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Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Things Just Pile Up!
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.

Things Just Pile Up!

Artifact ID1966.64.277
Object Type Cartoon Drawing
Artist
Publisher (founded 1846)
Gifter
Date ca June 1966
Medium Ink and grease pencil on drawing paper
DimensionsOverall H 14 1/4 in x W 12 5/16 in (36.2 cm x 31.3 cm )
Physical Description
Physical DescriptionOriginal cartoon drawing. LBJ glances back over his shoulder at his desk piled high with papers ("Slip in Popularity Polls", "NATO", "RFK", "Draft Criticism", "Farmer's Criticism", "Food Prices", "Fulbright", "Growing Casualty Lists", "Poverty War", "Nov. Election"). Caption reads: "Things Just Pile Up!" Artist signature lower left: "Morris".
Inscriptions and MarkingsHandwritten at lower left: "With sincere Best Bishes to President Johnson John Milt Morris".
Historical NoteBy 1966, many items of great importance required President Johnson's attention. The Johnson Administration submitted 87 bills to Congress, and Johnson signed 84, or 96%, arguably the most successful legislative agenda in US congressional history. The 1966 elections elected the members of the 90th Congress as well as several gubernatorial seats. 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 1966, the year this cartoon was made, there were 400,000 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 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 F. Kennedy (American, 1925 - 1968)
Person Referenced J. William Fulbright (American, 1905 - 1995)
Person Referenced Lyndon Baines Johnson (American, 1908 - 1973)
In Collection(s)
Not on view
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