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Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Laugh? I Didn't Laugh, Ev!...
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.

Laugh? I Didn't Laugh, Ev!...

Artifact ID1973.1.1104
Artist (1906 - 1992)
Date ca. October 1965
Medium Ink and grease pencil on drawing paper
DimensionsOverall H 22 5/8 in x W 14 in (57.5 cm x 35.6 cm )

Physical Description
Physical DescriptionOriginal cartoon drawing. LBJ talks to a man (identifiable as Everett Dirksen) who leans over his desk with a paper ("Right to Work"). A skeleton and a mouse in the closet ("Senator LBJ's votes FOR 14-B and AGAINST President Truman's Veto of Taft-Hartley Act") laugh. Caption: “Laugh? I Didn't Laugh, Ev! I Said, Come, Let Us Reason Together!”. Artist signature lower right: "L.D. Warren”.
Inscriptions and MarkingsHandwritten at lower center: [blue] “33 ½ picas” “Sat 2 Oct 65”.
Historical NoteIn 1965, President Johnson tried to end right-to-work laws in nineteen states, which would have resulted in the repeal of 14(b) of the Taft-Hartley Act. Right-to-work laws allow workers to choose not to join unions. Everett Dirksen was a Republican senator from Illinois who was the Senate Minority Leader during Lyndon Johnson’s presidency and opposed against the repeal of 14(b).
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 Baines Johnson Library and Museum in 1973.
Credit LineGift of Lyndon Baines Johnson
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 Harry S. Truman (United States, 1884 - 1972)
Person Referenced Lyndon Baines Johnson (United States, 1908 - 1973)
Person Referenced Everett Dirksen (United States, 1896 - 1969)
Not on view
Place of Publication