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Narrator: THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
WILL MAKE HISTORY TODAY.
IT'S NOT JUST THE EXTRAORDINARY NATURE OF THIS PRESIDENCY,
BUT THAT HE'S PUSHING FOR CHANGES
THAT ARE BOTH DRAMATIC AND CONTROVERSIAL.
Barack Obama: OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS COME AROUND
MAYBE ONCE IN A GENERATION...
Narrator: HE'LL MEET WITH HEADS OF STATE...
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS...
AND SPEAK TO CROWDS OF THOUSANDS...
MAKING DECISIONS THAT AFFECT MILLIONS
HERE AND AROUND THE WORLD.
CAPTURING EVERY MOMENT IS HIS CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER...
PETE SOUZA.
Pete: I THINK CREATING
A GOOD PHOTOGRAPHIC ARCHIVE FOR HISTORY
IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF MY JOB...
CREATING THIS ARCHIVE THAT WILL LIVE ON.
Narrator: NOW WE FOLLOW PRESIDENT OBAMA'S PHOTOGRAPHER
IN HIS PURSUIT OF HISTORY...
MEETING THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE HIM
AS THEY RECORDED THE EVERYDAY GRIT OF THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY.
George W. Bush: THE WHITE HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHER IS EVER PRESENT.
I'M SURE PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND,
BUT EVERY MEETING I HAD WAS RECORDED.
Narrator: FOR 50 YEARS,
PRESIDENTIAL PHOTOGRAPHERS HAVE COVERED IT ALL...
UPHEAVAL...
TRAGEDY...
AND JOY...
OFTEN DEVELOPING FRIENDSHIPS WITH THE PRESIDENTS THEY SERVE.
Obama: I THINK AT THIS POINT
PETE AND I ARE LIKE AN OLD COUPLE.
WE SORT OF KNOW EACH OTHER...
HE'S LIKE A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY.
Narrator: FOR PETE SOUZA THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A TYPICAL DAY.
HE WORKS IN THE WEST WING, ONLY STEPS FROM THE OVAL OFFICE.
IN AN AVERAGE WEEK,
SOUZA WILL COVER THE PRESIDENT DOING EVERYTHING...
FROM EVENTS ON THE SOUTH LAWN TO SPEAKING AT A MASSIVE RALLY
TO A MEETING WITH A HEAD OF STATE--
TODAY PRESIDENT OBAMA WILL MEET
WITH THE PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA.
SOUZA'S JOB IS TO COVER MOMENTS WE WOULD NEVER SEE...
WHETHER MUNDANE OR MONUMENTAL.
HIS SCHEDULE IS THE PRESIDENT'S SCHEDULE.
Pete: RIGHT NOW THE SCHEDULE LOOKS LIKE IT'S NOT TOO CRAMMED,
BUT THEN YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
[LAUGHTER]
Narrator: THOUGH SOUZA'S COVERAGE IS VARIED,
EACH DAY'S SENIOR STAFF MEETING
GIVES HIM A SENSE OF WHERE TO PUT HIS FOCUS.
THE ECONOMIC CRISIS, THE WARS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN,
AND THE PRESIDENT'S PUSH FOR A HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL
TOP THE LIST.
Obama: ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO.
Narrator: SOUZA CAN'T KNOW WHEN SOMETHING HISTORIC WILL HAPPEN,
SO HE SHOOTS IT ALL.
IT'S BLANKET COVERAGE THAT TAKES SOME GETTING USED TO.
Pete: I THINK SOMETIME EARLY IN THE ADMINISTRATION
I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE PRESIDENT.
I WAS TAKING SO MANY PICTURES EVERY DAY,
HE SORT OF ASKED ME ABOUT IT AND I EXPLAINED IT TO HIM,
I'M GOING TO DOCUMENT EVERY MEETING THAT YOU HAVE.
IT'S FOR HISTORY.
Narrator: THESE PICTURES ARE A VISUAL TOOL
THAT WILL HELP FUTURE HISTORIANS UNDERSTAND WHAT WENT ON HERE.
AFTER THE MEETING
THE PRESIDENT'S SCHEDULE TYPICALLY ACCELERATES.
IT IS SO CAREFULLY ENGINEERED
THAT EVEN THE TIME REQUIRED TO WALK TO HIS NEXT EVENT
IS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
RIGHT NOW HE'S HEADED TO THE MAP ROOM
ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE MANSION.
65 YEARS AGO FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT
FOUGHT WORLD WAR TWO FROM THIS ROOM.
TODAY IT'S WHERE THE PRESIDENT AND FIRST LADY WAIT
BEFORE AN EVENT ON THE SOUTH LAWN.
THEY'RE JOINED BY OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALISTS
JACKIE JOYNER-KERSEE, APRIL HOLMES, AND OTHERS
IN A CELEBRATION OF THE U.S. SUMMER OLYMPIC TEAM.
Obama: WHAT'S SO HARD...
[LAUGHTER]
Pete: THIS JOB IS ALL ABOUT ACCESS AND TRUST,
AND IF YOU HAVE BOTH OF THOSE
HOPEFULLY YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE INTERESTING, HISTORIC PICTURES.
I THINK TRUST BEGAN
WHEN I COVERED HIM FOR THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE
AND I SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH HIM
DURING HIS FRESHMAN YEAR IN THE SENATE.
AND I THINK BOTH HE AND ROBERT GIBBS
LEARNED THAT THEY COULD TRUST ME
IN THAT THEY LET ME PHOTOGRAPH IN BEHIND-THE-SCENES SITUATIONS.
ALSO ANYTHING THAT I OVERHEARD
I DIDN'T SHARE THAT WITH THE REPORTER.
Obama: IT IS ACTUALLY A VERY DIFFICULT THING
FOR ANYBODY WHO OCCUPIES THIS OFFICE
TO BE UNDER THAT KIND OF CONSTANT OBSERVATION.
THAT'S ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS TO GET USED TO,
IN BEING PRESIDENT.
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY LIKE PETE SOUZA,
WHO YOU TRUST, WHO'S A FRIEND,
AND WHO IS ABLE TO PURPOSELY FADE INTO THE BACKGROUND
SO THAT AT A CERTAIN POINT YOU DON'T NOTICE HE'S THERE,
THEN IT MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER.
OUTSTANDING.
SO WHERE DO YOU KEEP YOUR SILVER MEDALS?
Man: IN A SOCK DRAWER RIGHT NOW.
[LAUGHTER]
Man: IT TRAVELS WELL. WE BRING IT OUT TO THE KIDS.
Narrator: EVEN AS ONE EVENT ENDS,
THE PRESIDENT'S SECRETARY OF STATE
ARRIVES FOR ANOTHER.
IN MOMENTS, THEY WILL WELCOME
CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER STEPHEN HARPER.
THAT MEANS PETE WILL WORK WITH HIS CANADIAN COUNTERPART,
THE PRIME MINISTER'S PHOTOGRAPHER, JASON RANSOM.
Pete: THERE HE IS. HOW YOU DOING, MAN?
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
HOW YOU DOING? GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
SO YOU'RE GOING TO SHOOT...
Jason: I'M GOING TO SHOOT THIS ARRIVAL OF OUR GUY...
Pete: AND THEN I'LL GRAB YOU...
Narrator: BEFORE THE MEETINGS BEGIN,
PETE GIVES JASON A TOUR...
Pete: THIS IS THE GALLERY...
