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Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Time to Announce Your Candidacy
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.

Time to Announce Your Candidacy

Artifact ID1973.1.85
Object Type Cartoon Drawing
Artist ()
Gifter
Date ca. January 1968
Medium Ink, colored pencil and colored ink on drawing paper
DimensionsOverall H 8 5/8 in x W 11 in (21.9 cm x 27.9 cm )
Physical Description
Physical DescriptionOriginal cartoon drawing. A baby (“All American”) holds a football (“1968 Presidential Campaign”) and says, "Grandpa, let's play them kid’s - we have the ball and th’ playingfield - -it's about time we showed them how to play the game". LBJ looks at the field (“Playing field”) in front of the capitol in confusion. One boy (“Romney”) says “Nix on Nixon Wallace is not a real - McCarty Rocky has rocks in his head”. Another boy (“Sam Yorty”) holds a guitar (“Dark Horse”). Another boy (“Bobby Kennedy”) says “I am running for Arthur”. Another boy (“Ronald Reagan”) says, “I promise 2 chick’s in every pot & everything when elected”. A chicken stands next to Reagan. Caption: “Time to Announce Your Candidacy”. Artist signature lower left: "Ed Vessels 1-25-68”.
Inscriptions and MarkingsPrinted at lower right: “Politicing promise? chick’s every pot - I am only 1.”. Stamped at upper right: [blue] “Ed. F. Ves’sells” “Jan 27 1968”. Stamped at upper center: [circle] [blue] “From the desk of Ed F. Vessels Esq. Mail File”.
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. 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. Los Angeles mayor Sam Yorty did not endorse Hubert Humphrey as president in 1968. California governor Ronald Reagan ran as a conservative Republican during the 1968 primaries. 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. 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. New York governor Nelson Rockefeller entered the 1968 Republican primaries in spring 1968. He was a part of the Republican liberal wing. Alabama governor George Wallace left the Democrat Party to run for president in 1968 as an American Independent Party candidate with a pro-segregation platform.
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 Patrick Lyndon Nugent (United States, born 1967)
Person Referenced Robert F. Kennedy (United States, 1925 - 1968)
Person Referenced Lyndon Baines Johnson (United States, 1908 - 1973)
Person Referenced Eugene J. McCarthy (United States, 1916 - 2005)
Person Referenced Richard Nixon (United States, 1913 - 1994)
Person Referenced Ronald Reagan (United States, 1911 - 2004)
Person Referenced Nelson Rockefeller (United States, 1908 - 1979)
Person Referenced George W. Romney (United States, 1907 - 1995)
In Collection(s)
Not on view
Place Described
Washington
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