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Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Trouble in the Symphony
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.

Trouble in the Symphony

Artifact ID1965.28.165
Artist (United States, 1912 - 2000)
Date ca. March 1964
Medium Ink and grease pencil on drawing paper
DimensionsOverall H 15 in x W 14 1/4 in (38.1 cm x 36.2 cm )

Physical Description
Physical DescriptionOriginal cartoon drawing. LBJ is a orchestra conducter leaning on his podium in dispair. The orchestra is all playing different tunes. The trombone player ("Fulbright") plays "Love Castro". The persussionist ("Mansfield") plays "Abandon Vietnam" on cymbals The violinist ("Rusk") shows LBJ his violin's broken strings. Caption reads: "Trouble in the Symphony". Artist signature lower right: "Gib Crockett Washington Star."
Inscriptions and MarkingsHandwritten at lower left: "3 cols - Fri Mar 27 '64". Handwritten at lower right: "A-8".
Historical NoteDuring his presidency, Johnson followed Harry Truman's doctrine of containment, which was intended to stop the spread of communism. Johnson’s foreign policy, especially in Vietnam, attracted both Democrat and Republican critics due to the loss of life, cost to the economy, and ineffectiveness of stopping the spread of Communism. J. William Fulbright, the head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield opposed the Vietnam War. Meanwhile Secretary of State Dean Rusk supported American involvement in the war.
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 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 Mike Mansfield (United States, 1903 - 2001)
Person Referenced Dean Rusk (United States, 1909 - 1994)
Person Referenced J. William Fulbright (United States, 1905 - 1995)
Person Referenced Fidel Castro (Cuba, 1926 - 2016)
Not on view
Place Described
Place of Publication