Narrator: THE WEST WING IS DECORATED
WITH A SERIES OF PETE'S PHOTOS.
Pete: THIS IS ONE THAT I JUST SHOT
WHERE SASHA WAS SNEAKING UP ON HIM AT THE END OF ONE DAY.
Narrator: THESE BEHIND-THE-SCENES IMAGES
REVEAL A GLIMPSE OF THE PRESIDENT'S LIFE
THAT FEW OUTSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE EVER GET TO SEE.
Obama: EVERYBODY ENJOYS PETE'S PICTURES.
THE ONE THAT IS MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE, THOUGH,
IS THE ONE THAT PETE TOOK OF ME
BLOCKING REGGIE LOVE'S SHOT PLAYING BASKETBALL.
WHICH WE LEFT UP THERE, I THINK, A LITTLE LONGER THAN USUAL.
Narrator: REGGIE LOVE IS THE PRESIDENT'S PERSONAL AIDE...
HE'S ALSO A FORMER COLLEGE BASKETBALL STAR.
Obama: USUALLY THERE'S A ROTATION,
BUT THROUGH A PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE,
I THINK THAT STAYED UP TWO OR THREE MONTHS.
Narrator: PETE'S OFFICE USED TO BE THE WHITE HOUSE BARBER SHOP,
A PLACE WHERE PRESIDENTS COULD GET A TRIM
WHILE DOING A LITTLE BUSINESS.
TODAY ALL THAT'S LEFT IS THE MIRROR.
Pete: I FEEL NERVOUS STAYING DOWN HERE TOO LONG,
SO LET'S GO BACK UP.
DON'T EVER WANT TO BE IN MY OFFICE
WHEN I SHOULD BE HANGING OUTSIDE OF THE OVAL
IN CASE THAT MEETING BREAKS UP.
Narrator: EVEN THOUGH PETE'S DESK
IS FEWER THAN 100 STEPS FROM THE OVAL OFFICE,
HE'S MOST COMFORTABLE WHEN HE HOVERS CLOSER.
Pete: THERE'S MR. BURTON.
Man: PETE, HELLO.
Pete: ALL-TIME BASKETBALL PLAYER.
Narrator: JUST OUTSIDE THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE IS A WAITING AREA--
THE ON-DECK CIRCLE FOR THE OVAL OFFICE.
FOR PETE, IT'S ALSO A KIND OF SECOND OFFICE.
Pete: THIS IS A BIG PART OF THE JOB,
JUST KIND OF HANGING OUT, WAITING, LISTENING,
BECAUSE IF THAT DOOR OPENS, TIME TO GO BACK IN.
Narrator: MINUTES LATER PETE AND JASON HEAD IN
TO COVER THE PRIVATE MEETING.
ON ANY GIVEN DAY AT THE WHITE HOUSE,
A NUMBER OF EVENTS ARE UNFOLDING AT THE SAME TIME.
IN THE DIPLOMATIC RECEPTION ROOM,
FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA IS GREETING GUESTS
WHO WILL ATTEND A BREAST CANCER AWARENESS SPEECH.
WHITE HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHER SAMANTHA APPLETON
IS PART OF PETE SOUZA'S TEAM--
ONE OF THREE STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS.
APPLETON PRIMARILY COVERS THE FIRST LADY.
Samantha: YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE BOTH LEARNING--
I'VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING QUITE LIKE THIS
AND SHE'S NEVER HAD A PHOTOGRAPHER
TRAILING HER ALL THE TIME.
PEOPLE FEEL AN INTIMACY WITH HER.
SHE'S VERY APPROACHABLE IN THAT WAY.
SHE'S A BIG HUGGER.
PEOPLE REACH OUT TO HER IN A PHYSICAL WAY.
Narrator: DURING THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT,
OUTSIDE THE OVAL OFFICE,
AN INTERNATIONAL COLLECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHERS AND REPORTERS
ARE WAITING FOR A QUICK PHOTO OP WITH THE TWO LEADERS.
ANOTHER PHOTOGRAPHER ON SOUZA'S STAFF,
LAWRENCE JACKSON, WILL LEAD THE PRESS POOL IN.
Lawrence: WE'RE ABOUT TO GO IN.
Narrator: JACKSON USED TO WORK
AS AN ASSOCIATED PRESS WIRE PHOTOGRAPHER
WHOSE GOAL WAS GETTING TOMORROW'S FRONT PAGE SHOT
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
NOW, LIKE HIS BOSS PETE SOUZA, HE'S MAKING IMAGES FOR HISTORY.
Lawrence: IT'S A DIFFERENT BEAST.
HERE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TIME TO WORK ON YOUR ASSIGNMENTS.
YOU HAVE TIME TO GET THE BEST PRODUCT OUT.
Narrator: JACKSON IS A KEEN OBSERVER OF HOW YOU DO THAT,
AND ONE OF THE BEST AT IT IS SOUZA.
Lawrence: PETE'S SECRET IS HE'S, I THINK,
THE MOST COMPETITIVE GUY IN THE ROOM.
HE REALLY WANTS TO GET THE BEST SHOT.
SO IF HE'S WORKING, IN HIS MODE, HE DOESN'T SEE ANYTHING ELSE
EXCEPT FOR WHAT HE'S TRYING TO DO.
Narrator: PETE IS TRYING TO CREATE
THE BEST POSSIBLE PHOTOGRAPHIC ARCHIVE
OF THE OBAMA PRESIDENCY...
A RECORD FOR THE AGES.
THE IDEA OF SHOOTING FOR HISTORY TOOK HOLD ALMOST 50 YEARS AGO
WHEN PRESIDENT LYNDON JOHNSON
HIRED THE FIRST OFFICIAL PRESIDENTIAL PHOTOGRAPHER.
YOICHI OKAMOTO, KNOWN AS OKIE,
SET THE GOLD STANDARD FOR PRESIDENTIAL PHOTOGRAPHY,
AND HE DID IT ON THE STRENGTH OF HIS UNIQUE ACCESS.
Mike Geissinger: OKIE DIDN'T WORK FOR ANYONE
EXCEPT THE PRESIDENT.
HE WAS ABLE TO WALK INTO THE OVAL OFFICE
WHEN HE THOUGHT OR KNEW SOMETHING WAS GOING ON
AND BEGIN PHOTOGRAPHING.
AND HE WOULD STAY AS LONG AS HE WANTED.
Narrator: OKAMOTO'S IMAGES PUT VIEWERS IN THE ROOM
AS MOMENTS CRITICAL TO THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD UNFOLDED.
Pete: I THINK JUST BECAUSE OF THE CHARACTER THAT LBJ WAS,
THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE WILL EVER BE
ANOTHER SET OF PICTURES LIKE HIS.
Narrator: EXPRESSIVE, DOMINEERING, AND OBLIVIOUS TO THE CAMERA,
LBJ WAS THE ULTIMATE PRESIDENTIAL SUBJECT...
THOUGH HIS DOG YUKI OFTEN STOLE THE SHOW.
Geissinger: YUKI WAS THIS SORT OF WHITE MUTT
WHOM I THINK KNEW THAT IT WAS THE PRESIDENT'S DOG,
AND THAT WAS THE ONE THAT JOHNSON,
WHEN HE WOULD WANT TO ENTERTAIN FOLKS
THAT WERE IN THE OVAL OFFICE,
HE WOULD START HOWLING, AND YUKI WOULD THEN START HOWLING.
