Highly personal first generation 20” x 24” silver gelatin photograph printed from the original 4” x 5” negative, showing image of John F. Kennedy opening mail and eating breakfast at his Beacon Hill apartment. Visible on his wall above his side table is a picture of Kennedy's brother Joe, who was killed while flying a mission over Germany in 1944. This image was used as an 'official' publicity portrait photograph during Kennedy's 1952 senatorial campaign. In very fine condition. Also of significance is the rare presence of a pair of crutches to the lower right. Throughout the course of this senatorial campaign, Kennedy was hobbled by his back that forced him to rely on crutches which eventually led to life threatening back surgery in 1954. During his recovery from this surgery, the young senator began his Pulitzer Prize-winning book 'Profiles in Courage' in 1954. An exceptional museum-quality photograph.
• This exact photograph will be featured as a two-page 'spread' in the first 'photo essay' chapter of LIFE Magazines upcoming JFK 'special edition' commemorating his 100th birthday on May 29, 2017.
