Portraits from a Vice Presidency with Lawrence Jackson

Photographers shape political legacies and narratives, capturing authentic moments with our political leaders. Join us Tuesday, November 11, at 6 p.m. for a conversation with pioneering photographer Lawrence Jackson. Throughout his storied career, Jackson has captured monumental and intimate moments with President Barack Obama, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Jackson will dive into his journey from early career as a photojournalist to the White House. He’ll share stories from his extraordinary work at the 50th Anniversary of the Selma Civil Rights marches; his first published book, "Yes We Did: Photos and Behind-the-Scenes Stories Celebrating Our First African American President;" and his tenure photographing the first female Vice President, Kamala Harris.

This program is held in conjunction with our current temporary exhibit "Portraits From a Presidency," which features more than 50 portraits of the Clinton Family.

ATTEND: The program will be available on our YouTube channel the following day.

ASL interpretation is available during our events.

Clinton Presidential Center Presents is a partnership between the Clinton Foundation, Clinton School of Public Service at the University of Arkansas, and Clinton Presidential Library.

Lawrence Jackson is a distinguished photojournalist whose work serves as historical evidence of the progress of African American leaders in the United States of America. In Lawrence’s career in political photojournalism, he photographed President Obama’s campaign in 2008 for the Associated Press. Subsequent to President Obama's historic election, Lawrence joined the White House Photo Office in March 2009. He became the sole African American photographer on staff. After the Obama administration, he became the official White House photographer to document Vice President Kamala Harris during the Biden-Harris administration in 2021.

For 12 years, he worked closely with the First and Second Family and their administration, capturing history through raw, atmospheric, and vibrant photographs. Among Lawrence's most powerful images, the 50th anniversary of the Selma march, where he was the only Black photographer representing the White House. Without initially recognizing the profound impact, he captured an iconic photo on the bridge during the march, including the President, the First Lady, Sasha, Malia, John Lewis, the Selma original foot soldiers, Mrs. Robinson, and hundreds of supporters and activists. While working alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, he produced profound and exemplary photographs of her, even amid a global pandemic and under the historic pressure of documenting the nation’s first Black and female Vice President.

His book, “Yes We Did: Photos and Behind-the-Scenes Stories Celebrating Our First African American President,” is both an inspiring memoir and a testament to the unique "cool-factor" that President Obama and his family brought to the White House during their historic tenure as the First Family. The behind-the-scenes photographs and portraits, recollections from President Obama, and more come together to allow everyday citizens to fall in love with the family again.

Lawrence is currently a freelance photographer covering events in the Washington, D.C. area and beyond.

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