At a meeting of the National Security Council in the Roosevelt Room, Ford makes the decision to continue to evacuate Americans and high risk Vietnamese from Vietnam from Saigon's Tan Son Nhut Airport. Also in the meeting, (from left), CIA Director William Colby, Deputy Secretary of State Robert Ingersoll, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger, Deputy Secretary of Defense Bill Clements, Vice President Nelson Rockefeller, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General George Brown. Two hours later the president ordered the final evacuation of Americans and Vietnamese, signaling the end of the Vietnam War.

Fifty years ago today President Gerald R. Ford gave the order to commence the final evacuation of U.S. personnel from Saigon, ending the Vietnam War. My personal story about the lead-up to that moment and being in the room where it ended is in the link. Even though I had wanted to be on the scene with my colleagues in Saigon at the time, as the president's photographer my duty was to document the story from the inside where I had total access to the unfolding events. Remembering all of those who lost their lives, homes, and country. Click Here!
(Center for Creative Photography/University of Arizona)

Featured Press

Featured Blogs

Former Justice David Souter (center) died yesterday at 86. Here with (L) Justices Stephen Breyer and (R) Anthony Kennedy at the U.S. Supreme Court in 2003 pic I took. Souter served on the Court from 1990-2009 and was replaced by Justice Sonia Sotomayor after he retired. He was appointed by President George H.W. Bush. @cntrforcreativephoto @petesouza

Former Justice David Souter (center) died yesterday at 86. Here with (L) Justices Stephen Breyer and (R) Anthony Kennedy at the U.S. Supreme Court in 2003 pic I took. Souter served on the Court from 1990-2009 and was replaced by Justice Sonia Sotomayor after he retired. He was appointed by President George H.W. Bush. @cntrforcreativephoto @petesouza ...

29 0
Happy 27th to @j_kennerly Took this at the #greatbarrierreef in Australia when he was a mere 21. James shares a birthday with President Harry S Truman who was born 141 years ago. He shares a birthday also with his friend and artist #gregorygrenon who sadly passed away three years ago. Love from all the Ks! @rebeccakennerly @improvambassador @nickkennerly @maryjosephson @_katiemeili @utnicky @lioragailsher @saladheadead @taililasoladay @mollysoladay @janestraight @najalockwood @johnrodphotography

Happy 27th to @j_kennerly Took this at the #greatbarrierreef in Australia when he was a mere 21. James shares a birthday with President Harry S Truman who was born 141 years ago. He shares a birthday also with his friend and artist #gregorygrenon who sadly passed away three years ago. Love from all the Ks! @rebeccakennerly @improvambassador @nickkennerly @maryjosephson @_katiemeili @utnicky @lioragailsher @saladheadead @taililasoladay @mollysoladay @janestraight @najalockwood @johnrodphotography ...

77 2
Good news. Following a nearly year-long investigation, @apnews concluded that there is not the definitive evidence required by AP’s standards to change the credit of the 53-year-old photograph "Napalm Girl" taken by @utnicky -Allegations that he didn't take the photo appeared in a documentary made by @viifoundation chief Gary Knight who said it was made by stringer Nguyen Thanh Nghe. "Of 10 people on the scene that day that the AP reached, Nguyen (Mr. Nghe) is the only one who believes that Ut didn’t take the picture, the report said. It added "that believing Nguyen’s story would require several leaps of faith, including believing that the only time he ever sold a photo to a Western news agency it turned out to be one of the most famous images of the century." Nick Ut said, “I’m so gratified that AP’s year-long investigation showed what has always been known, that the credit for my photo of Kim Phuc running down the road after being hit by napalm is correct. This whole thing has been very difficult for me and has caused great pain. I’m glad the record has been set straight.” And so am I. I want to thank all of the people who believe in Nick and have contributed to the effort to save his good name. I also want to thank the AP investigators for their relentless but fair and professional work. They are the kind of people who make AP a great news organization. (Believe me, if they thought Nick hadn't taken the photo they would have said so). Nick's lawyer, (mine as well), @jhornstein1 is also among the relentless. He took on this difficult job pro bono in order to help save Nick's reputation. He did a stellar job. If you're a photographer and ever need help, Jim's your guy! @davidburnettfoto was among the 10 people on the scene in Trang Bang that day, and said that Nick ran down the road and was in a position to take the photo. 

