34 March 14 • 2019 jn A ward-winning photojournal- ist Lawrence Schiller looked through a database of 43,000 pictures — his among others — to curate the final 77 images traveling to museums around the country in commemoration of a presidential milestone. The images form the exhibit American Visionary: John F. Kennedy’ s Life and Times, launched at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C., to mark the 100th anniversary of the 35th presi- dent’ s birth on May 29, 1917. The exhibit, paired with a talk by the curator, can be seen March 15-June 29 at the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum on the campus of Saginaw Valley State University, just north of Saginaw. “This exhibit tells an emotional story of Kennedy and his times, ” says Schiller, whose Michigan presentation will be on Thursday, March 21. “There’ s a picture of JFK and Jackie all dressed up and looking glamou- rous going out for the evening; he’ s in a tuxedo, and she’ s in an incredible pink and white outfit. Next to that is a picture of JFK walking [his very young son] to bed. No matter what the glamour was, what the business was, the chil- dren were there, and he walked them to bed. ” One of Schiller’ s pictures, fitting in with the theme of emotion, captures Richard Nixon conceding the election as tears drop from Pat Nixon’ s eyes, and it claimed the National Press Photographers Association and Encyclopedia Awards for Best Storytelling Photo in 1961. Schiller’ s role as exhibit curator has a foundation of firsthand experiences throughout the Kennedy years and beyond. During the 1960 presidential campaign, Schiller worked as a photojournalist covering the day-to-day election activities of the Nixon family for the French magazine Paris Match. In 1963, after President Kennedy was assassinated, Schiller went on assignment in Dallas for the Saturday Evening Post. He did the final interview with Jack Ruby, Lee Harvey Oswald’ s assassin and brother of Earl Ruby, who lived in Michigan. Earl Ruby coached Schiller on Yiddish questioning of the hospitalized gunman to limit guard understanding of answers spoken in English. The year before the 2017 centennial celebration began, Schiller was asked by members of the Kennedy family to be photo and design consultant for a book, JFK: A Vision for America, written by Stephen Kennedy Smith and Douglas Brinkley. It highlights the late presi- dent’ s speeches and their impact. “I went to Washington to propose the exhibition, ” Schiller recalls. “I showed the pictures in the book, and I said I could get the exhibit ready in five months. I told them I produced and directed major motion pictures and won Oscars and Emmys so I knew how to produce something. ” Schiller’ s interest in photography grew out of his father’ s camera business, where there was a darkroom for devel- oping pictures after the young Schiller received a camera for his bar mitzvah. As his career progressed, Schiller photographed many newsmakers from world leaders to entertainers. One of his famous subjects was Golda Meir. “I went to Israel, and I remember photographing her with her shopping bag, ” Schiller says. “She didn’ t carry a briefcase. She carried a shopping bag with briefing papers, political papers or notes she would need for meetings. Depending where a conversation went, she would go into her shopping bag and take out papers. ” Schiller moved away from profession- al photography in the 1970s as he start- ed producing, directing and writing. Among his projects were Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and Lady Sings the Blues as well as the Emmy Award- winning miniseries Peter the Great. Schiller, who has five children and five grandchildren, describes himself as a Reform Jew who has followed through with his mother’ s commitment to Hadassah. “My mother left half of her estate to Hadassah, and she had an annuity with Hadassah, ” he explains. “When she passed on, I was working with Hadassah and made sure her legacy was used properly. ” Schiller, who has been in Michigan on photojournalist assignments and to develop equip- ment for Leica, will discuss “The Golden Age of Journalism” upon his return to usher in the exhibit. “I explain, in essence, how these pictures were made and preserved and compare it all to the technology of today, when there are very few still photographers of this caliber, ” explains Schiller, 82. ■ SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER “American Visionary” photography arts&life Lawrence Schiller Photojournalist Schiller to lecture at JFK exhibit opening at Saginaw State. TOP: Oval Office, Washington, D.C., January 1961. ABOVE LEFT: Nixon delivers televised statement at 3:30 a. m. Los Angeles, Nov. 9, 1960. ABOVE RIGHT: Photo booth portrait. Details American Visionary: John F. Kennedy’ s Life and Times runs March 15-June 29 at the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum on the campus of Saginaw Valley State University, 7400 Bay Road, University Center. Free admission. (989) 964-7125, marshallfredericks.org. For details on the opening reception (4-7 p.m. Thursday, March 21) and to reserve a place by March 15, call (989) 964-7082. The lecture runs 7-8 p.m. Thursday, March 21, at the Malcolm Field Theater. JACQUES LOWE (COURTESY THE JACQUES LOWE ESTATE) COURTESY JOHN F. KENNEDY PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM LAWRENCE SCHILLER (POLARIS COMMUNICATIONS INC.)