Cecil W Stoughton

Cecil William Stoughton (January 18, 1920 – November 3, 2008) was an American photographer. Born in Oskaloosa, Iowa, Stoughton is best known for being President John F. Kennedy's photographer during his White House years.

During World War II he was assigned to the First Motion Picture Unit.

He was a captain in the United States Army Signal Corps when he was assigned to the White House Army Signal Agency. Stoughton's behind-the-scene pictures of John and Jacqueline and their children in their public and personal life were pivotal in shaping the public's view of the U.S. first family. He took more than 8,000 pictures of the family spanning the 34-month period beginning with Kennedy's inauguration and ending with his assassination.

Stoughton took the only photograph ever published showing John F. Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe together. Stoughton was present at the motorcade at which Kennedy was assassinated, and was subsequently the only photographer on board Air Force One when Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as the next President. Stoughton knew it was "tasteless," but suggested a photograph needed to be made of the "history-making moment ... and I think we should have it." His photograph depicts Johnson raising his hand in oath as he stood between his wife Lady Bird Johnson and a still blood-spattered Jacqueline Kennedy. Stoughton recounted this event and his service as White House photographer during Johnson's first two years in office in an oral history contributed to the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.

In 2008, Stoughton appeared on the television series Antiques Roadshow and recounted his story and presented prints of his photographs from his personal collection, including a print of his photograph of Johnson being sworn in that Johnson had signed, and a photograph of Johnson in the Oval Office as he signed the photo of his swearing in. All the items together appraised for $75,000. He appeared as a contestant on the May 29, 1987 episode of the game show CLassic Concentration, on the date that Kennedy would have turned 70 years old.

He died in Merritt Island, Florida, just nine months after his appearance on Antiques Roadshow describing his iconic photograph, which was done as part of the LBJ Centennial. Stoughton died a little over two months after the 100th anniversary of LBJ's birth, and three weeks shy of the 45th anniversary of JFK's death.