The Rich History of Political Cartoons and The White House is Focus in Latest Issue of White House History Quarterly

Feb 15, 2018 Washington, D.C. —

The White House Historical Association today announced the publication of the Spring 2018 issue of its quarterly journal White House History. This rich new issue, titled Political Cartoons and the White House, explores America’s tradition of political satire of current events and examines the role of the White House in the history of political cartoons.

This issue features an exclusive essay, introduced by Quarterly Editor William Seale, on Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Pat Oliphant, who has covered ten presidencies and over the course of half a century, has become the best-known political cartoonist in the nation. This look at Oliphant’s philosophy includes a selection of his work, from the Johnson to the Obama administrations.

Other highlights include:

• A collection of cartoons published in the Washington Globe under President Jackson, now preserved and displayed in Blair House: The President’s Guest House
• A history of the political cartoon collection displayed in Off the Record, the basement bar at the Hay-Adams Hotel
• Profiles on America’s most notable and influential early political cartoonists, including Thomas Nast, Clifford K. Berryman, and Herblock.

Elaine M. Gibbs, consultant and collections assistant in the Office of the Curator at Blair House, explains how political cartoons first emerged in a newspaper in the 1830s, when the Washington Globe began publishing cartoons that promoted President Jackson’s programs and the Democratic Party’s agenda to voters of all socioeconomic classes.

Mike Rhode, a member of the National Cartoonist Society, provides a history of the political cartoons famously featured on the walls of Off the Record. He describes how the collection began and highlights the cartoonists whose work is exhibited. Interviewed in this article are three Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonists whose cartoons are the latest editions to the collection: Matt Wuerker, Ann Tenales, and Kevin Kallaugher.

Jessie Kratz and Martha Grove of the National Archives discuss Clifford K. Berryman, one of the most renowned political cartoonists of the 20^th century. The whimsical style of Berryman’s cartoons earned him respect, rather than ire, even though he satirized leaders and politicians from both the United States and abroad. For over fifty years, his cartoons—many featuring his iconic Teddy Bear—appeared on the front pages on Washington newspapers.

Since the 19^th century, political cartoons have been used to praise and criticize administrations, and this issue provides a glimpse at the relationship between notable political cartoonists and the White House.

White House History is published four times each year by the White House Historical Association and features articles on White House history, architecture, fine and decorative arts, and gardens, as well as the life stories of the occupants of the White House and their experiences living there.

This issue of White House History retails for $9.95. To subscribe visit whitehousehistoryjouranl.org or purchase single issues, at shop.whitehousehistory.org.

For media inquiries, please contact press@whaa.org or Jessica Fredericks, Communications Director, at JFredericks@whha.org.

About The White House Historical Association

First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy envisioned a restored White House that conveyed a sense of history through its decorative and fine arts. In 1961, the White House Historical Association was established to support her vision to preserve and share the Executive Mansion’s legacy for generations to come. Supported entirely by private resources, the Association’s mission is to assist in the preservation of the state and public rooms, fund acquisitions for the White House permanent collection, and educate the public on the history of the White House. Since its founding, the White House Historical Association has contributed more than $47 million in fulfillment of its mission. To learn more about the White House Historical Association, please visit www.whitehousehistory.org.