AND THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED,
THE AGENT OUTSIDE THE DOOR
ALMOST BUSTED IN WITH HIS GUN DRAWN.
'CAUSE HE IMAGINED THE PRESIDENT
WAS WRITHING ON THE FLOOR OF THE OVAL OFFICE--
AND HE WAS JUST HOWLING WITH THE DOG.
Narrator: THE OBAMA'S PUP, BO, IS THE NEWEST FIRST DOG.
HIS ACCESS TO THE OVAL OFFICE
MIGHT EVEN BE BETTER THAN PETE'S.
ALONG WITH HELPING TO MANAGE THE PRESIDENT'S SCHEDULE,
BRIAN MOSTELLER ALSO KEEPS HIS DESK STOCKED WITH BO'S TOYS.
Brian: THIS IS THE LONGEST SPOT
I'VE FOUND WE CAN THROW SOMETHING.
WE'VE GOT WORK TO DO. WE'VE GOT TO GET BACK TO WORK.
Narrator: RIGHT NOW, THE PRESIDENT'S WORK
IS GOING BY MOTORCADE TO A RALLY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND.
TO A DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHER,
EVERY PRESIDENCY HAS DEFINING STORIES,
AND THOSE IMAGES ARE OFTEN HOW WE REMEMBER A PRESIDENT.
FOR JOHNSON IT WAS CIVIL RIGHTS AND VIETNAM.
REAGAN IS FOREVER TIED TO THE END OF THE COLD WAR.
CLINTON HAD MIDDLE EAST PEACE.
HISTORY HAS YET TO DEFINE THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.
TODAY HE'S PURSUING A MAJOR LEGISLATIVE GOAL:
HEALTH CARE REFORM.
WITH THE FIRST VOTE ON THE HEALTH CARE BILL
EXPECTED IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS,
THE PRESIDENT IS ALREADY WORKING THE PHONES.
Woman: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE PRESIDENT...
[CROWD CHEERING]
Obama: YOU KNOW, SOME OF YOU REMEMBER DURING THE CAMPAIGN
WE HAD A SLOGAN, "FIRED UP."
NOT EVERYBODY HERE KNOWS HOW THIS STORY CAME ABOUT.
SO I'M GOING TO TELL IT AGAIN.
Pete: THE "FIRED UP" STORY. THIS WILL GET THE CROWD GOING.
Obama: BECAUSE IT BEARS ON HEALTH CARE REFORM...
Narrator: PETE HAS COVERED HUNDREDS OF THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECHES,
SO THE CHALLENGE IS KEEPING IT FRESH.
Pete: IN A LOT OF WAYS,
THE FACES OF THESE PEOPLE REALLY TELL THE STORY.
I THINK IT TELLS YOU MORE ABOUT HIM
THAN A PICTURE OF HIM AT THE PODIUM.
Obama: AND IF A VOICE CAN CHANGE A ROOM,
IT CAN CHANGE A CITY.
AND IF IT CAN CHANGE A CITY, IT CAN CHANGE A STATE.
AND IF IT CAN CHANGE A STATE, IT CAN CHANGE A NATION,
IF IT CAN CHANGE A NATION, IT CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.
SO I WANT TO KNOW, ARE YOU FIRED UP?
READY TO GO?
FIRED UP!
READY TO GO!
FIRED UP!
READY TO GO!
LET'S GO CHANGE THE WORLD.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
Narrator: TODAY PRESIDENT OBAMA IS HEADING TO NEW YORK CITY
TO MAKE A SPEECH ON WALL STREET.
AND IF THE PRESIDENT IS FLYING TO NEW YORK, SO IS PETE SOUZA.
FEW AMERICANS EVER GET TO RIDE ON AIR FORCE ONE,
BUT PETE IS ONE OF ITS MOST FREQUENT FLYERS.
THIS IS ACTUALLY HIS SECOND TOUR OF DUTY.
PETE ALSO SERVED AS A PRESIDENTIAL PHOTOGRAPHER
DURING THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION IN THE 1980s.
AIR FORCE ONE HAS A CREW OF 26 AND SPACE FOR 76 PASSENGERS...
SECRET SERVICE, MILITARY, PRESS CORPS, SENIOR STAFF,
MEDICAL CREW, AND GUESTS OF THE PRESIDENT.
PETE ALWAYS HAS THE SAME RESERVED SEAT...
AND, LIKE MOST STAFFERS, IS ON THE PLANE
BEFORE THE PRESIDENT'S HELICOPTER
HAS EVEN LEFT THE WHITE HOUSE.
Woman: ATTENTION ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT.
THE PRESIDENT HAS DEPARTED WITH A 10-MINUTE FLIGHT TIME.
Narrator: PETE HAS ALREADY MADE
MORE THAN 150 TRIPS ON AIR FORCE ONE
AND KNOWS NEARLY EVERY INCH OF THE PLANE'S 4,000 SQUARE FEET.
Pete: SO THIS IS THE CONFERENCE ROOM.
AND ANYTIME THE PRESIDENT'S GOING TO HAVE A MEETING
WITH SOME OF HIS AIDES,
THIS IS USUALLY WHERE THEY MEET.
SO THIS IS THE GUEST CABIN,
ON THE FLIGHT BACK YOU'LL SEE
PROBABLY ALL THE CONGRESSMEN FROM NEW YORK
WILL BE ON THIS FLIGHT.
AND THEN WE'LL GO BACK...
THIS IS ALL THE PRESS POOL, WHERE THE PRESS POOL SITS.
SO THEY SHOULD BE BOARDING THE PLANE MOMENTARILY.
Narrator: A FEW MINUTES LATER, MARINE ONE ARRIVES.
THE PRESIDENT IS THE LAST TO BOARD...
EXCEPT, OF COURSE, FOR PETE.
FOR SOUZA, AIR FORCE ONE IS THE ULTIMATE BACKDROP
TO THE PRESIDENT'S STORY.
BUT FOR ONE PRESIDENTIAL PHOTOGRAPHER
ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001,
THE PLANE BECAME AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE STORY.
George W. Bush: 9/11 IS A GOOD EXAMPLE
OF WHY THERE IS A WHITE HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHER AROUND.
I HAD GONE TO THE CLASSROOM TO TALK ABOUT READING,
AND ANDY CARD CAME IN AND WHISPERED IN MY EAR,
"A SECOND PLANE HAS HIT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER,
AMERICA IS UNDER ATTACK."
Eric Draper: AND AT THAT MOMENT
I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE A VERY HISTORIC DAY.
I TRIED TO DOCUMENT EVERY MOMENT OF THAT DAY.
Narrator: WITHIN THE HOUR,
THE SECRET SERVICE EVACUATED THE PRESIDENT TO AIR FORCE ONE.
Draper: THERE WERE SOME DAYS WHERE I TRULY FELT INVISIBLE,
JUST A HANDFUL OF DAYS DURING MY EIGHT YEARS,
AND THAT WAS A DAY THAT I TRULY FELT INVISIBLE.
I COULD STAND JUST INCHES FROM THE PRESIDENT
AND MAKE PICTURES, AND HE WOULD LOOK RIGHT THROUGH ME.
IT WAS ALMOST LIKE I WASN'T EVEN THERE.
THOSE FIRST FEW MOMENTS ON THE PLANE WERE VERY INTENSE,
BECAUSE IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE PHYSICAL SAFETY
OF THE PRESIDENT.
