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Ben Johnson

Black and white photograph of Ben Johnson, seated at desk in office, holding papers/tiles/collection/1/19172.xml
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Reverse of photograph with maker’s information and caption reading, “Congressman Ben Johnson of Kentucky is sixty-four years of age today (Saturday). When found at his office by the cameraman he was celebrating by putting in an extra hour’s work at his desk. Mr. Johnson claims the distinction of having posed for only four pictures during the past fifty years.”/tiles/collection/1/19173.xml
Download this image
Black and white photograph of Ben Johnson, seated at desk in office, holding papers
Reverse of photograph with maker’s information and caption reading, “Congressman Ben Johnson of Kentucky is sixty-four years of age today (Saturday). When found at his office by the cameraman he was celebrating by putting in an extra hour’s work at his desk. Mr. Johnson claims the distinction of having posed for only four pictures during the past fifty years.”
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Date

1922-05-20

Maker

National Photo Company

Dimensions

6 1/2 x 8 1/2 in. (16.5 x 21.6 cm)

Accession Number

PA2014.07.0040a

Credit Line

Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives

Object Details

Snapped in 1922, this was only the fourth photograph ever taken of Kentucky Representative Ben Johnson. The Member spent his 64th birthday working overtime and sitting for this portrait. Four years later, he decided not to run for re-election: He felt that his congressional duties took too much time away from his real life’s work—fishing. “There are millions of fish in the Kentucky streams that have missed me all these years and I am eager to get back home and resume my acquaintance with them.”

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Office of the Historian: history@mail.house.gov
Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk: art@mail.house.gov, archives@mail.house.gov