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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 Are Tough All Over
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.

Things Are Tough All Over

Artifact ID1973.1.194
Object Type Cartoon Drawing
Artist (United States, 1902 - 1976)
Gifter
Publisher ()
Date ca. September 1967
Medium Ink and grease pencil on drawing paper
DimensionsOverall H 16 in x W 14 in (40.6 cm x 35.6 cm )
Physical Description
Physical DescriptionOriginal cartoon drawing. Romney uses a "Foot Remover" to extract his foot from his mouth. Nixon tries to wipe "Loser" off his chest with "Spot Remover." LBJ uses powder puff ("Image Improver") and looks in mirror. Caption reads: "Things are tough all over.". Artist signature lower left: "Jensen".
Inscriptions and MarkingsAt lower right: "To Lyndon B. Johnson with best wishes Cecil Jensen". At lower left: "485" and "9/21/67". Along the bottom: "3 col red arrow Thurs".
Historical NotePresident Johnson was up for his second term during the 1968 election, but he would later withdraw from the race on March 31, 1968. However, the Vietnam War and the Vietnamese Tet Offensive made him lose popularity. Michigan governor George Romney ran against Richard Nixon in the 1968 Republican primaries. In August 1967, he described being “brainwashed” into supporting the Vietnam War, a controversial comment at the time. He shifted to an antiwar platform, and withdrew on February 28, 1968. In this cartoon, Romney has his foot in his mouth because he made a comment calling his earlier support of the Vietnam War to be a result of brainwashing. Former Vice President Richard Nixon secured the Republican nomination during the 1968 election. His platform emphasized crime and he criticized Johnson’s Vietnam policy, but was vague about his own plans to end the war. In this cartoon, Nixon removes the label of "loser" from himself, alluding to how he lost the 1960 election to John F. Kennedy.
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 Richard Nixon (United States, 1913 - 1994)
Person Referenced George W. Romney (United States, 1907 - 1995)
Person Referenced Lyndon Baines Johnson (United States, 1908 - 1973)
In Collection(s)
Not on view
Place of Publication
Chicago
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