Oliphant, Pat, 1935-

Scope and Content Note

Although Oliphant's cartoons typically illustrate the political elements of Muskie's career--as political cartoons must--the stature Muskie earned through his work as a legislator and a statesman is captured in the final Muskie cartoon, drawn to commemorate his death in March, 1996. Anita Holst-Jensen.

Scope and Content Note

As the convention opened, McGovern's delegate votes fell short of assuring him a first-ballot victory. The attempt on George Wallace's life in May had left Wallace physically crippled, but he still controlled more than 300 delegate votes. Concerns about McGovern's electability and opposition from the AFL-CIO's George Meany led to speculation that other candidates, including Humphrey and Muskie, would seek a deal with Wallace delegates to block McGovern. Anita Holst-Jensen.

Scope and Content Note Carter never regained the political momentum he had surrendered by adopting the "Rose Garden" strategy- which was designed to convey the impression that Carter was too busy to campaign for reelection. The strategy was abandoned when Muskie became Secretary of State and the President's focus on the campaign barely strayed thereafter, despite the long foreign policy agenda. The reference to freeing Poland harks back to a 1976 Carter-Ford presidential debate in which former President Ford...

Scope and Content Note

By September 1970, domestic protest of the expansion of the Vietnam war into Cambodia and rising inflation and unemployment had eroded Nixon's approval ratings. His effort to regain momentum by "positive polarization"- vilification of all opponents- intensified dissent. Increasing numbers of Democrats saw themselves as presidential candidates. Oliphant's cartoon was prescient: Ultimately 13 Democrats sought the 1972 nomination. Anita Holst-Jensen.

Scope and Content Note With the People's Republic of China pursuing normalized relations with the world community, Nixon's National Security, Henry Kissinger, secretly visited Peking (Beijing) in October, and arranged a visit for the President. The secret diplomacy and presidential visit created a sensation. Nixon himself joked that the China visit was a great TV pilot and out to be made into a series. Naturally, the China visit virtually preempted other news, particularly news of Democratic presidential...

Scope and Content Note

During 1971, the crowded Democratic field threatened to overwhelm the nominating process. Rankand file voters reacted by telling pollsters they would just as soon vote for another Kennedy. Senator Kennedy continued to assert that he was not a candidate while his supporters fueled a series of press stories. Anita Holst-Jensen.

Scope and Content Note

Richard Nixon won a bitterly contested 1968 presidential election by a margin of less than 0.7% of the popular vote--much to the credit of Muskie's campaigning skills. Yet by the inaugural, even Democratic nominee Hubert Humphrey had become conciliatory. Oliphant's cartoon was a pointed reminder of other points of view. Anita Holst-Jensen.

Scope and Content Note

Hours after Muskie made his candidacy official, former Senator McCarthy announced he intended to hold Muskie "accountable" for his stance on the Vietnam war before 1968 and his role in the 1968 Convention. Observers speculated McCarthy was seeking revenge. His unexpectedly strong showing in the 1968 New Hampshire primary forced President Johnson not to seek reelection, but McCarthy's candidacy faded. Anita Holst-Jensen.

Scope and Content Note

In 1972 the Democratic Party instituted the "McGovern Rules" which sought to guarantee representation to women and minorities and thus ensured a large number of first-time convention delegates. Challenges to several delegations, and Humphrey's challenge to the "winner-take-all" rule in California, prompted McGovern to react with hyperbole. He told a reporter, "There will never be a case in American politics of such a naked power grab.." Anita Holst-Jensen.

Scope and Content Note

President Carter had instituted a series of "get tough" foreign policy initiatives in reponse to the Iran hostage taking and Soviet intervention in Afghanistan. Despite misgivings, on April 22, 1980, NATO governments agreed to consider sanctions against Iran as a way to help stave off a U.S. military response. Two days later, on April 24, Carter launched the Desert One mission. As the new Secretary of State took office, Carter's credibility in NATO was rapidly eroding. Anita Holst-Jensen.