Bush: AS WE FLEW ACROSS THE COUNTRY HEADING AWAY
FROM WHAT THE SECRET SERVICE THOUGHT WAS DANGER--
THAT WOULD BE WASHINGTON--
MUCH AGAINST MY WISHES, I WANT YOU TO KNOW--
I WOULD SEE FLICKERS ON THE TV SCREEN
OF THE DAMAGE IN NEW YORK CITY.
AND I REMEMBER SEEING PEOPLE ATOP THE BUILDINGS,
PRIOR TO THEM COLLAPSING...
AND THINKING ABOUT THE AGONY AND HORROR.
Draper: THE EERIEST MOMENT
WAS WHEN THE PRESIDENT STEPPED OUT OF THE CABIN
AND HE SAID, "I HEARD THAT ANGEL IS THE NEXT TARGET."
Bush: THERE WAS A CALLER THAT CALLED IN
WITH THE AIR FORCE ONE CODE NAME, ANGEL.
HE SAID, "ANGEL IS NEXT."
AND SO AT THIS POINT IN TIME,
PEOPLE WERE TAKING EVERY THREAT INCREDIBLY SERIOUSLY.
Draper: TO ME PERSONALLY, IT WAS LIKE DOCUMENTING A NIGHTMARE.
AS WE APPROACHED WASHINGTON, EVERYONE STARTED SAYING,
"OH, LOOK THE FIGHTER JETS ARE FLYING WITH US."
AND SO EVERYONE WANTED TO GET A LOOK OUT THE WINDOWS.
AND THE JETS, I MEAN, THEY WERE SO CLOSE
YOU COULD SEE BASICALLY THE WHITES OF THE EYES
OF THE PILOTS.
AND THEN LOOKING ACROSS THE HORIZON
YOU CAN SEE THE SMOKE RISING FROM THE PENTAGON.
AND AT THAT MOMENT IT TRULY FELT LIKE A WAR.
Narrator: COVERING THE CRISIS LEFT DRAPER LITTLE TIME
TO PROCESS WHAT HAD HAPPENED.
FOR HIM THE CAMERA SERVED AS A KIND OF SHIELD...
ABSORBING EMOTION SO HE DIDN'T HAVE TO.
Draper: I DON'T THINK I REALLY DIGESTED,
IN MY MIND, EVERYTHING.
I THINK A LOT OF TIMES USING THE CAMERA AS A DISTRACTION
WORKED FOR ME.
Narrator: ABOUT EIGHT YEARS LATER,
PRESIDENT OBAMA ARRIVES AT NEW YORK'S JFK AIRPORT...
AND BOARDS MARINE ONE FOR THE TRIP INTO MANHATTAN.
STAFF, PRESS, AND AN ELITE SECRET SERVICE TEAM
WILL FOLLOW IN THREE OTHER CHOPPERS.
THE CONVOY OF HELICOPTERS REACHES LOWER MANHATTAN
IN ABOUT 15 MINUTES.
FROM HERE THE PRESIDENT WILL GO TO THE FINANCIAL DISTRICT
BY MOTORCADE.
HE'LL TRAVEL INSIDE HIS STATE-OF-THE-ART LIMOUSINE...
KNOWN AS THE BEAST.
THOUGH THE SECRET SERVICE IS NOT AT LIBERTY
TO DISCLOSE THE LIMO'S SECURITY MEASURES,
IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT WHILE IT LOOKS LIKE A CADILLAC,
IT'S REALLY A KIND OF SHINY TANK.
THE TRIP TO FEDERAL HALL-- ONLY A FEW BLOCKS AWAY--
HAS TAKEN WEEKS TO PLAN.
IT INVOLVES HUNDREDS OF POLICE OFFICERS
AND SECRET SERVICE AGENTS,
ALTERNATE ROUTES AND CONTINGENCY PLANS.
PETE OFTEN RIDES IN THE SPARE LIMO--
RIGHT NEAR THE PRESIDENT--
BUT WHEN HE RIDES SEVERAL CARS BACK, LIKE TODAY,
HE HAS TO RUN...
OR RISK MISSING A SHOT.
Pete: PART OF MY JOB,
IN ADDITION TO DOING THE HISTORICAL DOCUMENTATION,
IS DOING THE HANDSHAKE PHOTOS.
SO FOR INSTANCE THE PRESIDENT GOES TO NEW YORK ON A TRIP--
THERE'S ALWAYS GREETERS AT EVERY EVENT THAT HE GOES TO,
AND THOSE PICTURES ARE REALLY IMPORTANT
TO THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURES.
AND SO YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GET THOSE IN FOCUS,
WELL EXPOSED, AND THAT MEMENTO FOR THEM IS A BIG DEAL.
Narrator: OF THE ROUGHLY 8- TO 20,000 PHOTOS
PETE AND HIS STAFF MAKE EACH WEEK,
AS MANY AS FIVE PERCENT ARE GREETING SHOTS.
Announcer: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
[APPLAUSE]
Pete: OK, RIGHT HERE. RIGHT HERE, SIR.
Narrator: SO MANY PEOPLE HELP THE WHITE HOUSE
ON TRIPS LIKE THESE,
OFFERING THEM A PHOTOGRAPH IS A WAY OF SAYING THANKS.
Pete: OH, GOT TO SWITCH CAMERAS HERE.
Obama: UH-OH.
Pete: SORRY ABOUT THAT, SIR.
Obama: NOT A PROBLEM. YOU ALL RIGHT?
Pete: YEP. JUST GOT TO SWITCH, UH...
I TOOK TOO MANY PICTURES OF THE SPEECH.
HE CAUGHT ME IN AN EMBARRASSING MOMENT.
IT'S LIKE THAT NEVER HAPPENS TO ME.
SORRY ABOUT THAT.
Obama: YEAH, THAT WAS A LITTLE EMBARRASSING,
RIGHT IN FRONT OF NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC.
AND SUDDENLY THE CAMERA BROKE DOWN. GOLLY.
HE'S USUALLY MUCH BETTER THAN THIS, I PROMISE.
Robert Gibbs: REMEMBER, PETE, YOU GOT TO TAKE THE LENS CAP OFF.
Obama: THE LENS CAP IS IMPORTANT.
Pete: NO, NO, NO, I FILLED THE DISC.
THE SPEECH WAS SO EXCITING THAT I FILLED THE DISC.
Obama: ALL RIGHT, ARE WE READY TO GO?
Narrator: BEFORE HEADING BACK TO WASHINGTON,
THE PRESIDENT IS MEETING FORMER PRESIDENT CLINTON
FOR LUNCH IN GREENWICH VILLAGE.
THE GROUP THAT TRAVELS WITH THE PRESIDENT
SPENDS SO MUCH TIME TOGETHER, THEY'VE BECOME LIKE FAMILY.
Pete: I THINK THAT THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS ADMINISTRATION
IS ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT GO ON ALL THESE TRIPS,
YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY GETS ALONG.
Narrator: IN FACT THEY SHOW THEIR LOVE
BY MERCILESSLY KIDDING PETE.
Marvin Nicholson: THEY LOVE HIM IN NEW YORK CITY.
IT'S CRAZY.
THEY LOVE HIM EVERYWHERE.
Gibbs: THAT'S WHY THEY BRING THEIR CAMERAS OUT.
WHO ARE THEY CHEERING FOR?
Nicholson: THEY'RE CHEERING FOR PETE SOUZA. PETE!
