Yoichi Okamoto

Yoichi R. Okamoto (1915-1985)[1] was the first official U.S. presidential photographer, serving Lyndon B. Johnson. He was fondly known as "Oke", and was given unprecedented access to the Oval Office.[2] He captured images of the President of the United States, more candid than had been previously acceptable.

Life and work

Because of his ability to be present at almost any event, more photos of the Johnson presidency are available than from any earlier term of office. The 1990 coffee table book LBJ: The White House Years[3] by Harry Middleton consists primarily of images taken by Okamoto.

Okamoto was a native of Yonkers, New York. He attended Colgate University and served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. He died at his own hand, hanging himself in his Virginia home, at the age of 69.

References

  1. ↑ National Archives, Picturing the Century,""
  2. ↑ PBS, The President's Photographer 50 Years in the Oval Office,""
  3. ↑ Washington Post, Personalities by Chuck Conconi, March 30, 1990,"

External links

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