photography, videography & political art

Ben Everidge, Editor-in-Chief

a Snapshot in time …

Politics is an art. Political photography is an art taken to a higher level. Politics would be a much more complex story to share without photography, videography, and art.

The pictures above were taken of and by Cecil W. Stoughton, John F. Kennedy’s White House Photographer. The image in the center of Caroline Kennedy with her father and the Kennedy kids frolicking in the Oval Office while their mother was away on a trip is iconic. They helped seal the legend of Camelot.

When I was a young political aide, I had the opportunity to meet and get to know Cecil Stoughton, who lived nearby in Central Florida. Cecil had come out to see a young Congressional candidate I was working for and almost immediately started telling me stories of when he witnessed political greatness. What he shared was inspirational, and the photos I saw after sealing the deal showed me how incredible this talent and experience was to enjoy.

One of Cecil’s stories became the basis of my first political novel, Hoya: The Watchmen Waketh. It is the story of what President Kennedy would have said at the Dallas Trade Mart luncheon had he survived Dealey Plaza. It was a warning from our 35th President that we must be the “watchman” of American democracy.

Thomas invites you to read: The Watchmen Waketh

This section of our magazine is dedicated to Cecil and Cecil’s unique artistry and to those who have followed since. Political photography is a celebration and a recognition of all that happens in America in the name of “We the People.”

The work these remarkable craftsmen and women perform was nowhere more on display than in the recent national protests. These dedicated photographers have been attacked and beaten, their cameras smashed, and their lives threatened all because they were capturing a transforming moment in time in our history - again.

Making certain that all credit is due to a photograph, a video, or art is no easy task in today’s multimedia world, but we are committed to trying to do that everywhere possible. We have many miles to cover before that effort is completed here, so please bear with us as a new publication.

It is also our desire to tell you more about these artisans and their work through these pages, so where we can, we will provide links to them so you can delve deeper into the public service they, too, provide this nation.

The old saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words …” Thank you, Cecil. You made politics and history more personal for all of us!

see our gallery of great snaps