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Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
A Little Mellifluous Oldtime Oratory
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.

A Little Mellifluous Oldtime Oratory

Artifact ID1973.1.2970
Object Type Cartoon Drawing
Publisher ()
Date ca. October 1965
Medium Ink and grease pencil on illustration board
DimensionsOverall H 20 in x W 15 in (50.8 cm x 38.1 cm )
Physical Description
Physical DescriptionOriginal cartoon drawing. A man (“Sen. Dirksen”) stands behind a desk with his arm around a man ("Citizens' Right to Work") and yells "NO!". LBJ and another man ("House") face him holding a rolled paper ("Repeal of Sec. 14B, Taft-Hartley Law"). Caption: “A Little Mellifluous Oldtime Oratory”. Additional text at lower left: “The Times-Picayune New Orleans Oct 6, 1965". Artist signature lower left: "Temple”.
Inscriptions and MarkingsHandwritten at lower center: [blue] "To President LB Johnson: from Keith Temple".
Historical NoteIn 1965, President Johnson tried to end right-to-work laws in nineteen states, which would have resulted in the repeal of 14(b) of the Taft-Hartley Act. Right-to-work laws allow workers to choose not to join unions. In this cartoon, Lyndon Johnson is pressured to repeal 14(b) because he has a strong labor union support base and does not want to lose their backing.
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 Everett Dirksen (United States, 1896 - 1969)
Person Referenced Lyndon Baines Johnson (United States, 1908 - 1973)
In Collection(s)
Not on view
Place of Publication
New Orleans
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