, George related a variety of fascinating stories, not as braggadocio, but as tales simply describing his experiences and how he came to take so many iconic photos.

He is probably best known for his black and white photo of President John F. Kennedy in the White House silhouetted in the windows of the Oval Office and titled “The loneliest job in the world.”

Although the photo was taken on Feb. 10, 1961, the image would later take on a symbolic meaning as the Kennedy presidency experienced the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the New York Times christened the photo, “The loneliest job in the world.”

The photo had nothing to do with the Cuban crisis according to George.

George said that he was frequently allowed in the Oval Office to snap pictures.

“Because of back injuries suffered in World War II, it hurt President Kennedy to sit for long periods of time,” George explained to me. “The President was standing, leaning on the desk, and flipping through the New York Times reading a column that he vehemently disagreed with and said out loud ‘what the %$^&% does he mean by this %$&^%, George?”

That’s when George, who was leaving the office, turned and snapped the award-winning photo that today hangs on the wall in the National Press Club’s Reliable Source lounge.

George, who passed away February 1994, photographed 11 presidents beginning with Franklin Roosevelt.

President Nixon died just two months after George, April 1994.