In Honor of John F. Kennedy’s Upcoming 100th Birthday, New Book Shares Magic of Camelot

April 2, 2017 5:00 am
John F. Kennedy campaign photos
JFK gave photographers from magazines such as Life and Look open access to his campaign, making sure the popular press was present to capture quotidian moments, like a jaunt through a West Virginia grocery store. (Taschen)

Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy once said of her husband’s tenure, “There’ll be great presidents again but there’ll never be another Camelot.”

And that has held true about John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, more than 60 years after his death.

With the birth of broadcast and the first-ever televised presidential debate, Americans were able to connect with the charismatic Kennedy in an unprecedented way.

John F. Kennedy campaign photos
(Stan Wayman/Taschen)

 

To celebrate what would have been his 100th birthday this May, a new coffee table book entitled, Superman Come To The Supermarket, will hit bookstores in April. The title comes from an Esquire article by Norman Mailer that was published in November 1960—just weeks before Kennedy’s election.

The book features 300 photos of the young politician on the campaign trail during the 1960 election.  Full-page photos chronicle the optimism of postwar America as Kennedy travels throughout the country meeting regular folks and fans who want to bring back Jack.

John F. Kennedy campaign photos
(Stanley Tretick/Taschen)
Stanley Tretick

 

The book, published by Taschen, includes Mailer’s original essay; the work of renowned photojournalists from the era, such as Cornell Capa, Henri Dauman and Hank Walker; and historical accounts from the period.

John F. Kennedy campaign photos
(Taschen)
John F. Kennedy campaign photos
(Taschen)
John F. Kennedy campaign photos
(Taschen)
John F. Kennedy campaign photos
(Taschen)

 

 

 

-RealClearLife

The InsideHook Newsletter.

News, advice and insights for the most interesting person in the room.