Cecil Stoughton, the White House staff photographer was the only photographer at a private party after Marilyn Monroe's infamous birthday song and managed to photograph an image of John F Kennedy with Marilyn Monroe. When the Secret Service came to confiscate his film, they missed one - the one in the film dryer.
Stoughton kept it a secret for decades. Filmmaker Keya Morgan acquired the negative before Stoughton's death in 2008 for Morgan's upcoming documentary “Marilyn Monroe: Murder on Fifth Helena Drive".
In an National Geographic interview, Stoughton was asked about his interaction with President Kennedy
I worked in the West Wing. I had an office with a desk and chair right underneath the Oval Office.
When the President needed a picture his secretary, Mrs. Lincoln, would push a button that rang in my office—that meant that President Kennedy is standing in the middle of the office waiting for you. I would rush up the stairs into the Oval Office with my superwide Hasselblad camera and take a couple of shots.
He would tolerate two clicks, and after two frames that was it—it was a nice working arrangement, and I didn't overstay my welcome. He was the opposite of President Johnson—I could never take enough pictures to please him.
Ten 30x30 prints were made and signed by Stoughton and goes to sale yesterday at Art & Artifact Gallery. Checking the gallery website, looks like it'll be on exhibit until June 20th.
Art & Artifact Gallery
410 N. La Cienega
Los Angeles, Ca. 90048e
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