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Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Cartoon Print
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.

Cartoon Print

Artifact ID1973.293.1
Object Type Cartoon Print
Artist (Israeli-Hungarian, 1923 - 2002)
Date ca. June 1970
Date GiftedJune 3, 1970
Medium Paper
DimensionsOverall H 12 1/2 in x W 19 3/4 in (31.8 cm x 50.2 cm )
Physical Description
Physical DescriptionPrint reproduction of cartoon drawing. LBJ spears a dragon ("Vietnam") with a spear head shaped like a bomb. On his shoulder is a black bird and his shield is split between a war hawk and a peace dove. He wields a broken sword (“$”) and carries a quiver of atomic bombs. His helmet has radio wires on it and his horse has a small television with Richard Nixon on it covering its eyes and above is the impaled head of a man (“Hippies”). The horse’s hooves are bound and a shark pulls at its tail. A small man sits on his horse in front of him. Behind him, Hubert Humphrey rides on a horse. From a nearby castle (“L Lyndon Lady Bird Lynda Lucy [sic]”), Lady Bird watches from the window wearing a hennin. From two of the three lower windows, two pairs of men and women watch and from the third, two dogs (identifiable as Him and Her) watch. From the top of the tower, a man clings to avoid falling, another man catches butterflies, and a third man (identifiable as Harold Wilson) with a pipe leans holding a broken spear (“£”). From the castle behind Humphrey, a man (identifiable as Mao Tse-tung) aims an arrow. Another man (identifiable as Charles de Gaulle) holds a spear impaling bricks and a helmet, wears a crown with bombs, and wears a king’s robe. A third man (identifiable as George Brown) drinks from a goblet. From the castle (“‘68”) on the left, a man (identifiable as Bobby Kennedy) stands on the bridge wielding an ax and sword. At the top of the tower, Richard Nixon and three other men (identifiable as George Wallace, Nelson Rockefeller, and one other man) stand behind an elephant, armed with spears. Artist signature lower left: “Zeev”.
Inscriptions and MarkingsHandwritten at lower left: [blue] “To President Johnson with respect and admiration. Tel-Aviv 3rd June 1970”.
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. Over 1965, President Johnson escalated the conflict to a full-scale war and over 1967, there were 500,000 American troops in Vietnam. The Antiwar Movement (1964-1973) emerged in response to the Vietnam War and included many activist groups such as the Students for a Democratic Society and the Yippies and used tactics such as mass demonstrations, sit-ins, teach-ins, and guerilla theater. President Johnson’s best known beagles were named Him and Her. Harold Wilson, the prime minister of the United Kingdom from 1964-1970, did not offer military aid to the United States during the Vietnam War, but he did not condemn American actions. In 1964, China detonated its first atomic bomb, leading to a third power to rival the other two. 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 US government also ensured that it would not want a war with China, but remained steadfast in its position on Vietnam. During the 1960s, China supported revolutionary groups around the world against colonial and conservative governments. This made the United States government nervous about Domino Theory. In 1966, Charles de Gaulle withdrew France from NATO because he believed that NATO advantaged the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom over France and he wanted France to have its own nuclear power and pursue detente with the Soviet Union. Robert Kennedy was the Attorney General under his brother’s administration and became a New York senator during Johnson’s presidency. He disagreed with Johnson’s Vietnam policy and became a prominent war critic. Kennedy ran for president in 1968 as an anti-war Democratic candidate until his assassination in June 1968. Many Republicans opposed the Vietnam War. In 1967 Anti-war Republicans released the White Paper on Vietnam that pointed to the high loss of life, unpopularity, and expenses caused by the Vietnam War. Like other critics of the Vietnam War, Republicans criticized the credibility gap, the lack of disclosure to the media about the Vietnam War, and extended its meaning to skepticism about other policies.
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 B Johnson Presidential Library 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 Lady Bird Johnson (United States, 1912 - 2007)
Person Referenced Hubert H. Humphrey (United States, 1911 - 1978)
Person Referenced George Wallace (United States, 1919 - 1988)
Person Referenced Charles de Gaulle (France, 1890 - 1970)
Person Referenced Robert F. Kennedy (United States, 1925 - 1968)
Person Referenced Harold Wilson (Great Britian, 1916 - 1995)
Person Referenced Richard Nixon (United States, 1913 - 1994)
Person Referenced Lyndon Baines Johnson (United States, 1908 - 1973)
Person Referenced Mao Tse-tung (China, 1893 - 1976)
Person Referenced Nelson Rockefeller (United States, 1908 - 1979)
In Collection(s)
Historical Dates
  • June 3, 1970
Not on view
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