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Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Strongest Fighting Speech
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.

Strongest Fighting Speech

Artifact ID1973.1.1698
Medium Ink on drawing paper
DimensionsOverall H 12 3/4 in x W 10 5/8 in (32.4 cm x 27 cm )

Physical Description
Physical DescriptionOriginal cartoon drawing. LBJ as a soldier carries a rolled-up paper ("United Support of the War Policies") with a tag (“‘68 election”) like a gun and passes a pointing sign ("Win the War and Peace in Vietnam"). He says "Let's stop the Communist Aggression" while he is chased by bullets ("RFK", "McCarthy"). He runs on hilly terrain (“Total national effort”). Caption: “Strongest Fighting Speech”. Artist signature lower right: "Shevchik".
Historical NotePro-war “hawks” supported escalating the war to stop the spread of Communism in Southeast Asia. Pro-war figures believed that the war could be won if the United States had enough public support. Anti-war “doves” included both people who opposed the war ideologically, considering it to be unjust, and people who just believed the war was unwinnable. The number of doves increased over the course of the war. New York Senator Robert F. Kennedy and Minnesota Senator Eugene McCarthy were both anti-war candidates in the Democratic primaries.
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 Eugene J. McCarthy (United States, 1916 - 2005)
Person Referenced Robert F. Kennedy (United States, 1925 - 1968)
Person Referenced Lyndon Baines Johnson (United States, 1908 - 1973)
Not on view
Place of Publication