Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
This photo on the National Mall captivated the country decades ago. There real story behind it remained a mystery--
This photo on the National Mall captivated the country decades ago. There real story behind it remained a mystery— until now
The table was set. The pastries arranged. A white tablecloth dangled placidly in the early morning mist, surrounded by 12 golden-hued high-backed chairs.
Five decades ago, a dozen friends gathered here, on the National Mall, for breakfast. They wore morning coats and floor-length dresses, dined on oysters, drank champagne and danced together as a string quartet played in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial.
The extravagant scene on July 19, 1974, drew in a Washington Post photographer, who captured the moment in an image that would ricochet around the country in newspaper reprints.
But the people and circumstances at the center of that famous picture remained a mystery to those who admired it, bought it, hung it on their office walls. They didn’t know who those young people were or why they had gathered for such an ornate affair near the Reflecting Pool. They didn’t know that the scepter of death had loomed over the rousing celebration or that the people at its center would go on to have a hand in many pivotal facets of American life — the civil rights movement, gender equity in schools, advocacy for blind and disabled people.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/interactive/2024/national-mall-breakfast-1974-photo-recreation/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNzI3NTgyNDAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNzI4OTY0Nzk5LCJpYXQiOjE3Mjc1ODI0MDAsImp0aSI6IjE1NGZiZWZjLWE4MzMtNGZjYy1iNzYwLWQ4NzAxN2Y4YWQwYyIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9kYy1tZC12YS9pbnRlcmFjdGl2ZS8yMDI0L25hdGlvbmFsLW1hbGwtYnJlYWtmYXN0LTE5NzQtcGhvdG8tcmVjcmVhdGlvbi8ifQ.3jEvx739y3H1ME9IQH_sD4Gon-a2Qy-rzGPYX1tuzII&itid=gfta
The table was set. The pastries arranged. A white tablecloth dangled placidly in the early morning mist, surrounded by 12 golden-hued high-backed chairs.
Five decades ago, a dozen friends gathered here, on the National Mall, for breakfast. They wore morning coats and floor-length dresses, dined on oysters, drank champagne and danced together as a string quartet played in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial.
The extravagant scene on July 19, 1974, drew in a Washington Post photographer, who captured the moment in an image that would ricochet around the country in newspaper reprints.
But the people and circumstances at the center of that famous picture remained a mystery to those who admired it, bought it, hung it on their office walls. They didn’t know who those young people were or why they had gathered for such an ornate affair near the Reflecting Pool. They didn’t know that the scepter of death had loomed over the rousing celebration or that the people at its center would go on to have a hand in many pivotal facets of American life — the civil rights movement, gender equity in schools, advocacy for blind and disabled people.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/interactive/2024/national-mall-breakfast-1974-photo-recreation/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNzI3NTgyNDAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNzI4OTY0Nzk5LCJpYXQiOjE3Mjc1ODI0MDAsImp0aSI6IjE1NGZiZWZjLWE4MzMtNGZjYy1iNzYwLWQ4NzAxN2Y4YWQwYyIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9kYy1tZC12YS9pbnRlcmFjdGl2ZS8yMDI0L25hdGlvbmFsLW1hbGwtYnJlYWtmYXN0LTE5NzQtcGhvdG8tcmVjcmVhdGlvbi8ifQ.3jEvx739y3H1ME9IQH_sD4Gon-a2Qy-rzGPYX1tuzII&itid=gfta
8 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
I have a vague recollection of that photo from long ago. Very heart-warming to read that story today. 
Kick in to the DU tip jar?
This week we're running a special pop-up mini fund drive. From Monday through Friday we're going ad-free for all registered members, and we're asking you to kick in to the DU tip jar to support the site and keep us financially healthy.
As a bonus, making a contribution will allow you to leave kudos for another DU member, and at the end of the week we'll recognize the DUers who you think make this community great.