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Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
They've Promised to Keep in Touch
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.

They've Promised to Keep in Touch

Artifact ID1973.1.1877
Object Type Cartoon Drawing
Publisher ()
Date ca. June 1967
Medium Ink and grease pencil on drawing paper
DimensionsOverall H 16 7/8 in x W 15 in (42.9 cm x 38.1 cm )
Physical Description
Physical DescriptionOriginal cartoon drawing. LBJ and a man (identifiable as Alexei Kosygin) sit at their desks with their phones (“Hot Line”) connected by a wire (“Spirit of Hollybush”). A bomb ("Unresolved US - Soviet Differences on Mideast, Vietnam etc.") is between them. Caption: “They've Promised to Keep in Touch”. Artist signature lower left: "Pletcher". Also printed lower center: “New Orleans Times-Picayune June 27, 1967”.
Inscriptions and MarkingsHandwritten at lower left: "For President Johnson, with all good wishes Eldon Pletcher".
Historical NoteOn June 23-25, 1967, Lyndon Johnson and Aleksey Kosygin met at Hollybush Mansion in Glassboro, New Jersey to discuss issues concerning world peace such as the Six Day War, the Vietnam War, and the nuclear arms race. It was notable for being successful in decreasing tensions, even though no agreements were signed. The Moscow-Washington hotline was a line of direct communication between the Pentagon and the Kremlin established in 1963. It allows for quick communication to avoid potential conflicts. On June 5, 1967, after a series of border skirmishes and rising tensions between Israel and Syria and Egypt, Israel attacked Egypt. This led to a war that lasted until June 10 between Israel on one side and Egypt, Syria, and Jordan on the other. Israel captured a lot of territory from the war and hundreds of thousands of Palastinians became refugees. In 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.
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 Aleksey N. Kosygin (Russian, 1904 - 1980)
Person Referenced Lyndon Baines Johnson (American, 1908 - 1973)
In Collection(s)
Not on view
Place Described
USSR
Place of Publication
New Orleans
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