Too bad that Nick's boss Horst Faas isn't around to personally put the lie to all of this. Horst I knew well, and he was a fellow Pulitzer winner. He allegedly told pic editor Carl Robinson to give Nick credit for someone else's photo. Fantasyland stuff. @pulitzerprizes @yunghi.kim @mikebarnicle @petesouza @coise43 @elianelaffont

Good news. Following a nearly year-long investigation, @apnews concluded that there is not the definitive evidence required by AP’s standards to change the credit of the 53-year-old photograph "Napalm Girl" taken by @utnicky -Allegations that he didn`t take the photo appeared in a documentary made by @viifoundation chief Gary Knight who said it was made by stringer Nguyen Thanh Nghe. "Of 10 people on the scene that day that the AP reached, Nguyen (Mr. Nghe) is the only one who believes that Ut didn’t take the picture, the report said. It added "that believing Nguyen’s story would require several leaps of faith, including believing that the only time he ever sold a photo to a Western news agency it turned out to be one of the most famous images of the century." Nick Ut said, “I’m so gratified that AP’s year-long investigation showed what has always been known, that the credit for my photo of Kim Phuc running down the road after being hit by napalm is correct. This whole thing has been very difficult for me and has caused great pain. I’m glad the record has been set straight.” And so am I. I want to thank all of the people who believe in Nick and have contributed to the effort to save his good name. I also want to thank the AP investigators for their relentless but fair and professional work. They are the kind of people who make AP a great news organization. (Believe me, if they thought Nick hadn`t taken the photo they would have said so). Nick`s lawyer, (mine as well), @jhornstein1 is also among the relentless. He took on this difficult job pro bono in order to help save Nick`s reputation. He did a stellar job. If you`re a photographer and ever need help, Jim`s your guy! @davidburnettfoto was among the 10 people on the scene in Trang Bang that day, and said that Nick ran down the road and was in a position to take the photo.

Too bad that Nick`s boss Horst Faas isn`t around to personally put the lie to all of this. Horst I knew well, and he was a fellow Pulitzer winner. He allegedly told pic editor Carl Robinson to give Nick credit for someone else`s photo. Fantasyland stuff. @pulitzerprizes @yunghi.kim @mikebarnicle @petesouza @coise43 @elianelaffont
...

481 22
Sunrise this morning as I left Tampa. @cntrforcreativephoto

Sunrise this morning as I left Tampa. @cntrforcreativephoto ...

65 2
Congrats to @nytmills on winning the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography for his photos of the assassination attempt upon President Trump. Well done! @pulitzerprizes

Congrats to @nytmills on winning the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography for his photos of the assassination attempt upon President Trump. Well done! @pulitzerprizes ...

277 48
Terrific dinner at @uleletampa last night. Highly recommend. Thanks @arshales and my go-to financial partners at @bankofamerica — @cntrforcreativephoto @improvambassador #tampa @whipplc @mikebarnicle

Terrific dinner at @uleletampa last night. Highly recommend. Thanks @arshales and my go-to financial partners at @bankofamerica — @cntrforcreativephoto @improvambassador #tampa @whipplc @mikebarnicle ...

68 0
He went thataway! Maybe @WarrenBuffett was pointing to where the economy was heading in this 2018 pic I made? However, he isn’t much of a hedger. Buffet announced that he’s retiring after 55 yrs as BerkshireHathaway’s chairman. One of the smartest and wittiest people ever. I’m going to follow his example and retire in 16 years when I’m 94. Unless, of course, I don’t feel like doing it. @cntrforcreativephoto @improvambassador @mikebarnicle @petesouza @whipplc @bankofamerica @photojournalismarchive @allie.plepler @bob_ahern @genegibbonspix @johnrodphotography @mark_leibovich @tleecurtis @westernave

He went thataway! Maybe @WarrenBuffett was pointing to where the economy was heading in this 2018 pic I made? However, he isn’t much of a hedger. Buffet announced that he’s retiring after 55 yrs as BerkshireHathaway’s chairman. One of the smartest and wittiest people ever. I’m going to follow his example and retire in 16 years when I’m 94. Unless, of course, I don’t feel like doing it. @cntrforcreativephoto @improvambassador @mikebarnicle @petesouza @whipplc @bankofamerica @photojournalismarchive @allie.plepler @bob_ahern @genegibbonspix @johnrodphotography @mark_leibovich @tleecurtis @westernave ...

118 2
As we wrap up remembrances from the end of the Vietnam War 50 years ago I can't help but return to this iPhone photo of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial I made in 2011 and what it means to me. 58,281 Americans were killed during the war, and over 300,000 wounded. Four of those KIA were from my West Linn (Oregon) High School graduating class of 1965, so it's really personal. You can look at the stats all you want, but when you put one face to one of those numbers it will be in your head forever. This memorial is powerful and those names on the wall come at you like tracers in a fire fight. You ask "for what?" There will never be a good answer, but I salute the memory of those who did their best and gave it all. @cntrforcreativephoto @utnicky @najalockwood @improvambassador @nickkennerly @j_kennerly @swansongermaine @pulitzerprizes @petesouza @bobmcneelyphoto @davidburnettfoto @mikebarnicle 
@vietnamveteransofamerica @cvn78_grford @fordlibrarymuseum

As we wrap up remembrances from the end of the Vietnam War 50 years ago I can`t help but return to this iPhone photo of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial I made in 2011 and what it means to me. 58,281 Americans were killed during the war, and over 300,000 wounded. Four of those KIA were from my West Linn (Oregon) High School graduating class of 1965, so it`s really personal. You can look at the stats all you want, but when you put one face to one of those numbers it will be in your head forever. This memorial is powerful and those names on the wall come at you like tracers in a fire fight. You ask "for what?" There will never be a good answer, but I salute the memory of those who did their best and gave it all. @cntrforcreativephoto @utnicky @najalockwood @improvambassador @nickkennerly @j_kennerly @swansongermaine @pulitzerprizes @petesouza @bobmcneelyphoto @davidburnettfoto @mikebarnicle
@vietnamveteransofamerica @cvn78_grford @fordlibrarymuseum
...

