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Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Reports of My Inactivity Are Greatly Exaggerated
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.

Reports of My Inactivity Are Greatly Exaggerated

Artifact ID1973.1.1027
Object Type Cartoon Drawing
Artist (1903 - 1979)
Gifter
Publisher (founded 1837)
Date ca. April 1965
Medium Ink and developer on Craftint paper
DimensionsOverall H 18 3/4 in x W 14 5/8 in (47.6 cm x 37.1 cm )
Physical Description
Physical DescriptionOriginal cartoon drawing. Cowboy LBJ ("Lyndon Johnson's Program") grabs the horns of a snorting bull ("Unemployment"). Another man ("Administration") has been thrown. A crowd ("Labor") watches with approval in the background. In the foreground, several men (“Clark”, “Douglas”, “Morse”, “McNamara”) ("Democratic Liberal Critics") watch with disapproval. A small cat watches in the lower right corner and holds a sign (“Cowhands! Avoid ‘King Veto’ - L.B.J. -foreman”). A man watches in the sky from a helicopter. Caption: “Reports of My Inactivity Are Greatly Exaggerated”. Artist signature lower right: "Yardley”.
Inscriptions and MarkingsHandwritten at lower right: “to L.B.J. ”. Handwritten at lower left: [blue] “Friday AM”. Handwritten at lower center: [blue] “3 col (6 ¼ in)”. Handwritten at lower right: [blue] “Editorial”. Handwritten at upper right: “445”.
Historical NoteLyndon Johnson received criticism for his involvement in the Vietnam War and his Great Society Programs. Senator Wayne Morse of Oregon was a Democratic senator that did not always vote along party lines. In 1964, he was only one of two senators that did not sign the Gulf of Tonkin resolution and he was a critic of the Johnson administration’s Vietnam policy. Pennsylvania Democrat Joseph S. Clark was also on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and opposed the Vietnam War. Robert McNamara was the Secretary of Defense. Paul Douglas was a Democrat Senator from Illinois.
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
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 Robert McNamara (United States, 1916 - 2009)
Person Referenced Wayne Morse (United States, 1900 - 1974)
Person Referenced Joseph S. Clark Jr. (United States)
Person Referenced Lyndon Baines Johnson (United States, 1908 - 1973)
Person Referenced Paul H. Douglas (United States, 1892 - 1976)
In Collection(s)
Not on view
Place of Publication
Baltimore
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