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Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Psst--The Villain Quit
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.

Psst--The Villain Quit

Artifact ID1973.1.323
Artist (United States, 1918 - 1988)
Date ca. April 1968
Medium Pencil on drawing paper
DimensionsOverall H 14 1/2 in x W 11 1/2 in (36.8 cm x 29.2 cm )

Physical Description
Physical DescriptionOriginal cartoon drawing. A man (identifiable as Bobby Kennedy) appears as the hero in a stage play. A man offstage holds a villain outfit with "LBJ" on the hat and whispers from the wings. Caption: “Psst--The Villain Quit”. Artist signature lower left: "© 1968 Don Hesse St. Louis Globe Democrat”.
Inscriptions and MarkingsHandwritten across the bottom: [blue] “3 col - Ed Page” [illegible] “April 3, 68”.
Historical NoteOn March 31, 1968, Lyndon Johnson announced that he was withdrawing from the presidential race so he could focus on ending the Vietnam War. At the time, he had just lost the New Hampshire primary to antiwar candidate Eugene McCarthy, Robert F. Kennedy, another antiwar candidate, had just entered the race, and his polls in Wisconsin right before the primary were low. He also announced a partial bombing halt in Vietnam. New York Senator Robert F. Kennedy, a prominent critic of the Vietnam War, ran for president in 1968 as a Democrat with an anti-war platform until his assassination in June 1968.
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 Note© 1968, Don Hesse, St. Louis Globe Democrat
Copyright 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)
Person Referenced Robert F. Kennedy (United States, 1925 - 1968)
Not on view
Place of Publication