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
An image of Teddy Roosevelt manifested by drones over the @trlibrary at its grand opening in Medora, ND last night. It was a grand and inspiring spectacle! Thanks to @edwardokeefe O`Keefe for his untiring dedication in making this library a reality. My "In the Room: Sixty Years on the Frontlines of History" exhibition opens here October 2, the first guest show at the Library. and sponsored by my friends at @bankofamerica The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library iwill become a bucket list destination. If you haven`t been to the Badlands of North Dakota, and most of you haven`t, get out there to see this fabulous place! @cntrforcreativephoto @dougburgum @senatorkevincramer @improvambassador @nickkennerly @j_kennerly @_katiemeili @petesouza @rizzolibooks @mikebarnicle @morningjoe
Pair of wild horses in the @teddyrpark yesterday. Taken with @canonusa #R5Mark2 and #rf100500 at 500mm. @cntrforcreativephoto @edwardokeefe @dougburgum @jessamineburgum @senatorkevincramer @improvambassador @nickkennerly @j_kennerly #badlands #medora @utnicky @mikebarnicle @petesouza #horses
Happy 4th of July from me and my first subject of the day! This little visitor showed up at my front door this morning here in #medora Today is the grand opening of the @trlibrary and I will be there to document the historic event. @edwardokeefe @senatorkevincramer @canonusa @cntrforcreativephoto @improvambassador @nickkennerly @j_kennerly @_katiemeili @petesouza @bobmcneelyphoto @pdseagle @bankofamerica #4thofjuly #chipmunk
At the @trlibrary with @bankofamerica Chairman & CEO Brian Moynihan and Senior VP Larry DiRita. We`re in the gallery where I`ll be having my "In the Room" exhibit featuring more than 150 photographs from my life`s work. It`s opening Oct. 2. Bank of America is sponsoring my project, and I wanted these guys to see the space. They approved! Thanks again to them for their fantastic support. It`s going to be the biggest show of my work ever, and the accompanying “In the Room” book will be out then.
Thanks to @edwardokeefe, the TR`s CEO who has who has guided this magnificent museum from a great idea to it`s present grandeur. He offered me their first guest show, and I happily accepted! @cntrforcreativephoto @dougburgum @senatorkevincramer @petesouza @improvambassador @nickkennerly @j_kennerly @_katiemeili @pdseagle @improvambassador @nickkennerly @j_kennerly @utnicky @johnrodphotography @digitalfusion_la
Spectacular drone show last night at the @trlibrary in #medora This is opening week for a place that will become a bucket list destination. Library CEO @edwardokeefe has seen this project through from dream to reality. Congrats Ed, one helluva job! @senatorkevincramer @dougburgum @jessamineburgum @bankofamerica @improvambassador @nickkennerlyviolin @j_kennerly @_katiemeili @petesouza @anseladams
Bosnia-Herzegovina coach Sergej Barbarez flips out during their loss to the USA last night in the World Cup. I saw the match from my table at #bootsbarandgrill in #medora . Barbarez got a yellow card for his antics, Yanks still won. @cntrforcreativephoto @improvambassador @nickkennerly @j_kennerly @_katiemeili @pdseagle @petesouza @worldcup___2026
Flew over the Babylon Fire today that is burning within Bears Ears National Monument near Blanding, Utah. More than 40,000 acres gone. @cntrforcreativephoto @improvambassador @nickkennerly @j_kennerly @_katiemeili @petesouza
51 one years ago today, June 28, 1975, P @pele shows President Gerald R. Ford a real football! It was a great meeting between a pair of champs. Round of 32 of @worldcup___2026 kicks off today @fordlibrarymuseum @sfbpanda @improvambassador @nickkennerly @j_kennerly @_katiemeili @petesouza #Pele @whipplc @anseladams @yousuf_karsh_official
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
