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Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
The Minesweeper
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.

The Minesweeper

Artifact ID1973.1.340
Object Type Cartoon Drawing
Artist (Spain, 1912 - 1983)
Gifter
Date ca. February 1966
Medium Ink and grease pencil on drawing paper
DimensionsOverall H 17 1/8 in x W 12 7/8 in (43.5 cm x 32.7 cm )
Physical Description
Physical DescriptionOriginal cartoon drawing. Soldier LBJ sweeps for mines. A sign (“Vietnam”) is behind him. He hears signals from mines below the surface ("Sen. Fulbright ?”, “Red China ?”, “1968 ?”, “North Vietnam ?”, and “Public Opinion ?"). Caption: “The Minesweeper”. Artist signature lower left: "De Alba”.
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 1966, the year this cartoon was made, there were 400,000 American troops in Vietnam. The head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, J. William Fulbright, opposed the Vietnam War. In October 1964, China detonated its first atomic bomb. During the Johnson administration, US officials continued to refuse to recognize the People’s Republic of China in favor of Taiwan and did not allow the PRC on the UN Security Council. The United States ensured that it would not want a war with China, but also remained steadfast in its position on Vietnam. President Johnson’s approval ratings were very high at the start of his presidency and remained fairly high throughout 1964 and 1965 while much of the Great Society legislation was getting passed. By 1966, as the Vietnam War escalated, when this cartoon was made, his approval and disapproval ratings were around the same, and continued to decline after that.
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 (Vietnam, 1890 - 1969)
Person Referenced Lyndon Baines Johnson (United States, 1908 - 1973)
Person Referenced J. William Fulbright (United States, 1905 - 1995)
Person Referenced Mao Tse-tung (China, 1893 - 1976)
In Collection(s)
Not on view
Place Described
Vietnam
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