Click here to pre-order the book!
“Looking at these photographs, you would almost think that Kennerly has been at every major event in the last 60 years!”
— Todd J. Tubutis, Director, The Center for Creative Photography, The University of Arizona
"In The Room" is David Hume Kennerly’s unprecedented decades-long eyewitness account of the pivotal events that defined our nation and world.
Foreword by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jon Meacham.
Few photographers have stood closer to the making of history than David Hume Kennerly. Since 1966, his camera has been present at the moments that shaped modern America—from Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination to the fields of fire in Vietnam, from Nixon's resignation to Gerald R. Ford’s ascension, from the horror of Jonestown to Reagan and Gorbachev's historic fireside summit. He photographed the Pentagon burning on September 11, and was backstage with Barack Obama on the first night of his presidency. His work continues to this day.
In the Room gathers photographs taken during his extraordinary career into a single sweeping visual history of the United States during many of its most turbulent periods. Against the backdrop of America's 250th anniversary, Kennerly's lens offers something no archive can replicate: a view from “inside the room” where our country’s story is constantly being written.
Featured Blogs
This is the copy. The very first one off the press. Sixty years. More than 100 countries. Vietnam, the fall of Nixon, the Ford White House, Reagan and Gorbachev, 9/11, a dozen presidential campaigns, and somehow it all fits between two covers. When you’ve spent a lifetime building something, the moment it becomes a physical object is unlike anything else. Barnes & Noble has a sale on all pre-orders through June 26th, a good moment to get your copy. Link in bio.
#BNPreorder #photographybook #photographybooks #photojournalism #historybooks
Alan Greenspan died today at 100. During my time in the Ford Administration he was one of my favorite people, I particularly appreciated his self-effacing and wonderful sense of humor. His reaction to this picture underscores that. This moment was just before President Ford was about to give a major economic speech. Next to the president in the Oval Office is his White House Chief of Staff Don Rumsfeld, Press Secretary Ron Nessen, Deputy White House Chief Dick Cheney who is putting a cigarette out in an ashtray on the desk, an assistant, and standing apart from them the president’s chief economic advisor Alan Greenspan. I was considering this photo for my book on President Ford but needed a comment about it from Alan. When I showed it to him he said, “As usual I have no idea what is going on.” It’s why I loved the guy. Condolences to his wife of 29 years and my friend and colleague Andrea Mitchell. Bidding a fond farewell to Alan, who in fact did know what was going on. @mitchellreports @liz__cheney @fordlibrarymuseum @mikebarnicle @morningjoe @improvambassador @nickkennerly @j_kennerly
Thinking about my dad O.A. “Tunney” Kennerly on this Father’s Day. We’re at Bimbo’s 365 Club in San Francisco in 1967. I was 20, one year short of being legally able to drink, but my slightly older pal Ron Bennett supplied me with his driver’s license, and I was good to go. (Ron was also a photographer, and we look alike, at least attitude-wise!). The joint was named after Agustino “Bimbo” Giuntoli, and is still there. My dad was only 43 in this pic, but of course seemed way older at the time! Tunney (pronounced “Tooney”) was a salesman, and I learned from him how to sell people things they didn’t need until he made them realize that they did. I applied that skill to helping me get into rooms where things were happening. That ability and an inquisitive eye made my career. For those of you who met him I’m sure his memory will bring a smile. Remembering him and all the other great dads out there on Father’s Day. @janestraight @rebeccakennerly @improvambassador @nickkennerly @j_kennerly @katie @melharris56 @therealcarolhuston @mikebarnicle @bobmcneelyphoto @kohearn @cbsmary
The dog known as Olive today in Los Angeles. She belongs to @_katiemeili and @nickkennerly, but we all share quality time with her! @rebeccakennerly @improvambassador @j_kennerly @johnrodphotography @raulroa @utnicky @petesouza @sittranda
