| Drew Pearson |
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On a quiet, routine morning on Capitol Hill, news photographer Carvajal
spotted famous newspaper columnist and radio journalist Drew Pearson
walking into a hearing room, so he followed him on in. Because the large
double doors were wide open, Carvajal had not noticed the "Executive
Session" sign, stating that the meeting was off-limits to the public (and
certainly closed to reporters and photographers.) Pearson was talking
about "freedom of the press" just as Carvajal was going about setting up
his big 4X5 Speed Graphic camera to get a shot. The irate Chairman,
Congressman Clare Hoffman, finally said, "Young man, just what in the
hell do you think you're doing in here?!" Carvajal replied that he was
getting ready to take a picture of Mr. Pearson. Hoffman turned to
Pearson and asked, "Is this what you mean by freedom of the press?"
Pearson smiled (as Carvajal took the shot) and said, "Yes, this is a good
example." Everyone in the room laughed and Hoffman relented, telling
Carvajal to take his pictures and get out, so that they could get on with
their closed-door meeting.
Pearson was known for being very combative, and he did not smile very
often. He liked this photo so much that he ordered dozens of copies from
the news agency. Some years later (in 1962), Carvajal was in the White
House office of JFK's Press Secretary Pierre Salinger. He saw a framed,
autographed print of the picture on the wall and said to Pierre, "I took that
picture, back in 1953." Salinger said, "Drew calls that his favorite picture
of himself. So you took it, huh?"
Back in those days, news photographers wrote their own captions for
their photos. Here is what Carvajal wrote for this one:
Drew Pearson Before Small Business Subcommittee
Washington, D.C., March 24, 1953 -- Drew Pearson today appeared
before a Small Business Subcommittee hearing. Clare E. Hoffman
(R.-Mich.), Chairman of the Government Operations Committee, had
supenaed Pearson to appear and explain a recent column of his about
Hoffman's dealings with the Fontana brothers of Iron Mountain, Michigan.
Pearson had written that Joe and Mario Fontana "went crying to their
Congressman" (Hoffman) when they lost out on their bid for an Air Force
contract. (photo by Joe Carvajal)
Read more about Drew Pearson
spotted famous newspaper columnist and radio journalist Drew Pearson
walking into a hearing room, so he followed him on in. Because the large
double doors were wide open, Carvajal had not noticed the "Executive
Session" sign, stating that the meeting was off-limits to the public (and
certainly closed to reporters and photographers.) Pearson was talking
about "freedom of the press" just as Carvajal was going about setting up
his big 4X5 Speed Graphic camera to get a shot. The irate Chairman,
Congressman Clare Hoffman, finally said, "Young man, just what in the
hell do you think you're doing in here?!" Carvajal replied that he was
getting ready to take a picture of Mr. Pearson. Hoffman turned to
Pearson and asked, "Is this what you mean by freedom of the press?"
Pearson smiled (as Carvajal took the shot) and said, "Yes, this is a good
example." Everyone in the room laughed and Hoffman relented, telling
Carvajal to take his pictures and get out, so that they could get on with
their closed-door meeting.
Pearson was known for being very combative, and he did not smile very
often. He liked this photo so much that he ordered dozens of copies from
the news agency. Some years later (in 1962), Carvajal was in the White
House office of JFK's Press Secretary Pierre Salinger. He saw a framed,
autographed print of the picture on the wall and said to Pierre, "I took that
picture, back in 1953." Salinger said, "Drew calls that his favorite picture
of himself. So you took it, huh?"
Back in those days, news photographers wrote their own captions for
their photos. Here is what Carvajal wrote for this one:
Drew Pearson Before Small Business Subcommittee
Washington, D.C., March 24, 1953 -- Drew Pearson today appeared
before a Small Business Subcommittee hearing. Clare E. Hoffman
(R.-Mich.), Chairman of the Government Operations Committee, had
supenaed Pearson to appear and explain a recent column of his about
Hoffman's dealings with the Fontana brothers of Iron Mountain, Michigan.
Pearson had written that Joe and Mario Fontana "went crying to their
Congressman" (Hoffman) when they lost out on their bid for an Air Force
contract. (photo by Joe Carvajal)
Read more about Drew Pearson
