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Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Hard Times
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.

Hard Times

Artifact ID1988.71.668
Object Type Cartoon Print
Artist (United States, born 1911)
Date 1979
Medium Paper
DimensionsOverall H 10 1/8 in x W 10 in (25.7 cm x 25.4 cm )
Physical Description
Physical DescriptionPrint reproduction of cartoon drawing. Frame 1: A man (identifiable as Ted Kennedy) stands behind a podium as four people stand in front of him. One man asks, “Uh, Senator, now that you are officially in the race, and in view of the facts that your voting record indicates your stand on welfare programs and government reform is somewhere just to the left of Karl Marx…”. Frame 2: The man continues, “...Your personal life reads like Harold Robbins wrote it, and your judgment, character, and morals appear, at best, inconsistent…So what quality aside from nostalgia could ever remotely qualify you for the highest job in the land??!”. Frame 3: Kennedy responds, “Sir, I bring the American people a quality they prize above all else,...far more important to them than mere statesmanship, foresight, or character. I, sir, bring to the American people…”. Frame 4: Kennedy says, “Charisma!” while people applaud. Additional text at upper left: “Hard Times by Gary Chew”. Artist signature lower right: “Chew ‘79.”
Inscriptions and MarkingsHandwritten at lower right: [brown] “To Governor Connally from a fan - Gary Chew”.
Historical NoteTed Kennedy ran for president as a Democrat in 1980 against Jimmy Carter, the sitting president.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteThis item was a gift from John B. Connally to the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum on July 13, 1988.
Credit LineGift of the Honorable John B. Connally
National Archives Catalog CollectionLyndon B. Johnson Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 192413)
National Archives Catalog SeriesGifts to the LBJ Library (National Archives Identifier 189698391)
Use Restriction StatusRestricted - Fully
Use Restriction NoteCopyright or other proprietary rights are held by individuals or entities other than the Lyndon Johnson Presidential Library and Museum. The Lyndon Johnson Presidential Library and Museum does not warrant that the use of these 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 Ted Kennedy (United States, 1932 - 2009)
Person Referenced John B. Connally (United States, 1917 - 1993)
In Collection(s)
Not on view
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