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Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Far Away, but Not Nearby
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.

Far Away, but Not Nearby

Artifact ID1973.1.1644
Object Type Cartoon Drawing
Artist (American, 1916 - 1978)
Gifter
Publisher (founded 1920)
Date ca. August 1967
Medium Ink and grease pencil on drawing paper
DimensionsOverall H 24 in x W 18 in (61 cm x 45.7 cm )
Physical Description
Physical DescriptionOriginal cartoon drawing. Three bound and gagged men ("Anti-Castro Cuban Exiles in Florida") sit behind LBJ as he speaks at the podium, "We must fight Communism harder in Vietnam!". Caption: “Far Away, but Not Nearby”. Artist signature lower right: "Warren King."
Inscriptions and MarkingsHandwritten at lower right: “Frid Aug 4, 67”.
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. In September 1965, Fidel Castro announced that Cuba would no longer block people from emigration. To prevent overwhelming immigration centers in the United States, the US government set up the Freedom Flights airlift program and overall, about 300,000 Cubans immigrated to the United States over the next eight years. In this cartoon, Cuban immigrants in the United States watch as the president emphasizes fighting Communism in Vietnam, while Fidel Castro's Communist regime is much closer to the US.
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 Lyndon Baines Johnson (American, 1908 - 1973)
Person Referenced Fidel Castro (Cuban, 1926 - 2016)
In Collection(s)
Not on view
Place Described
VietnamFloridaCuba
Place of Publication
New York
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