Kennedy Portrait

President John F. Kennedy, as captured by veteran Times photographer George Tames in February 1962. This image was used for the cover of the book “The Kennedy Years” in 2013.

George Tames (1919-1994) had a deep affection for Kennedy and he would write in memoir, “Eye on Washington,” published in 1990, “Mine was an unofficial role in his political kingdom, that of jokester and bringer of news, rumors and spicy Capitol Hill gossip as I photographed Kennedy and an inner court peopled by a young, eager, efficient, starry-eyed and loyal staff. They and I and millions of other Americans believed in the magic of a man blessed with a special grace of mind and action. He gave us hope. And to this very day, whenever I hear a tune from “Camelot,” I feel a special loss from a dream and for a friend.”