Behind the Shot: Major General Winfield Scott Hancock

Behind the Shot: Major General Winfield Scott Hancock

Major General Windfield Scott Hancock

Detail of Major General Winfield Scott Hancock

That is the statue of Hancock. He was just such a compelling Civil War figure, it made sense that he was memorialized in the form of an equestrian statute. It’s at a very prominent location in Washington, DC. It’s a quintessential equestrian statue and was used in the introduction sequence to House of Cards. People know that statue and, combined with the fact that there were no other Winfield Scott Hancock options, it made it an obvious choice. I do remember that, like all good architectural photographers, I did have to wait out a really heavy rainstorm. And then all of a sudden, the light hit his face and the statue just perfectly and we got a really nice picture.

Major General Winfield Scott Hancock statue

Major General Winfield Scott Hancock

In the Arena: A History of American Presidential Hopefuls is available now. The book features profiles of 34 American leaders who captured their party’s nomination for the presidency, but never reached the Oval Office. Author Peter Shea chronicles the rise, early careers, campaigns, and later achievements of historical giants like Aaron Burr and Henry Clay, up through modern candidates Mitt Romney and Hillary Clinton. Photos by Tom Maday of monuments and other memorials accompany each subject, along with campaign memorabilia, illustrating the legacy many of these candidates left behind after relinquishing their dreams of serving as President of the United States. A foreword by 1988 candidate Michael Dukakis gives readers more personal insight into what it’s like to run for one of the most powerful positions in the world – and come up short.