Mother's Day '67
Artifact ID1973.1.2485
Object Type
Cartoon Drawing
Artist
Bill Crawford
(United States, 1913 - 1982)
Gifter
Bill Crawford
Publisher
Newspaper Enterprise Association
()
Date
ca. May 1967
Medium
Ink and grease pencil on drawing paper
DimensionsOverall H 14 3/8 in x W 10 3/4 in (36.5 cm x 27.3 cm )
Physical DescriptionPhysical DescriptionOriginal cartoon drawing. LBJ, dressed as Anna McNeill Whistler from her son James Abbott McNeill Whistler’s painting, is surrounded by screaming babies ("Poverty”, “The Polls”, “Vietnam”, “Great Society"). A picture of an elephant hangs on the wall. Caption: “Mother's Day '67”. Artist signature lower right: "Crawford NEA ‘67”.
Inscriptions and MarkingsHandwritten across the bottom: [blue] "To President Johnson Johnson, sincerely Bill Crawford". Handwritten at upper right: [underline] [blue] [illegible]. Handwritten at lower center: [red] “2-3 col” “1-2 col”. Handwritten at lower right: “541” “370”. Handwritten at lower right: [strikethrough] “368”.
Historical NotePresident Johnson’s approval ratings were very high at the start of his presidency, but by 1967-1968, his approval ratings declined due to the Vietnam War. 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. By 1965, President Johnson escalated the conflict to a full-scale war and over 1967, there were 500,000 American troops in Vietnam. The most ambitious and controversial part of the Great Society was its initiative to end poverty. The Kennedy Administration had been contemplating a federal effort against poverty. Johnson, who, as a teacher, had observed extreme poverty in Texas among Mexican-Americans, launched an "unconditional war on poverty" in the first months of his presidency with the goal of eliminating hunger, illiteracy, and unemployment from American life.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 B Johnson Presidential Library 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
Lyndon Baines Johnson
(United States, 1908 - 1973)
In Collection(s)
Not on view