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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's the Use Going On...
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.

What's the Use Going On...

Artifact ID1973.1.1186
Artist (United States, 1905 - 1986)
Publisher (founded 1870)
Date ca. March 1968
Medium Ink and grease pencil on drawing paper
DimensionsOverall H 14 1/2 in x W 11 in (36.8 cm x 27.9 cm )

Physical Description
Physical DescriptionOriginal cartoon drawing. Frame 1: A man complains to another man (identifiable as George Washington) in a winter landscape (“Valley Forge”). Frame 2: A man holds a paper (“Bull Run”) and complains to another man (identifiable as Abraham Lincoln). Frame 3: A man holds a paper (“Pearl Harbor and Corregidor”) and complains to another man (identifiable as Franklin Delano Roosevelt). Frame 4: A man holds a paper (“S. Vietnam”) and complains through a microphone to LBJ. Caption: “What's the Use Going On? We Can’t Win!”. Artist signature lower right: "Reg Manning”.
Inscriptions and MarkingsHandwritten at lower right: [blue] "Sincere regards to President Lyndon B. Johnson. Reg Manning 11-23-68". Handwritten at lower center: [blue] “3 col.” “Mailing”. Stamped at lower center: “Mar 28 1968”.
Historical NoteAnti-war “doves” included both people who opposed the war ideologically, considering it to be unjust, and people who just believed the war was unwinnable. The number of doves increased over the course of 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 Franklin Delano Roosevelt (United States, 1882 - 1945)
Person Referenced Abraham Lincoln (United States, 1809 - 1865)
Person Referenced George Washington (United States, 1732 - 1799)
Not on view
Place of Publication