465 16
With @najalockwood at the Los Angeles premiere of her @onhealinglandfilm that she produced and directed. This is one of the most powerful stories about war I’ve seen. It’s based on the fallout from Eddie Adams’ Pulitzer Winning “Saigon Execution” photo that altered the course of the Vietnam War. “On Healing Land” is deeply personal, emotional, and I think a strong contender for an Academy Award, Chúa sẵn lòng! @pulitzerprizes @utnicky @improvambassador @nickkennerly @j_kennerly @_katiemeili @travon @zariazariazaria @petesouza @leslilinka @davidhmandel @eddieadamsworkshop @alyssaada @cntrforcreativephoto @asianpacificfilmfestival

With @najalockwood at the Los Angeles premiere of her @onhealinglandfilm that she produced and directed. This is one of the most powerful stories about war I’ve seen. It’s based on the fallout from Eddie Adams’ Pulitzer Winning “Saigon Execution” photo that altered the course of the Vietnam War. “On Healing Land” is deeply personal, emotional, and I think a strong contender for an Academy Award, Chúa sẵn lòng! @pulitzerprizes @utnicky @improvambassador @nickkennerly @j_kennerly @_katiemeili @travon @zariazariazaria @petesouza @leslilinka @davidhmandel @eddieadamsworkshop @alyssaada @cntrforcreativephoto @asianpacificfilmfestival ...

122 1
Was on @morningjoe yesterday talking about the final days of the Vietnam War 50 years ago this week. I’m declaring the anniversary over, the war will always be there for many. @cntrforcreativephoto @nickkennerly @improvambassador @j_kennerly @_katiemeili @najalockwood @onhealinglandfilm @sittranda @photojournalismarchive @petesouza

Was on @morningjoe yesterday talking about the final days of the Vietnam War 50 years ago this week. I’m declaring the anniversary over, the war will always be there for many. @cntrforcreativephoto @nickkennerly @improvambassador @j_kennerly @_katiemeili @najalockwood @onhealinglandfilm @sittranda @photojournalismarchive @petesouza ...

315 13
I'll be on the @cbseveningnews tonight discussing the end of the #vietnamwar with @cbsnews veteran national security correspondent David Martin. The segment was produced by the fabulous @cbsmary My segment will run at the end of the show, unless of course I get bumped! Hear about and see my photos taken in the final 24 hours of the war from "in the room where it ended." @improvambassador @whipplc @nickkennerly @j_kennerly @_katiemeili @petesouza @photojournalismarchive @sittranda @utnicky @davidburnettfoto @jhornstein1 @najalockwood @doug_tunnell @cvn78_grford @fordlibrarymuseum @liz__cheney @kerrykennedyrfk @wapokp @oregonhistoricalsociety

I`ll be on the @cbseveningnews tonight discussing the end of the #vietnamwar with @cbsnews veteran national security correspondent David Martin. The segment was produced by the fabulous @cbsmary My segment will run at the end of the show, unless of course I get bumped! Hear about and see my photos taken in the final 24 hours of the war from "in the room where it ended." @improvambassador @whipplc @nickkennerly @j_kennerly @_katiemeili @petesouza @photojournalismarchive @sittranda @utnicky @davidburnettfoto @jhornstein1 @najalockwood @doug_tunnell @cvn78_grford @fordlibrarymuseum @liz__cheney @kerrykennedyrfk @wapokp @oregonhistoricalsociety ...

241 8
Today is the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War and the 100th day of the Trump II presidency. Both catastrophic disasters. I took this in 1972 aboard the USS Newport News, a heavy cruiser, as they shelled targets inside North Vietnam. (The NVA shot back, another wild day during my two years of covering the war . . .). @cvn78_grford @cntrforcreativephoto @mikebarnicle @improvambassador @nickkennerly @j_kennerly @davidburnettfoto #ussnewportnews @petesouza @liz__cheney @fordlibrarymuseum @nickkristof @bobmcneelyphoto

Today is the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War and the 100th day of the Trump II presidency. Both catastrophic disasters. I took this in 1972 aboard the USS Newport News, a heavy cruiser, as they shelled targets inside North Vietnam. (The NVA shot back, another wild day during my two years of covering the war . . .). @cvn78_grford @cntrforcreativephoto @mikebarnicle @improvambassador @nickkennerly @j_kennerly @davidburnettfoto #ussnewportnews @petesouza @liz__cheney @fordlibrarymuseum @nickkristof @bobmcneelyphoto ...

312 7