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50 Years After His Election, J.F.K. Goes Digital

When John F. Kennedy was elected president 50 years ago, life—and technology—was much different. This brief look, found over at the Big Picture, is part of a massive $US10 million effort to digitize the JFK Library photo archives.

Yes, that’s a toy gun in that little kid’s hand. Can you imagine this scene ever happening again with a modern day president?

Photographer Paul Schutzer takes aim at his colleagues during Kennedy’s 1960 presidential campaign in Illinois.

President Kennedy peers into the space capsule during a 1962 medla presentation to astronaut Col. John Glenn, Jr. Perhaps you’ve heard of him too?

The space program was a integral part of the Kennedy Administration. Seen here are President Kennedy with Florida Senator George Smathers, looking up at a Saturn Rocket. [The Big Picture]

Discuss

(4 Comments)
  • [–]

    Ward Paterson

    Monday, November 29, 2010 at 3:14 PM

    How times have changed.

    I praise the man that took us all to the moon.

    I look in awe at how he motivated the people and achieved so many amazing things in his years as President.

    Truely an amazing man.

    • [–]

      Simon Reidy

      Monday, November 29, 2010 at 4:38 PM

      Well said sir. He was definitely a great man and his death was so untimely and tragic.

      I presume you watched the reassembled archive footage of the day he was assassinated that recently screened on ABC? Its still on iView for anyone that missed it. Incredible footage.

  • [–]

    olearymo

    Monday, November 29, 2010 at 4:05 PM

    Good luck seeing a modern US President standing on an old chair.

  • [–]

    Dan Dave

    Monday, November 29, 2010 at 7:03 PM

    Possibly the greatest US president who ever lived. No president can top the scale of his advancements to the US (but Washington and Lincoln are up there). It is a dear shame that a man such as him, had his life taken.

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