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Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
New Weapon
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.

New Weapon

Artifact ID1966.64.229
Object Type Cartoon Drawing
Artist (United States, 1917 - 1991)
Publisher ()
Gifter
Date ca. February 1966
Medium Ink, grease pencil and applied shading on drawing paper
DimensionsOverall H 15 in x W 11 in (38.1 cm x 27.9 cm )
Physical Description
Physical DescriptionOriginal cartoon drawing. LBJ shows two men ("McN", "Rusk") a bomb with a locked box ("Elections") as the warhead. Caption reads: "New Weapon". Additional text at upper left: "Question: Is it too horrible to use in Vietnam?". Artist signature lower right: "Scott Long 1966 Minneapolis Tribune".
Inscriptions and MarkingsHandwritten at bottom center: "Greetings to the President! from Scott Long".
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 1966, the year this cartoon was made, there were 400,000 American troops in Vietnam. In 1966, South Vietnam held constitutional assembly elections.
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 personally, until the President donated it to the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum in 1970.
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 Lyndon Baines Johnson (United States, 1908 - 1973)
Person Referenced Dean Rusk (United States, 1909 - 1994)
In Collection(s)
Not on view
Place Described
Vietnam
Place of Publication
Minneapolis
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