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Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
What Bill Is He Signing Today?
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.

What Bill Is He Signing Today?

Artifact ID1973.1.659
Object Type Cartoon Drawing
Artist
Gifter
Publisher
Date ca. March 1965
Medium Ink and grease pencil on drawing paper
DimensionsOverall H 9 3/8 in x W 7 1/4 in (23.8 cm x 18.4 cm )
Physical Description
Physical DescriptionOriginal cartoon drawing. One man carries a giant box (“pens”) in the White House. A second man says "He doesn't give them to the poor--mostly they're for fellows who don't need them." In the lower left, a cat looks at a newspaper ("President signs Appalachia Bill: uses 126 pens"). Caption: “What Bill Is He Signing Today?”. Artist signature lower right: "Vic Runtz news ‘65”.
Inscriptions and MarkingsHandwritten at lower left: [blue] “3 col line Ed Page Thurs” “Bangor Daily News - March 11, 1965”.
Historical NoteAs a part of the Great Society programs, President Johnson passed the Appalachian Regional Development Act in 1965 to invest in education, job training, and transportation in Appalachia. Since 1960, the poverty rate in Appalachia has decreased from 59.4% to 13.4-23%. Presidents sometimes use multiple pens to sign one bill and then distribute them to the people standing nearby that helped get it passed. Because Lyndon Johnson signed so many laws as president, many pens were made so that he could give them to people afterwards. When Johnson decided not to run for president in 1968, a surplus of pens were already made in anticipation for his second term.
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 (United States, 1908 - 1973)
In Collection(s)
Not on view
Place of Publication
Bangor
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