GR-R-R- 

• 1969 
• Palmer, Bob 
• Drawing 
• Historical item 

5929401

Drawings / paintings

GR-R-R-

37.5 x 28 cm

1969

Original editorial cartoon on card in ink and crayon for the Springfield Leader-Press 1969, shows Vice President Spiro Agnew as a guard dog in front of the White House next to a sign stating ‘No Critics of Vietnam Policy Allowed’. Agnew was Nixon’s vice-president during most of his first term. He would brook no criticism of the government’s Vietnam policy and was known for his scathing criticisms of political opponents, especially journalists and anti-war activists. Agnew would describe his opponents as "pusillanimous pussyfooters," "nattering nabobs of negativism" and "hopeless, hysterical hypochondriacs of history". In one speech he characterized the war's opponents as "an effete corps of impudent snobs who characterize themselves as intellectuals." Agnew was seen by many as Nixon's "hatchet man" when defending the administration on the Vietnam War. Agnew was chosen to make speeches in which he spoke out against anti-war protesters and the media portrayal of the Vietnam War, even labelling them "Un-American". Card size 37.5 x 28 cm (15 x 11 inch), image size 28 x 22 cm, caption in ink in upper border, signed lower left and dated 22 October 1969 bottom right. In excellent condition.