# Influential political cartoonists in American history? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 24, 2012, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/influential-political-cartoonists-in-american-history/632514 "2012-08-24T18:50:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bpelta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Bpelta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bpelta)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/influential-political-cartoonists-in-american-history/632514/1 "2012-08-24T18:50:05Z")
Who are the most-read political cartoonists in American history? When I write “political cartoonists,” I don’t mean their cartoons were _always_ necessarily about politics, but men who did do well-read cartoons and caricatures satirizing the politics of their day. I know Thomas Nast (duh), Adalbert Volcke, Garry Trudeau, and Mike Luckovich (I might be overestimating the readership numbers for that last man though, being partial as I’m from Atlanta). ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/influential-political-cartoonists-in-american-history/632514/2 "2012-08-24T19:00:08Z")
Pat Oliphant, Herblock. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/influential-political-cartoonists-in-american-history/632514/3 "2012-08-24T19:00:51Z")
Jeff MacNelly. Strips that often made a political point - Al Capp and Walt Kelly. ---
**Author:** ![CapnPitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/edb3f5/32.png) [@CapnPitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CapnPitt)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/influential-political-cartoonists-in-american-history/632514/4 "2012-08-24T19:02:15Z")
of course I’m beaten to the punch, but I’d like to second Herblock. Very good stuff from the Cold War. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/influential-political-cartoonists-in-american-history/632514/5 "2012-08-24T19:05:52Z")
In Dayton as a kid we enjoyed [Mike Peters](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Peters_%28cartoonist%29#Editorial_cartoons) [political cartoons](http://www.askart.com/AskART/P/michael_peters/michael_peters.aspx)before he took of for [commercial cartoon work](http://www.reuben.org/noms2012/peters.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/influential-political-cartoonists-in-american-history/632514/6 "2012-08-24T19:23:11Z")
First (and I know I’m being picky), I don’t think there have been many “influential” political cartoonists. POPULAR political cartoonists, sure, but not influential. At most, a political cartoonist reinforces people who already share his slant. So, liberals yell “Damn right” when they read Garry Trudeau, just as conservatives do when they listen to Rush Limbaugh… but neither Trudeau nor Limbaugh ever changes his fans’ opinions in the least. But if you want to check out some of the best known and acclaimed political cartoonists, you certainly need to check out Jim Borgman Jules Feiffer Herblock Walt Kelly Mike Luckovitch Bill Mauldin Jeff MacNelly Pat Oliphant Garry Trudeau ---
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/influential-political-cartoonists-in-american-history/632514/7 "2012-08-24T19:28:44Z")
Luckovich has won two [Pulitzer Prizes for Editorial Cartooning](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulitzer_Prize_for_Editorial_Cartooning), so I think it’s safe to consider him influential outside of Atlanta. Others not yet mentioned who have won multiple Pulitzers: Walt Handelsman, Don Wright, Michael Ramirez, David Horsey, Steve Breen, Paul Conrad, Paul Szep. And from earlier eras: Bill Maudlin, Edmund Duffy, Jay Norwood Darling, Nelson Harding, Rollin Kirby, Vaughn Shoemaker ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/influential-political-cartoonists-in-american-history/632514/8 "2012-08-24T21:02:04Z")
I’d add [Tom Toles](http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/toles) to the list but maybe he’s another local guy. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/influential-political-cartoonists-in-american-history/632514/9 "2012-08-24T23:26:25Z")
> [@anson2995](#): > > Luckovich has won two [Pulitzer Prizes for Editorial Cartooning](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulitzer_Prize_for_Editorial_Cartooning), so I think it’s safe to consider him influential outside of Atlanta. > > Others not yet mentioned who have won multiple Pulitzers: > Walt Handelsman, Don Wright, Michael Ramirez, David Horsey, Steve Breen, Paul Conrad, Paul Szep. > > And from earlier eras: Bill Maudlin, Edmund Duffy, Jay Norwood Darling, Nelson Harding, Rollin Kirby, Vaughn Shoemaker Oh yeah, I remember I really enjoyed Paul Conrad’s cartoons in the L.A. Times back in the 80s. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/influential-political-cartoonists-in-american-history/632514/10 "2012-08-25T21:24:10Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’d add [Tom Toles](http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/toles) to the list but maybe he’s another local guy. Thanks! I’ve always loved Toles. He started out in Buffalo, I think, but is now a great part of the _Washington Post_ (the greatest national paper IMHO). ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/influential-political-cartoonists-in-american-history/632514/11 "2012-08-28T19:17:35Z")
