One of the most famous American political cartoonists, Thomas Nast, developed several drawings to attack Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall during the nineteenth century (see the Chapter 9 Cartoon Analysis: Thomas Nast Takes on “Boss” Tweed, 1871 Primary Source).Which one do you find to be the most effective? Why? ( Figure 1) ( Figure 2) ( Figure 3) These cartoons focused on three different events and policies during Reagan’s administration.( Figure 1) ( Figure 2) ( Figure 3) Briefly describe each cartoon and the response each was designed to evoke.(credit: A 1987 Herblock Cartoon, © The Herb Block Foundation) Sourcing Questionsįigure 3: In this 1987 cartoon entitled “It Didn’t Happen,” Herblock parodies the Iran-Contra affair by depicting Reagan’s responses to queries about the scandal as different takes on a movie set. Block developed a number of cartoons throughout Reagan’s tenure in which he criticized the president’s policies, proposals, and actions, including so-called Reaganomics, Star Wars, and the Iran-Contra Affair. When Ronald Reagan took office, the liberal-leaning cartoonist found plenty that he disagreed with the new president on.

Throughout his career, Block lampooned figures such as Joseph McCarthy and Richard Nixon for their political beliefs and conduct while holding office. Herbert Block was an American cartoonist who created works from 1927 until his death in 2001 under the name Herblock. This primary source can be used with the Ronald Reagan and Supply-Side Economics Narrative, The Space Shuttle Program and the Challenger Disaster Narrative, and the Ronald Reagan, Address to the Nation on the Challenger Disaster, January 28, 1986 Primary Source.

Use this primary source after students have read the introductory essay to introduce domestic milestones during Reagan’s presidency.

Herbert block cartoons