I LOVE PETE SOUZA!
Narrator: TRIP DIRECTOR MARVIN NICHOLSON
AND PRESS SECRETARY ROBERT GIBBS
SELDOM MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RIB HIM.
Gibbs: WHENEVER WE TRAVEL WITH PETE, IT'S ALWAYS LIKE THIS.
IT'S REALLY WEIRD.
YOU SEE ALL THE BIKE RACKS UP
TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE DON'T RUSH THE VAN...
JUST TO TRY TO TOUCH PETE.
Pete: OH, GOD...
Gibbs: WHAT DOES THAT SIGN SAY? "I LOVE PETE"?
YES, PETE CAN.
Nicholson: YES, PETE CAN!
Narrator: FOR THE PRESIDENT,
THE LUNCH WITH FORMER PRESIDENT CLINTON
WILL BE A CHANCE TALK WITH ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE
WHO UNDERSTAND THE PRESSURES THAT COME WITH THIS OFFICE.
POWERFUL CANDIDS ARE BY DEFINITION REVEALING--
THEY GIVE US HINTS ABOUT INNER WORKINGS
BUT LEAVE ROOM FOR IMAGINATION...
ABOUT WHO THE SUBJECT IS OR HOW THEY'RE MOTIVATED.
McNeely: A STILL PHOTOGRAPH IS EXTRAORDINARILY POWERFUL,
THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION THAT CAN BE IN IT,
THE WAY IT CAN CONNECT TO THE INDIVIDUAL VIEWER.
MY APPROACH TO THE WHOLE THING
WAS TO NOT INTRUDE ON THE HISTORY.
TO CAPTURE IT IN A WAY THAT PEOPLE COULD HAVE A SENSE
AND NOT TO FEEL THAT IT WAS BEING MANIPULATED.
IT WASN'T POSED.
IT WAS NATURAL AND CANDID.
Narrator: DURING THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION,
CANDID IMAGES WERE SHOT ON FILM.
TODAY PETE SHOOTS ONLY DIGITAL.
PETE AND HIS TEAM PRODUCE
BETWEEN 20- AND 80,000 PHOTOS EACH MONTH.
WHITE HOUSE PHOTO EDITOR ALICE GABRINER
LOOKS AT EVERY SINGLE ONE.
Alice: WE CARE ABOUT CREATING
THIS SERIOUS DOCUMENTARY ARCHIVE.
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE, IF WE WANT TO,
THE BEST ARCHIVE OF ANY PRESIDENT THAT'S EVER EXISTED.
Narrator: GABRINER SETS ASIDE THE BEST IMAGES,
UPLOADING SOME TO THE WEB.
BUT BY LAW, ALL ARE PART OF THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
AND NONE CAN BE DELETED FROM THE COLLECTION.
WHEN A PRESIDENT LEAVES OFFICE, HIS PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
BECOMES THE REPOSITORY OF ALL THE IMAGES--
WHETHER GREETING SHOTS OR EVEN MORE HISTORIC ONES.
PETE AND HIS THREE STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS
CREATE DOZENS OF OFFICIAL PORTRAITS EACH YEAR...
BUT THE ONE THAT REQUIRES THE MOST FORETHOUGHT
IS THE PRESIDENT'S CABINET PHOTO.
Christopher: IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE CABINET LOVES TO HAVE.
THEY GET A CABINET PHOTO
AND EVERY MEMBER OF THE CABINET SIGNS EACH OTHER'S PHOTOS
LIKE A HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOK.
Narrator: PETE TASKED ONE OF HIS STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS,
CHUCK KENNEDY, WITH MAKING THE IMAGE.
Chuck: USUALLY AS PHOTOGRAPHERS
WE'RE STEPPING INTO AN EVENT SOMEBODY ELSE HAS CREATED.
AND IN THIS CASE WE HAD TO BUILD IT FROM THE GROUND UP.
Christopher: WE SCRAMBLED AROUND AND GOT EVERYBODY
FROM THE GROUNDSKEEPERS, SOME OF THE HOUSEHOLD STAFF,
SOME OF THE LEGISLATIVE STAFF...
Chuck: OUR BEST FRIENDS BECAME THE KITCHEN STAFF.
WE COULD CALL THEM
AND THEY COULD GRAB, LIKE, 12 PEOPLE REALLY READILY
AND POSE FOR A MINUTE
AND PRETEND TO BE THE SECRETARY OF STATE
OR WHOEVER.
Narrator: THOUGH THEY'D PRACTICED SEVERAL TIMES
WITH THEIR STAND-INS,
THERE WOULD BE ONLY ONE CHANCE TO GET THE REAL THING.
[LAUGHTER]
Chris: SO WE GOT EVERYBODY INTO PLACE, WE TOOK A LOT OF PHOTOS.
Chuck: WHEN THE PRESIDENT--
AFTER 12 OR 15 OR 20 FRAMES OR HOWEVER MANY I SHOT--
GOES, "OKAY, ONE OF THOSE MUST HAVE WORKED,"
YOU'RE JUST HOPING THAT NOBODY BLINKED.
Narrator: AFTER MONTHS OF DEBATE,
THE PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL
IS FINALLY UP FOR A VOTE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
PETE HAS JUST SPENT AN HOUR COVERING THE PRESIDENT
AS HE URGED MEMBERS TO SUPPORT IT.
NOW HE'LL APPEAL DIRECTLY TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE...
Obama: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.
I JUST CAME FROM THE HILL
WHERE I TALKED WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS THERE,
AND I REMINDED THEM THAT OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS
COME AROUND MAYBE ONCE IN A GENERATION.
MOST PUBLIC SERVANTS...
Narrator: LATER THAT NIGHT THE HOUSE DOES PASS THE BILL,
BUT BY A THIN MARGIN.
IN A MONTH, IF THE SENATE PASSES ITS VERSION,
PETE'S STORY, AND THE PRESIDENT'S,
MAY HAVE A DRAMATIC ENDING.
IN THE EVENINGS, THE PRESIDENT IS AS LIKELY
TO BE FOLLOWING A VOTE IN THE CAPITOL
AS HE IS ATTENDING A POLITICAL DINNER.
AND TONIGHT
IT'S THE CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS GALA.
FOR PETE, IT'S ANOTHER 13-HOUR DAY.
Pete: I AM SO LUCKY TO BE DOING THIS.
IT'S BEEN JUST A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DOCUMENT HISTORY.
I FEEL JUST SO FORTUNATE.
BUT IT'S A GRIND. THIS JOB IS A GRIND.
AND I'M SURE IF YOU TALK TO OTHER WHITE HOUSE STAFF PEOPLE,
THEY WOULD SAY THE SAME THING.
Pete: ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO.
Narrator: LIKE MOST WHITE HOUSE STAFF,
BALANCING LIFE OUTSIDE OF WORK IS A CHALLENGE.
Pete: THE THING THAT'S THE HARDEST FOR ME
IS KEEPING UP WITH FRIENDS.
I'M SURE MY FRIENDS THINK I'VE ABANDONED THEM,
BUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WAIT, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER THREE YEARS,
I'LL GET BACK TO YOU FOR SURE.
Narrator: A MOTORCADE HAS A CERTAIN GLAMOUR TO IT,
BUT THE REALITIES OF SECURITY
MEAN THAT THE PRESIDENT AND THE FIRST LADY OFTEN ARRIVE
IN SOME OF THE LEAST GLAMOROUS PARTS OF THE BUILDING.
