International Center for Journalists – ICFJ's Presidential Collection
Auction Ends: Nov 10, 2012 11:00 PM EST

Art

"An Uncomfortable Ride," Washington, D.C., 1977 (limited edition, framed photo)

Item Number
116
Estimated Value
2000 USD
Opening Bid
500 USD

Live Event Item

After the online close, this item went to a Live Event for further bidding. Absentee Bidding offered.

Item Description

In the back seat of the presidential limousine, Jimmy Carter sits stiffly next to the man he defeated in the presidential election—a disgruntled-looking Gerald Ford. From the front seat, official White House photographer David Hume Kennerly snapped this awkward but historic moment. Years later, Carter admitted that this was “an uncomfortable ride.” As Kennerly put it, “You can see from the looks on their faces that it’s not exactly a warm and friendly outing.”

Traditionally, the outgoing president accompanies the new one to the inauguration. In this case, they are joined by Speaker of the House Thomas “Tip” O’Neill and Sen. Howard Cannon of Nevada. “This is how the peaceful exchange of power looks in our country,” Kennerly notes. “Some of these transitions are happier than others.” The photo was published in Kennerly’s book, Extraordinary Circumstances: The Presidency of Gerald R. Ford.

Item Special Note

This framed photo is signed and numbered by Kennerly. It is a 16" by 20" archival pigment print on Hahnemühle Fine Art Baryta paper.