Oliver F. Atkins (February 18, 1917 – January 24, 1977) was an American photographer who worked for the ''

Saturday Evening Post ''The Saturday Evening Post'' is an American magazine, currently published six times a year. It was issued weekly under this title from 1897 until 1963, then every two weeks until 1969. From the 1920s to the 1960s, it was one of the most widely c ...

'' and as personal photographer to President

Richard Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a representative and senator from California and was ...

Early life and career

Atkins was born in 1917 in Hyde Park, Massachusetts, and grew up in New York. He moved to the

University of Alabama The University of Alabama (informally known as Alabama, UA, or Bama) is a Public university, public research university in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Established in 1820 and opened to students in 1831, the University of Alabama is the oldest and la ...

to get his BA in Journalism, graduating in 1938. Taking a job at the ''

Birmingham Post The ''Birmingham Post'' is a weekly printed newspaper based in Birmingham, England, with a circulation of 2,545 and distribution throughout the West Midlands. First published under the name the ''Birmingham Daily Post'' in 1857, it has had a s ...

'', he quickly rose through the ranks, becoming chief photographer for the paper. He left Alabama in 1940 to join the staff of '' The Washington Daily News''.

World War II

In 1942, after the United States entry into World War II, he began reporting for the

American Red Cross The American Red Cross (ARC), also known as the American National Red Cross, is a non-profit humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and disaster preparedness education in the United States. It is the desi ...

. In that position, he covered such campaigns as the African campaign, the invasion of Sicily, the beachheads of Southern Italy, and the Allied invasions of Southern France and Germany.

Postwar

When the war ended, he was a photographer for the ''Saturday Evening Post'' for which he traveled the world taking pictures of such historic figures as

Josip Broz Tito Josip Broz ( sh-Cyrl, Јосип Броз, ; 7 May 1892 – 4 May 1980), commonly known as Tito (; sh-Cyrl, Тито, links=no, ), was a Yugoslav communist revolutionary and statesman, serving in various positions from 1943 until his deat ...

Charles de Gaulle Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle (; ; (commonly abbreviated as CDG) 22 November 18909 November 1970) was a French army officer and statesman who led Free France against Nazi Germany in World War II and chaired the Provisional Government ...

, and

Gamal Abdel Nasser Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein, . (15 January 1918 – 28 September 1970) was an Egyptian politician who served as the second president of Egypt from 1954 until his death in 1970. Nasser led the Egyptian revolution of 1952 and introduced far-re ...

Work with Nixon

When Nixon started campaigning for President in 1968, he became Nixon's personal photographer, following him on the campaign trail. When Nixon was elected, he joined the White House staff as official photographer. In that position, he took pictures of the president with many heads of state and celebrities. A secret meeting between Nixon and

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...

is Atkins' most requested picture. Both Elvis and Nixon wanted to keep the meeting secret as Nixon's ratings were dropping and Elvis was planning a comeback; neither of their fans would understand a meeting between the two. The picture is now one of the most requested images in the

National Archives and Records Administration The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is an " independent federal agency of the United States government within the executive branch", charged with the preservation and documentation of government and historical records. It i ...

, being more popular than the Bill of Rights or the Constitution of the United States. While serving Nixon, Atkins was a member of the

National Press Photographers Association The National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) is an American professional association made up of still photographers, television videographers, editors, and students in the journalism field. Founded in 1946, the organization is based in at ...

. While a member of the Association, he was the head of its Freedom of Information Committee. After his work with Nixon in 1974, Atkins joined the ''Saturday Evening Post'' publisher, Curtis Publishing Company of Indianapolis, becoming its vice president. Atkins received several awards in recognition of his work and career, including the White House News Photographers' Association Grand Award, the Graflex All American Photo Contest Portrait Award, and the National Press Photographers' Association Personalities Award.

Death and legacy

Atkins died of cancer in at his home in Washington, VirginiaOLLIE ATKINS, 60, DEAD; NIXON'S PHOTOGRAPHER – The New York Times
Retrieved May 11, 2018. at the age of 59. The

George Mason University George Mason University (George Mason, Mason, or GMU) is a public research university in Fairfax County, Virginia with an independent City of Fairfax, Virginia postal address in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area. The university was origin ...

Special Collections and Archives include approximately 60,000 of his photographs.

Notable photographs

File:Nixon-depart.png,

's resignation and farewell File:Nixon leaving whitehouse.jpg, Nixon leaving the White House File:Richard M. Nixon speaking to a crowd in Florida - NARA - 194694.jpg, Nixon speaking to a crowd in Florida File:Richard M. Nixon and Bob Hope in the oval office. Bob Hope is putting into an ashtray held by the President. - NARA - 194433.tif, Bob Hope is

putting The golf swing is the action by which players hit the ball in the sport of golf. The golf swing is a complex motion involving the whole body; the technicalities of the swing are known as golf stroke mechanics. There are differing opinions on what ...

into an ashtray held by President Nixon File:President and Mrs. Nixon and Tricia Nixon, on golf cart, approaching "Marine One" - NARA - 194682.tif, President and Mrs. Nixon and Tricia Nixon, on golf cart

References

;Notes ;Sources * * * * * * *

External links

*
Atkins Photograph Collection
{{DEFAULTSORT:Atkins, Oliver F. 1917 births 1977 deaths Artists from Boston University of Alabama alumni American photojournalists White House photographers People from Washington, Virginia