Narrator: STILL, PETE TOOK ONE OF HIS MOST MEMORABLE
AND REVEALING SHOTS THE NIGHT OF THE INAUGURATION...
ON THIS SAME FREIGHT ELEVATOR.
THESE PICTURES REFLECT THE DEPTH OF PETE'S RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE PRESIDENT AND FIRST LADY.
Pete: I'M NOT SURE HOW I WOULD DESCRIBE
MY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PRESIDENT.
I WOULD SAY THAT HE WOULD CALL ME A FRIEND,
AND I WOULD SAY THAT OUR FRIENDSHIP
IS BASED MORE ON A PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP.
Obama: OH, PETE AND I ARE FRIENDS AT THIS POINT,
I MEAN, WE KNOW EACH OTHER.
HE'S SEEN ME ON DIFFICULT DAYS, HE'S SEEN ME ON HAPPY DAYS.
HE HAS GONE WITH US WHEN MY FAMILY TAKES TRIPS
AND HAS GOTTEN TO KNOW MICHELLE AND THE GIRLS.
THERE IS NOTHING THAT PETE WOULD DO
THAT IN ANY WAY I WOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT,
AND I THINK HE FEELS THE SAME WAY...
THAT I'VE GOT HIS BACK.
AND SO PETE REALLY DOES FEEL LIKE PART OF THE FAMILY.
Narrator: IT'S THAT KIND OF INTIMACY
THAT ALLOWS FOR MEMORABLE IMAGES.
PRESIDENT GEORGE H.W. BUSH'S PHOTOGRAPHER, DAVE VALDEZ,
DEVELOPED A SIMILAR KIND OF CLOSENESS
WITH THE BUSH FAMILY...
FIRST WHEN BUSH WAS VICE PRESIDENT
AND LATER WHEN HE WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT.
George H.W. Bush: WELL, STRONG PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP
THAT GREW INTO, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, A REAL FRIENDSHIP.
HE INTEGRATED IN THERE WITH OUR FAMILY.
AND THEY ALL LOVED HIM.
Dave: ONE OF MY FAVORITE PHOTOS...
I WAS UP THERE ONE SUMMER AND TOOK A PHOTO OF THEM,
HE AND BARBARA BUSH WITH THEIR GRANDCHILDREN IN BED.
Bush: AND IT WASN'T STAGED, THERE WASN'T ANYTHING,
"OH, LET'S JUST SHOW THAT WE'RE A GOOD FAMILY,
OR SHOW THAT WE LOVE THE GRANDKIDS."
IT WAS JUST A MOMENT THAT DAVID CAPTURED.
HE SAW THEM RUNNING AROUND AND JUST TOOK SOME SHOTS.
I THINK THAT'S WHY HIS WORK,
AT LEAST WHY BARBARA AND I LOVED IT,
IT BROUGHT OUT WHAT WAS NATURAL, WHAT WE WERE ABOUT,
WHAT WE THOUGHT, WHAT WE CARED ABOUT,
WHAT WE CRIED ABOUT, WHAT WE LAUGHED ABOUT.
AND HE DID IT ALL WITH FEELING FOR THE FAMILY.
Narrator: AFTER HIS SPEECH AT THE HISPANIC CAUCUS GALA,
THE PRESIDENT AND PETE ARE ON THE FINAL HANDSHAKES
OF A LONG DAY.
Pete: I DON'T THINK HE'S GOING TO WORK THE ROPE LINE
BUT HE MIGHT...
OH, HE'S GOING TO DO IT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW HE DOES IT.
I MEAN, I HAVE IT FAIRLY EASY BECAUSE, OKAY, ALL I HAVE TO DO
IS FOLLOW HIM AND TAKE PICTURES,
AND HE HAS TO BE ALERT AND COHERENT
AND ARTICULATE AND ENGAGED ALL THE TIME.
[PIANO PLAYING O TENNENBAUM]
Narrator: MONTHS LATER, AS THE HOLIDAY SEASON ARRIVES,
THERE'S A PARTY ATMOSPHERE AT THE WHITE HOUSE...
BUT EVEN AS PETE COVERS THE HOLIDAYS,
HE FOLLOWS THE PRESIDENT AS HE RECKONS WITH WEIGHTIER EVENTS:
HIS HEALTH CARE BILL
HAS RUN INTO SERIOUS OBSTACLES IN THE SENATE.
HE FACES THE MOST PROFOUND ECONOMIC CRISIS
SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION.
AND EACH DAY, HE MUST CONFRONT THE REALITY
OF SENDING YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN INTO BATTLE.
WHEN THE PRESIDENT VISITED DOVER AIR FORCE BASE
TO PAY HIS RESPECTS TO THE FAMILIES
OF FALLEN AMERICAN SOLDIERS...
IT LEFT AN INDELIBLE MARK ON THE PRESIDENT AND ON PETE.
Pete: AT ONE POINT, THE PRESIDENT,
ONLY WITH HIS MILITARY AIDE AND MYSELF,
WALKED ON THE PLANE WHERE THE CASKETS WERE.
AND I'M GOING TO START GETTING TEARY-EYED
BECAUSE THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT I HAD NEVER DOCUMENTED
AND CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT HE HAD NEVER DONE BEFORE.
AND I COULD TELL THAT IT REALLY AFFECTED HIM
IN A VERY EMOTIONAL WAY.
YOU KNOW, TO ME, IT WAS A PRIVATE MOMENT.
I WANTED TO DOCUMENT IT FOR HISTORY,
BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO AFFECT THE SCENE FOR HIM.
Narrator: AFTER THE HOLIDAYS,
HE'S STILL BATTLING ON ALL FRONTS,
BUT HIS FIGHT FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM
HAS BEEN DEALT WHAT SOME CONSIDER A FATAL BLOW.
Wolf Blitzer: THIS IS BIG NEWS BECAUSE AT STAKE RIGHT NOW
HEALTH CARE REFORM AND A LOT OF OTHER STUFF...
Narrator: AN UNDERDOG REPUBLICAN WINS A SPECIAL ELECTION
FOR SENATOR KENNEDY'S SEAT IN MASSACHUSETTS.
Blitzer: THIS IS VERY SIGNIFICANT FOR THE PRESIDENT
AND DEMOCRATS ON SO MANY ISSUES.
Narrator: NOW, SENATE DEMOCRATS NO LONGER HAVE THE SUPER MAJORITY...
AND THAT MEANS THE PRESIDENT'S ENTIRE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
IS IN SERIOUS TROUBLE.
Pete: THE MASSACHUSETTS VOTE KIND OF CAME OUT OF NOWHERE...
I DON'T THINK PEOPLE EXPECTED IT.
SO I THINK IT WAS SOMETHING
THAT WAS JUST NOT ON ANYBODY'S RADAR.
Narrator: THE PRESIDENT'S FOCUS NOW SHIFTS
TO THE UPCOMING STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH.
HE'LL TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMY, ABOUT THE WARS,
AND HE'LL ALSO MAKE ONE LAST APPEAL
FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM.
PETE'S COVERAGE OF THE HEALTH CARE SAGA
IS ABOUT TO REACH A CLIMACTIC MOMENT,
SO HE CONCENTRATES ON GETTING DETAILS THAT TELL THE STORY.
ONE INVOLVES PREPARATION FOR THE UPCOMING SPEECH
THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN LABORING OVER
WITH HIS SPEECHWRITER, JON FAVREAU.
