Camelot's Architect

The Kennedys have inspired countless stories, but the one yet to be fully told is that of Camelot’s architect, John Carl Warnecke.

Best known for his work on Lafayette Square and the Kennedy grave site at Arlington National Cemetery, John Carl Warnecke was a pioneer in modern architecture and contextual design. Not only did he lead one of the nation’s largest design firms, but his partnership with the Kennedys also played a key role in elevating modern architecture to the iconic and influential role it now plays in our country’s cultural landscape.

In this long-awaited memoir, Warnecke charts his life from the inception of his working relationship with the future president, to JFK’s tragic assassination, and through his whirlwind romance with Jackie O. that followed. Built upon decades of personal remembrance, observation, and archived correspondence, Camelot’s Architect shares intimate details of Warnecke’s life, projects, and relationships with mid-twentieth-century social and political icons.

These pages provide the back story of the most significant urban design projects in our nation’s capital and reminds us of the need to preserve them amid a period of constant change and legal challenges. The result is a compelling chronicle that gives us a behind-the-scenes look into the Kennedy era—a transformative epoch of American history that remains relevant today.