James William "Ike" Altgens (/ˈÉ'Ë lt.É¡É™nz/; April 28, 1919 â€"
December 12, 1995) was an American photojournalist, photo editor, and
field reporter for the Associated Press (AP) based in Dallas, Texas,
who became known for his photographic work during the assassination of
United States President John F. Kennedy (JFK). Altgens was 19 when he
began his AP career, which was interrupted by military service during
World War II. When his service time ended, Altgens returned to Dallas
and got married. He soon went back to work for the local AP bureau and
eventually earned a position as a senior editor.Altgens was on
assignment for the AP when he captured two historic images on November
22, 1963. The second, showing First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy toward the
rear of the presidential limousine and Secret Service agent Clint Hill
on its bumper, was reproduced on the front pages of newspapers around
the world. Within days, Altgens' preceding photograph became
controversial after people began to question whether accused assassin
Lee Harvey Oswald was visible in the main doorway of the Texas School
Book Depository as the gunshots were fired at JFK.Altgens appeared
briefly as a film actor and model during his 40-year career with the
AP, which ended in 1979. He spent his later years working in display
advertising, and answering letters and other requests made by
assassination researchers. Altgens and his wife Clara died in 1995 at
about the same time in their Dallas home. Both had suffered from long
illnesses, and police said poisoning by a malfunctioning furnace also
may have contributed to their deaths.
December 12, 1995) was an American photojournalist, photo editor, and
field reporter for the Associated Press (AP) based in Dallas, Texas,
who became known for his photographic work during the assassination of
United States President John F. Kennedy (JFK). Altgens was 19 when he
began his AP career, which was interrupted by military service during
World War II. When his service time ended, Altgens returned to Dallas
and got married. He soon went back to work for the local AP bureau and
eventually earned a position as a senior editor.Altgens was on
assignment for the AP when he captured two historic images on November
22, 1963. The second, showing First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy toward the
rear of the presidential limousine and Secret Service agent Clint Hill
on its bumper, was reproduced on the front pages of newspapers around
the world. Within days, Altgens' preceding photograph became
controversial after people began to question whether accused assassin
Lee Harvey Oswald was visible in the main doorway of the Texas School
Book Depository as the gunshots were fired at JFK.Altgens appeared
briefly as a film actor and model during his 40-year career with the
AP, which ended in 1979. He spent his later years working in display
advertising, and answering letters and other requests made by
assassination researchers. Altgens and his wife Clara died in 1995 at
about the same time in their Dallas home. Both had suffered from long
illnesses, and police said poisoning by a malfunctioning furnace also
may have contributed to their deaths.
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