ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book brings together the story of the White House staff photographers for the first time. It offers a new and insightful look at the presidents and the history of the past half century starting in 1961 when John F. Kennedy created the position of official presidential photographer by assigning military cameraman Cecil Stoughton to the job. The president's official photographer has two jobs: First, to record the president at official events such as the seemingly endless series of greetings, receptions, and meetings with foreign leaders, members of Congress and other officials and guests at the White House and wherever the chief executive might be. Second, to document for history the presidency as an institution and presidents as individuals. Certainly, the White House will not intentionally release negative pictures, but it does happen.
