Iconic Photos: LBJ's Swearing-In aboard Air Force One at Love Field on Nov. 22, '63

This iconic photograph, a staple of all the history books, is not only worth reflecting upon, but also valuable in adding context to the photograph. These static photographs can capture an instance, a moment, but they also provide a bit of falseness to a given situation.

I see the photograph above as somber. You see a crestfallen Vice President reluctantly taking the reigns of power amongst military, secret service, and even the former First Lady.

Earlier in the day, things had been different. The mood shift was severe, to say the least.

Kennedy and his second wife departing the plane at Love Field.

The swearing-in occurred on November 22, 1963, at 2:38 p.m. CST. They were in the stateroom of Air Force One, which was parked on the concrete ramp at gate 28A of the old East Concourse of the terminal building at Dallas Love Field. Kennedy’s body was being loaded into the plane from Parkland hospital.

The oath of office was administered by United States District Judge Sarah T. Hughes of Dallas, a friend and ally of Johnson.

What you don’t see is the moment prior where Johnson and Houston Congressman Al Thomas were winking with a certain impishness at one another while Kennedy’s widow grieves inches away. Johnson was becoming President and was aware of the power he was taking through sheer willpower. It’s a little uncouth.

Here’s that moment:

So photographs can tell us a little truth, and also give us little lies. It’s a mixed bag.

So who all is in this iconic photograph? All but 1-2 of them are now deceased.

Left to Right:

• Malcolm MacGregor “Mac” Kilduff, Jr. (1927-2003) - White House Press Secretary

• Judge Sarah Augusta Tilghman Hughes (1896-1985) - federal judge

• Jack Joseph Valenti (1921-2007) - News media liaison

• Albert Langston Thomas, Jr. (1898-1966) - Houston Congressman

• Marie Fehmer Chiarodo (behind Thomas) (b. ~1940) - Johnson’s Secretary from 1962-1969.

• Claudia Alta “Lady Bird” Taylor Johnson (1912-2007)

• Chief Jesse Edward Curry (1913-1980) - Dallas Chief of Police

• President Lyndon Baines Johnson (1908-1973)

• Evelyn Maurene Norton Lincoln (eyeglasses only visible above LBJ's shoulder) (1909-1995)

• William Homer Thornberry (in shadow, partially obscured by LBJ) (1909-1995) - federal judge

• Roy Herman Kellerman (partially obscured by Thornberry) (1915-1984) - Secret Service agent

• Thomas Lemuel “Lem” Johns (partially obscured by Mrs. Kennedy) (1925-2014) - Secret Service

• Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis (1929-1994) - First Lady

• Pamela Harrison Tunure Timmins (behind Brooks) (1937-2023) - Press Secretary for the First Lady

• Jack Bascom Brooks (1922-2012) - Congressman, defeated for re-election in 1994

• Billy Don “Bill” Moyers (mostly obscured by Brooks) (b. 1934)

In doing some light research for this piece I found the series of photographs around the iconic one, and I wanted to present those roughly in the order they were taken.

I assembled them below to give a bit more context to what’s happening, and to give you the ability to read faces and body language a bit more in the moment.

I showed this to my spouse and her response was that no one seemed to be grieving much, and Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson didn’t seem to be crying at all. They all seem ready to install President Johnson.

Personally I thought they were clearly just rolling Jackie in and rolling her out, despite the obvious shock and trauma she’s presenting. And there may also be a bit of concern and fear on her face that this plane load of powerful people might kill her next if she gets out of line.

I’m curious what you think. There’s no right or wrong answer. But I do think that the series of photos adds a lot to the iconic photo, giving a better idea of what the room was like on that fateful day in Dallas.