I remember Bush making an unpopular decision and remarking “I really don’t want to do it… the cartoonists are going to have a field day with this.” As one myself, it made me proud. Sounded like the President was afraid of a cartoonist or two. ---
**Author:** ![wedgehed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8edcca/32.png) [@wedgehed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wedgehed)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/influential-political-cartoonists-in-american-history/632514/12 "2012-08-29T04:22:42Z")
> [@anson2995](#): > > Luckovich has won two [Pulitzer Prizes for Editorial Cartooning](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulitzer_Prize_for_Editorial_Cartooning), so I think it’s safe to consider him influential outside of Atlanta. [My favorite Luckovich.](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.postroad.com/9-11/luckovich.gates.gif&imgrefurl=http://comicfacts.blogspot.com/2006/09/weve-reached-top.html&h=371&w=504&sz=39&tbnid=OiU_FHEUUvon3M:&tbnh=90&tbnw=122&zoom=1&usg=__j252iaWqdhcXkTFqT30bCc53sRI=&sa=X&ei=Qpc9UIKuKouy8QSCzYEw&ved=0CD4Q9QEwBQ&dur=4758) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/influential-political-cartoonists-in-american-history/632514/13 "2012-08-29T15:44:44Z")
A favorite of mine from four years ago, by Henry Payne: [http://www.google.com/imgres?q=cartoon+obama+mlk&num=10&hl=en&biw=1080&bih=627&tbm=isch&tbnid=b0Hs0seNUh0XAM:&imgrefurl=http://webweaversworld.blogspot.com/2008/11/president-obama-cartoons.html&imgurl=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/\_r\_Ohc-Suovs/SRQ2Q9UmvQI/AAAAAAAABHE/If5IQ8rA2W8/s400/payne2.jpg&w=400&h=291&ei=1zc-UJHGGonWygGe74GQBA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=769&vpy=139&dur=2610&hovh=191&hovw=263&tx=163&ty=132&sig=112287378835774562184&page=1&tbnh=129&tbnw=177&start=0&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0,i:87](http://www.google.com/imgres?q=cartoon+obama+mlk&num=10&hl=en&biw=1080&bih=627&tbm=isch&tbnid=b0Hs0seNUh0XAM:&imgrefurl=http://webweaversworld.blogspot.com/2008/11/president-obama-cartoons.html&imgurl=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_r_Ohc-Suovs/SRQ2Q9UmvQI/AAAAAAAABHE/If5IQ8rA2W8/s400/payne2.jpg&w=400&h=291&ei=1zc-UJHGGonWygGe74GQBA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=769&vpy=139&dur=2610&hovh=191&hovw=263&tx=163&ty=132&sig=112287378835774562184&page=1&tbnh=129&tbnw=177&start=0&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0,i:87) ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2012, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/influential-political-cartoonists-in-american-history/632514/14 "2012-08-29T16:22:15Z")
I miss Doug Marlette ([Google Images](http://www.google.com/search?num=10&hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1366&bih=539&q=doug+marlette+political+cartoons&oq=doug+marlette&gs_l=img.1.2.0j0i24l8j0i5i24.1030.4165.0.8081.13.13.0.0.0.0.141.1233.8j5.13.0...0.0...1ac.fw-8a-3uipU)) When I saw his cartoon of Christ walking up Calvary with an eletric chair on his back, I knew Marlette was an artist who would go right to the heart of an issue - and cut it out. Marlette cartoon in memeory of the Challenger astronauts was moving also [Link](http://www.google.com/imgres?q=doug+marlette+political+cartoons&num=10&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=539&tbm=isch&tbnid=37r5L2GtT6YJnM:&imgrefurl=http://www.adammcdaniel.com/Archive2011.htm&imgurl=http://www.adammcdaniel.com/Marlette3.gif&w=600&h=450&ei=oUA-ULueNejq0gGI7YHQCw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=357&vpy=142&dur=187&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=159&ty=111&sig=107128227807442109150&page=4&tbnh=143&tbnw=191&start=65&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:58,s:20,i:308). Marlette described the role of editorial cartoonist as a newspaper’s “designated feeler”. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/influential-political-cartoonists-in-american-history/632514/15 "2012-08-30T01:18:27Z")
> [@Typo\_Knig](#): > > …Marlette described the role of editorial cartoonist as a newspaper’s “designated feeler”. I don’t get it. As in, the one to express emotion over the news? ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/influential-political-cartoonists-in-american-history/632514/16 "2012-08-30T07:28:40Z")
Far and away the most influential political cartoonist in American political history is [Thomas Nast.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Nast) He helped in major ways to bring down Tamany Hall and get Presidents elected. It was not a good thing to run afoul of him. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/influential-political-cartoonists-in-american-history/632514/17 "2012-08-30T14:20:03Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I don’t get it. As in, the one to express emotion over the news? Yes - the articles in a newspaper are supposed to show facts and reason and fairness. Editorial cartoons are supposed to get people mad (for example at injustice or corruption), make them laugh (at ridiculous public figures), or help them with grief and sadness (like Marlette’s cartoon for the Challenger astronauts - an eagle in front of a field of stars, shedding a single tear). Markette’s cartoon of Christ walking up Calvary with an electric chair on his back cuts through the death penalty debate like and industrial laser through butter. The articles are a newspaper’s mind. Editorial cartoons can be its soul.