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Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Year of the Monkey
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.

Year of the Monkey

Artifact ID1973.1.1220
Object Type Cartoon Drawing
Artist
Gifter
Date ca. February 1968
Medium Ink and grease pencil on drawing paper
DimensionsOverall H 22 1/8 in x W 14 7/8 in (56.2 cm x 37.8 cm )
Physical Description
Physical DescriptionOriginal cartoon drawing. LBJ has a monkey with the face of a man (identifiable as Ho Chi Minh) on his back pulling his hair. A small figure behind LBJ’s chair holds a sign ("Old Ho Himself"). Caption: “Year of the Monkey”. Artist signature lower right: "2-26-68 Dobbins Boston Herald Traveler”.
Inscriptions and MarkingsHandwritten across the bottom: “To: President Johnson - with a real headache, you can't hit him and you can't talk to him. From Jim Dobbins". Handwritten at lower left: [strikethrough in red] “49”. Handwritten at lower left: [blue] “Off-ed page”. Handwritten at lower center: [blue] “102 lines”. Handwritten at lower center: [strikethrough] [blue] “Mon A.M.”. Handwritten at lower right: [red] “48”. Handwritten at lower right: [blue] “Feb 26-68”.
Historical NoteIn 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 1967, there were 500,000 American troops in Vietnam. The war’s unpopularity in the United States was increased further by the North Vietnamese Tet Offensive in early 1968, which led to even greater casualties.
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 Ho Chi Minh (Vietnamese, 1890 - 1969)
Person Referenced Lyndon Baines Johnson (American, 1908 - 1973)
In Collection(s)
Not on view
Place of Publication
Boston
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