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Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
An Inadvertent Cupid
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.

An Inadvertent Cupid

Artifact ID1973.1.1626
Artist (United States, 1912 - 1981)
Publisher (founded 1829)
Date ca. February 1965
Medium Ink and developer on Craftint paper
DimensionsOverall H 12 5/8 in x W 17 1/2 in (32.1 cm x 44.5 cm )

Physical Description
Physical DescriptionOriginal cartoon drawing. LBJ ("US Policy in Vietnam") as Cupid shoots arrows at a wall ("Hanoi"). The arrows bounce off the wall and hit two men ("China", "USSR"), who embrace ("Possible Reconciliation"). Caption: “An Inadvertent Cupid”. Artist signature lower left: "B. Green”.
Inscriptions and MarkingsHandwritten at lower right: [blue] “Sun Journal” “14 Feb 65”. Handwritten at lower right: “56”. Printed across bottom: [Craftint manufacturer's markings].
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. The Sino-Soviet split were the tensions between China and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Although both nations were Communist, they competed with each other over the same spheres of influence.
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 Aleksey N. Kosygin (Soviet Union, 1904 - 1980)
Person Referenced Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam, 1890 - 1969)
Person Referenced Mao Tse-tung (China, 1893 - 1976)
Person Referenced Lyndon Baines Johnson (United States, 1908 - 1973)
Not on view
Place Described
Place of Publication