Favreau: I WAS MAKING FINAL EDITS TO THE SPEECH,
AND I GOT AN E-MAIL FROM KATIE JOHNSON
THAT JUST SAID, "POTUS INCOMING,"
AND I'M SITTING DOWN HERE
AND I LOOK UP, HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT MEANS,
AND THE PRESIDENT WALKS INTO THE OFFICE
WITH PETE BEHIND HIM WITH THE CAMERA AND HE'S LIKE,
"HEY, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU COULD READ MY WRITING
ON A FEW OF THESE EDITS."
Obama: I THINK PEOPLE'S FAVORITE PICTURES
IS OF ME GOING OVER A SPEECH
WITH MY SPEECHWRITER, JON FAVREAU,
AND MY SCRAWL ALL OVER THE PLACE.
AND IT'S JUST A PICTURE OF THE PAGE,
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU TAKE FOR GRANTED,
BUT WHEN IT'S SUDDENLY BLOWN UP
YOU REALIZE THAT THAT SENDS TO THE PUBLIC, I THINK,
A SENSE OF WHAT THE DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES OF THE WHITE HOUSE
ARE REALLY LIKE.
Narrator: ON THE NIGHT OF THE ADDRESS,
ONLY MINUTES BEFORE THEY HAVE TO LEAVE FOR THE CAPITOL,
THE PRESIDENT AND FAVREAU ARE IN THE MAP ROOM
MAKING FINAL EDITS.
Favreau: AS USUAL, WE'RE VERY LAST MINUTE.
WE TRIED TO GET EVERYTHING DONE
AS FAR IN ADVANCE AS POSSIBLE THIS TIME,
BUT LAST-MINUTE EDITS COME IN
FROM 50 DIFFERENT PEOPLE ON THE FINAL DAY OF THE SPEECH,
AND TO ADD TO ALL OF THAT CRAZINESS
MY LAPTOP CRASHED FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES
RIGHT BEFORE HE NEEDED TO GO OVER THERE.
SO I HAD TO RUN BACK HERE, MAKE EDITS ON THIS COMPUTER,
RUN BACK OVER THERE.
IT WAS PRETTY CRAZY.
Pete: LET'S GO LOAD, ARUN, WE'RE LEAVING.
Narrator: IN A HOLDING ROOM AT THE CAPITOL,
THE PRESIDENT WAITS WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS,
DESCRIBING WHAT IT'S LIKE
TO WALK INTO THE CHAMBER AS PRESIDENT.
Obama: THE FIRST TIME WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH THOSE DOORS
AND THE SERGEANT SAYS...
THAT FIRST TIME GETS YOU,
BY THE SECOND TIME YOU'RE ALL RIGHT.
WE JUST BROKERED A HEALTH CARE DEAL, RIGHT?
IT'S ALL DONE.
Sergeant at Arms: MR. PRESIDENT, WE'RE READY TO LINE UP, SIR.
Obama: SO HOW DO WE DO THIS?
Sergeant at Arms: YOU'RE FIRST, AND THEN THE LEADERSHIP.
Sergeant at Arms: MADAME SPEAKER...
Sergeant at Arms: THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
[CHEERING]
Obama: HERE'S WHAT I ASK CONGRESS, THOUGH:
DON'T WALK AWAY FROM REFORM.
NOT NOW.
NOT WHEN WE ARE SO CLOSE.
LET US FIND A WAY TO COME TOGETHER
AND FINISH THE JOB FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
LET'S GET IT DONE.
LET'S GET IT DONE.
Narrator: THESE DEFINING IMAGES,
CAPTURED AT TIMES OF GREAT IMPORTANCE,
ARE AT THE CORE OF WHY WE VALUE PRESIDENTIAL PHOTOGRAPHERS.
THEY ARE THERE AT TRANSFORMATIVE MOMENTS
TO SEE AND RECORD WHAT WE OFTEN CANNOT.
BUT NOT EVERY PRESIDENT SAW THE VALUE
OF THIS TYPE OF COVERAGE...
WITH SERIOUS COSTS TO HISTORY.
PRESIDENT NIXON SEVERELY RESTRICTED THE ACCESS
OF HIS CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER, OLLIE ATKINS.
ON THE NIGHT OF HIS RESIGNATION SPEECH TO THE NATION...
BEFORE THE TELEVISION BROADCAST BEGAN...
THE PRESIDENT HAD HIS ULTIMATE
AND MOST REVEALING EXCHANGE WITH ATKINS.
Richard Nixon: OLLIE?
ONLY THE CBS CREW NOW IS GOING TO BE IN THIS ROOM DURING THIS.
ONLY THE CREW.
NO, THERE WILL BE NO PICTURE.
NO. AFTER THE BROADCAST.
YOU'VE TAKEN YOUR PICTURE.
DIDN'T YOU TAKE ONE JUST NOW?
THAT'S IT!
Narrator: THE FOLLOWING DAY, DAVID HUME KENNERLY,
WHO WOULD BECOME PRESIDENT FORD'S PHOTOGRAPHER,
CAUGHT THE MOMENTS JUST AFTER NIXON RESIGNED.
Kennerly: ONE OF THE MOST PROFOUND MOMENTS
I THINK I'VE EVER PHOTOGRAPHED
WAS THE FIRST FRAME WHERE HE LOOKED UP AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH HIS MIND AT THAT MOMENT.
Nixon: THEREFORE, I SHALL RESIGN THE PRESIDENCY
EFFECTIVE AT NOON TOMORROW.
VICE PRESIDENT FORD WILL BE SWORN IN AS PRESIDENT
AT THAT HOUR IN THIS OFFICE.
Narrator: GERALD FORD ASSUMED THE PRESIDENCY
AT A TIME WHEN PUBLIC DISTRUST OF THE WHITE HOUSE RAN DEEP.
HE CHOSE KENNERLY TO BE HIS PHOTOGRAPHER, IN PART,
TO HELP OPEN UP THE WHITE HOUSE.
MANY PHOTOGRAPHERS GET CLOSE TO THE PRESIDENT AND FIRST FAMILY,
BUT DAVID KENNERLY'S RELATIONSHIP WAS UNIQUE.
Kennerly: THEY TREATED ME LIKE A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE TO PUT IT.
SOME OF THE BEST PICTURES I TOOK,
FOR INSTANCE MRS. FORD LOOKING OUT OF THE WINDOW
IN HER BATHROBE, FROM BEHIND,
SHE LOOKS LIKE SHE'S IN A BIRD CAGE ALMOST,
WAS TAKEN WHEN SHE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW I WAS IN THE ROOM.
BUT AT THE END OF EVERY DAY,
PRESIDENT FORD ALMOST ALWAYS INVITED ME
TO COME UP AND HAVE A DRINK, YOU KNOW,
WITH HIM AND MRS. FORD.
I WAS THE ONLY ONE.
Narrator: THE MOST COMPELLING EVIDENCE OF PETE'S ACCESS
IS HUNG ON THE WALLS OF THE WEST WING.
EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS, PETE AND HIS TEAM BRING IN NEW PICTURES--
CALLED JUMBOS--TO KEEP UP WITH THE EVOLVING STORY
OF THE ADMINISTRATION.
Gibbs: I WOULD SAY CHANGING OF THE PICTURES
IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST EVENTS THAT HAPPENS AROUND HERE
THAT EVERYBODY LOVES.
THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
Jarrett: WHAT DO I THINK OF PETE'S PHOTOS?
THEY'RE MAGNIFICENT.
EVERY SINGLE DAY I STOP AND LOOK AT THEM.
HE MANAGES TO CAPTURE
THE BEST EXPRESSIONS ON PEOPLE'S FACES
AND TELLS A STORY.
Gibbs: WHEN PETE CHANGES THEM, YOU CAN'T WALK THROUGH
BECAUSE ALL THE STAFF IS WATCHING
AND LOOKING FOR THE NEW PICTURES.
IT IS AMAZING.
Pete: IT'S NICE FOR THE STAFF
THAT DON'T GET TO SPEND A LOT OF FACE TIME WITH THE PRESIDENT
TO SORT OF SEE WHAT HE DOES.
Narrator: SOMETIMES EVEN THE PRESIDENT
TAKES A SNEAK PREVIEW OF THE NEWEST ADDITION.
Pete: HE WAS DOWN HERE FLIPPING THROUGH THE PHOTOS.
Samantha: HE WAS KNEELING DOWN...
Chuck: HE WAS WHISTLING AND HE GOES,
"I LOVE LOOKING AT THESE NEW JUMBOS."
Obama: YOU KNOW, PETE TOOK A WONDERFUL PICTURE,
IT'S A VERY SIMPLE PICTURE OF A LITTLE BOY
WHO CAME IN WITH HIS FAMILY,
AND HE WAS THE SON OF SOMEBODY WHO WORKS AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
HE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE THAN THREE OR FOUR YEARS OLD.
AND HE VERY BOLDLY TOLD ME
THAT PEOPLE TOLD HIM THAT HE AND I HAVE THE SAME HAIRCUT,
AND SO HE WANTED TO SEE IF THAT WAS TRUE.
SO I PUT DOWN MY HEAD SO THAT HE COULD EXAMINE MY HAIR,
AND HE HELPFULLY POINTED OUT ALL THE GRAY HAIRS,
AND THEN HE DECIDED TO PAT ME ON THE HEAD,
JUST TO GET A FEEL FOR IT, AND PETE TOOK A PICTURE,
AND I THINK THAT ONE HAS STAYED UP
THROUGH THE WHOLE YEAR AND A HALF.
JUST BECAUSE IT REMINDS YOU NOT TO TAKE YOURSELF TOO SERIOUSLY.
IF, YOU KNOW, A THREE-YEAR-OLD
CAN PAT YOU ON THE HEAD IN THE OVAL OFFICE,
THEN YOU'RE PROBABLY KEEPING YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR.
Narrator: SIXTEEN MONTHS INTO HIS TERM,
PETE AND HIS TEAM HAVE MADE NEARLY A MILLION PHOTOGRAPHS...
30,000 OF THE GRUELING HEALTH CARE FIGHT ALONE.
THEY RECORD THE GRITTY WORK OF BUILDING A CONSENSUS,
THE DOZENS OF TOWN HALL MEETINGS
AND THE HUNDREDS OF CONVERSATIONS
WITH CONGRESSMEN AND SENATORS.
AFTER ALL THAT...
THERE IS STILL ONE MORE VOTE AND A FEW MORE PICTURES
THAT WILL TELL THE FINAL STORY.
IN THE THREE DAYS LEADING UP TO THE VOTE,
IT WILL BE A FULL COURT PRESS
TO PERSUADE THE REMAINING HANDFUL OF LEGISLATORS.
PETE WILL GET IT ALL.
Pete: I TOOK THIS JOB FOR THOSE LAST THREE DAYS...
YOU REALLY FELT THAT YOU WERE DOCUMENTING HISTORY.
I REMEMBER THE INCESSANT NUMBER OF PHONE CALLS BY HIM
CALLING INDIVIDUAL CONGRESSMEN.
AND HE USED, LIKE, THE OVAL OFFICE PHONE,
HE USED KATIE JOHNSON'S PHONE, HE USED RAHM'S CELL PHONE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE IN THE LIMO MAKING CALLS.
Narrator: BY 10 PM ON THE NIGHT OF THE VOTE,
THE PRESIDENT HAS NO MORE CALLS TO MAKE.
ALL HE CAN DO IS WAIT.
[CHEERING]
Pete: BUT THEN WHEN THEY STARTED THE ROLL CALL FOR THE VOTE,
HE WANTED TO BE WITH THE STAFF
AND EVERYBODY HAD GATHERED IN THE ROOSEVELT ROOM.
Narrator: AT 10:48 PM, THE FINAL TALLY
FOR THE HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL IS IN...
Nancy Pelosi: ON THIS VOTE, THE YEAS ARE 220, THE NAYS ARE 211.
THE BILL IS PASSED!
[BANGS GAVEL]
Pete: I THINK THAT'S WHEN IT REALLY HIT PEOPLE
HOW HISTORIC THIS WAS.
YOU KNOW, HERE'S SOMETHING THEY HAD WORKED FOR,
BASICALLY SINCE DAY ONE OF HIS PRESIDENCY.
Narrator: AFTER THE VOTE, THE PRESIDENT INVITED HIS STAFF
UP TO THE WHITE HOUSE RESIDENCE TO CELEBRATE.
Obama: AND WE WENT UP ON THE TRUMAN BALCONY
AND TOASTED ALL THESE 25-YEAR-OLDS,
A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO HAD WORKED SO HARD
IN RELATIVE OBSCURITY TO MAKE THIS THING HAPPEN.
IT WAS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS THAT REMINDS YOU
OF WHY YOU GOT INTO POLITICS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
THE HEALTH CARE VOTE
WAS PROBABLY THE MOST GRATIFYING MOMENT
THAT I'VE HAD IN PUBLIC LIFE.
MORE THAN MY ELECTION AS PRESIDENT...
BECAUSE YOU RUN AND HOPEFULLY WIN ELECTED OFFICE
NOT JUST FOR THE SAKE OF BEING SOMETHING
BUT FOR THE SAKE OF DOING SOMETHING.
Narrator: PETE SEEMS TO BE DRIVEN BY THE SAME IDEA.
Pete: I FEEL LIKE I'M THE LUCKIEST S.O.B. PHOTOGRAPHER
IN THE WORLD...
AND I'M NOT GOING TO LET THESE YEARS GO BY
WITHOUT MAKING THE MOST OF IT.
PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK ME WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PICTURE,
AND I ALWAYS SAY IT'S THE ONE THAT I'LL MAKE TOMORROW.
Narrator: THERE WILL BE MANY STORIES WRITTEN
ABOUT THE OBAMA YEARS...
BUT PETE SOUZA'S PICTURES WILL GIVE THE AMERICAN PUBLIC
AN INNER GLIMPSE OF WHAT HAPPENED HERE...
OF WHAT JUBILATION AND DEFEAT FELT LIKE...
OF THE TEXTURE OF DAYS INTENSE AND TRANQUIL...
OF LIFE IN THIS RARIFIED PLACE CALLED THE WHITE HOUSE.
Pete: THAT'S WHERE I WANT TO BE, RIGHT NOW.
THE PRESIDENT'S PHOTOGRAPHER: 50 YEARS INSIDE THE OVAL OFFICE
IS AVAILABLE ON DVD.
THE COMPANION BOOK IS ALSO AVAILABLE.
TO ORDER, VISIT shopPBS.org
OR CALL US AT 1-800-PLAY-PBS.
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