The Ides of March Are Come! Ay, Caesar, but Not Gone!
Artifact ID1973.1.2170
Object Type
Cartoon Drawing
Artist
Jim Dobbins
(United States)
Gifter
Jim Dobbins
Date
ca. March 1968
Medium
Ink and grease pencil on drawing paper
DimensionsOverall H 18 in x W 15 1/2 in (45.7 cm x 39.4 cm )
Physical DescriptionPhysical DescriptionOriginal cartoon drawing. LBJ wears a toga and dodges daggers ("Kerner Report", "Budget", "N.H.", "RFK", "Mass.", and "McC") Some have hit him. Nearby, Hubert Humphrey, also in toga, is not hit. A small figure holds a sign (“It’s been some month!”). Caption: “The Ides of March Are Come! Ay, Caesar, but Not Gone!”. Artist signature lower right: "Dobbins Boston Herald-Traveler”.
Inscriptions and MarkingsHandwritten at lower right: "To: President Johnson sorry about this, chief Jim Dobbins 3-26-68". Handwritten at upper center: [underline] [blue] “4 cols”. Handwritten at lower left: [blue] “Off-Ed Page”. Handwritten at lower center: [blue] “104 lines” “Tues AM”. Handwritten at lower right: [red] “50”. Handwritten at lower right: [strikethrough in red] “51”. Handwritten at lower right: [blue] “3-26-68”.
Historical NoteAfter the riots and protests of the Long, Hot Summer of 1967, President Johnson established the Kerner Commission to learn the causes of unrest. The report found that unrest happened in response to racism, police brutality, economic inequality, and segregation. Johnson did not comment on the Kerner Commission until almost a month later. President Johnson was up for his second term during the 1968 election, but he would later withdraw from the race on March 31, 1968. Minnesota Senator Eugene McCarthy ran for president in 1968 during the Democratic primaries as an antiwar candidate. In the March 12 New Hampshire primary, McCarthy won a large amount of the vote that gave Johnson a small lead, demonstrating the popularity of his antiwar platform. Robert Kennedy was the Attorney General under his brother’s administration and became a New York senator during Johnson’s presidency. He disagreed with Johnson’s Vietnam policy and became a prominent war critic. Kennedy ran for president in 1968 as an anti-war Democratic candidate until his assassination in June 1968.Additional Details
Custodial History NoteThe item was a gift from the general public to President Johnson during his term in office. It was received by President Johnson, until the President donated it to the Lyndon B Johnson Presidential Library in 1973.
Credit LineGift of Lyndon Baines Johnson
National Archives Catalog CollectionLyndon B. Johnson Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 192413)
National Archives Catalog SeriesGifts from the General Public (National Archives Identifier 189698395)
Use Restriction StatusRestricted - Fully
Use Restriction NoteCopyright or other proprietary rights are held by individuals or entities other than the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum. The LBJ Presidential Library and Museum does not warrant that the use of materials will not infringe on the rights of third parties holding the rights to these works, or make any representations or warranties with respect to the application or terms of any international agreement, treaty, or protections that may apply. It is your responsibility to determine and satisfy any copyright or other use restrictions. Pertinent regulations can be found at 36 C.F.R 1254.62.
Person Referenced
Otto Kerner
(United States)
Person Referenced
Julius Caesar
(Rome, -100 - -44)
Person Referenced
Lyndon Baines Johnson
(United States, 1908 - 1973)
Person Referenced
Robert F. Kennedy
(United States, 1925 - 1968)
Person Referenced
Hubert H. Humphrey
(United States, 1911 - 1978)
In Collection(s)
Not on view
Place Described
Place of Publication