Welcome to L.A! I passed this Shell station in my electric car this morning. California has the highest gas prices in the nation. @cntrforcreativephoto @improvambassador @nickkennerlyviolin @j_kennerly @_katiemeili @raulroa @johnrodphotography @petesouza @utnicky
One of my favorite White House moments. In 1976 after the election President Ford’s personal secretary Dorothy Downton looked at President-elect Jimmy Carter as if he had just landed from Mars. President Ford was showing Carter his personal office where Dorothy worked, and graciously offered it to Carter during the transition. Carter just as graciously turned it down, saying there was only room for one president at a time in the White House. Dorothy died two days ago at 79, extending love and sympathy to her family, she was a wonderful person. @fordlibrarymuseum @sfbpanda @carterlibrary39 @petesouza @improvambassador @nickkennerly @j_kennerly @anseladams @yousuf_karsh_official @whipplc
The Mick`s number 7 is retired on this day 57 years ago. I was there for "Mickey Mantle Day" Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Sports history. @yankees #MickeyMantle @mikebarnicle @improvambassador @nickkennerly @cntrforcreativephoto @petesouza
I was at the funeral this morning of the great @apnews photographer Dang Van Phuoc. His grandson carries his photo, his granddaughter behind him, his casket behind them. It was deeply moving to watch another colleague from the Vietnam War being celebrated by his family and friends as he was laid to rest. Phuoc and I saw action together in Vietnam and lived to talk about it. Nobody better than him as a photographer and a human being. Adieu Phuoc, I was honored to know you. @cntrforcreativephoto @utnicky @greylockjc @franksnepp @mikebarnicle @mikabrzezinski @joescarboroughmusic @petesouza @yunghi.kim @improvambassador @nickkennerly @j_kennerly @_katiemeili @najalockwood @stevenorthup @anseladams @yousuf_karsh_official #VietnamWar
CBS Chief White House Correspondent @scottpelley , ABC`s Sam Donaldson, CNN`s @wolfblitzer Blitzer, and NBC`s Claire Shipman in the East Room of the White House reporting on President Clinton`s impeachment story in 1998. Pelley broke the news that Monica Lewinsky had become a cooperating witness in the matter. Pelley was just fired by CBS for speaking truth to power. @improvambassador @susanzirinsky @petesouza @kohearn @cbsmary @mikebarnicle
One of the great war photographers, Dang Van Phuoc, has died at 91. I took this of him in a helicopter as we flew out to the USS Newport News to cover that warship in action off the coast of North Vietnam in 1972. Phuoc, an @apnews photog, was wounded multiple times during the Vietnam War. He lost an eye in an explosion, but returned to the action soon after. Phuoc was known for walking point on combat patrols, exposing himself to grave danger in pursuit of the best photos. He was one of the best and bravest I’ve ever known. Sincere condolences to his family. @utnicky @jhornstein1 @yunghi.kim @photojournalismarchive @najalockwood @davidburnettfoto @elianelaffont Laffont @coise43 @raulroa @davidtenenbaum @stevenorthup @greylockjc @susanzirinsky @iconoscope @bob_ahern @improvambassador @petesouza @jamesnachtwey
The great Miles Davis was born 100 years ago today. I took this of him when he was five days short of his 40th birthday, May 21, 1966 during a concert at the Oriental Theatre in Portland performing with bass player Richard Davis (no relation), and Herbie Hancock on the piano. Miles was a genius but also a bit cantankerous. When I approached him backstage to take his picture (I was a 19-year-old cub photographer for the Oregon Journal), he told me to f-off. But I stood there, waved my assignment slip, and told him I had to get the shot. He relented, I took this, thought it was the start of a relationship, then he said, that`s it, now f-off! Fortunately it was a good snap, I still have the original print I made that night. One best of the best. All I needed. @cntrforcreativephoto @petesouza @milesdavis @improvambassador @nickkennerlyviolin @j_kennerly @_katiemeili #jazz @mikebarnicle @kerrykennedyrfk @barackobama @axiosmike @utnicky @raulroa @johnrodphotography @doug_tunnell @coise43 @elianelaffont @anseladams @yousuf_karsh_official
Happy Birthday to @bobdylan and @nickkennerly (15 in this photo), is 31 today, and Bob, is 85. Both are writers, singers, musicians, and granted, Bob is a bit more well-known! @rebeccakennerly @improvambassador @j_kennerly @_katiemeili @petesouza @jayli_clothing @taililasoladay @mollysoladay @lioragailsher @jesse.dylan.507 @utnicky @anseladams @yousuf_karsh_official #bobdylan
