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Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Ky Singing Off Key
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.

Ky Singing Off Key

Artifact ID1973.1.416
Object Type Cartoon Drawing
Artist (Canadian-born American, born 1941)
Gifter
Publisher (founded 1872)
Date ca. March 1967
Medium Ink on illustration board
DimensionsOverall H 18 3/4 in x W 20 3/4 in (47.6 cm x 52.7 cm )
Physical Description
Physical DescriptionOriginal cartoon drawing. LBJ and another man (“Dean”), both dressed as monks, sing from a book ("Hymns of Peace”. Behind them, another man (“Ky”) wears gun belts over his robe. He holds a songbook ("Bombing Methods") in one hand and shoots a gun into the air with the other. A small piece of paper “The Boston Globe” adhered to upper right. Caption: “Ky Singing Off Key”. Artist signature upper right: "Szep”.
Inscriptions and MarkingsHandwritten at lower left: [blue] "To President Johnson, who once said 'we couldn't find the artist so we just hung the picture.' Very best regards, Szep".
Historical NoteIn August 1964, US ships were seemingly attacked in the Gulf of Tonkin, leading to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution that allowed President Johnson to take military action. In February 1965, Johnson authorized Operation Rolling Thunder to bomb North Vietnam and in March, 3500 Marines were deployed in Vietnam. Over 1965, President Johnson escalated the conflict to a full-scale war and over 1967, there were 500,000 American troops in Vietnam. Dean Rusk was Secretary of State and Nguyen Cao Ky was the prime minister of South Vietnam.
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 Dean Rusk (United States, 1909 - 1994)
Person Referenced Lyndon Baines Johnson (United States, 1908 - 1973)
Person Referenced Nguyen Cao Ky (Vietnam, 1930 - 2011)
In Collection(s)
Not on view
Place of Publication
Boston
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