Top of page

Notice
Special holiday hours in effect, December 2025 through January 2026. More information.

Photo, Print, Drawing "It's still a representative form of government - they represent us" / Herblock.

[ digital file from original ]

Full online access to this resource is only available at the Library of Congress.

More Resources

[ digital file from b&w film copy neg. ]

Full online access to this resource is only available at the Library of Congress.

About this Item

Title

  • "It's still a representative form of government - they represent us" / Herblock.

Summary

  • Editorial cartoon showing a large man, "Big money interests", smoking a cigar as he sits on the roof of the Senate wing of the U.S. Capitol; he looks down at a small man standing in the foreground, holding a paper, "One person, one vote", and reminds him just whom it is that the government represents.

Names

  • Block, Herbert, 1909-2001, artist

Created / Published

  • 2000 May 18, c2000.

Headings

  • -  United States.--Congress--2000
  • -  United States Capitol (Washington, D.C.)--2000
  • -  Special interests--2000
  • -  Big business--2000
  • -  Political campaign funds--2000
  • -  Political patronage--2000

Format Headings

  • Editorial cartoons--2000.
  • Ink drawings--2000.

Genre

  • Editorial cartoons--2000
  • Ink drawings--2000

Notes

  • -  Caption label from exhibit "Herblock's History Hare and Tortoise": The unlimited "soft money" raised by national party organizations can be spent on advertisements that skirt the campaign finance reforms brought on by the excess of the Watergate era. Herb Block has consistently pointed out that the skyrocketing campaign contributions and expenditures threaten "government by the people and for the people." As for "free speech" arguments, he says "that there is nothing free about sales of public office to high bidders, who buy and pay for elections and influence."
  • -  Distributed by Creators Syndicate, Inc.
  • -  Published in the Washington Post, May 18, 2000.
  • -  Copyright 2000 by Herblock.
  • -  Forms part of: Herbert L. Block Collection (Library of Congress).
  • -  Exhibited in: "Herblock's History: Political Cartoons from the Crash to the Millennium" at the Library of Congress, 2000-2001. (138)
  • -  Exhibited in: "Political Humor : a tribute to Herblock" at the University of Virginia Art Museum, 2003.

Medium

  • 1 drawing on paper : ink, crayon, porous point pen, opaque white, and overlays over blue pencil underdrawing ; 56 x 38.1 cm (sheet)

Call Number/Physical Location

  • BLOCK, no. 14419 (C size) [P&P]

Source Collection

  • Block, Herbert, 1909-2001. Herbert L. Block collection (Library of Congress)

Repository

Digital Id

  • ppmsc 03606 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsc.03606
  • cph 3c27456 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3c27456

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 00652526

Reproduction Number

  • LC-DIG-ppmsc-03606 (digital file from original) LC-USZ62-127456 (b&w film copy neg.)

Rights Advisory

Online Format

  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress does not own rights to material in its collections. Therefore, it does not license or charge permission fees for use of such material and cannot grant or deny permission to publish or otherwise distribute the material.

Ultimately, it is the researcher's obligation to assess copyright or other use restrictions and obtain permission from third parties when necessary before publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the Library's collections.

For information about reproducing, publishing, and citing material from this collection, as well as access to the original items, see: Herbert Block ("Herblock") - Rights and Restrictions Information

  • Rights Advisory: Publication may be restricted. For information see "Herbert Block ("Herblock") Rights and Restrictions," https://aj.sunback.homes/rr/print/res/271_herb.html
  • Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsc-03606 (digital file from original) LC-USZ62-127456 (b&w film copy neg.)
  • Call Number: BLOCK, no. 14419 (C size) [P&P]
  • Access Advisory: ---

Obtaining Copies

If an image is displaying, you can download it yourself. (Some images display only as thumbnails outside the Library of Congress because of rights considerations, but you have access to larger size images on site.)

Alternatively, you can purchase copies of various types through Library of Congress Duplication Services.

  1. If a digital image is displaying: The qualities of the digital image partially depend on whether it was made from the original or an intermediate such as a copy negative or transparency. If the Reproduction Number field above includes a reproduction number that starts with LC-DIG..., then there is a digital image that was made directly from the original and is of sufficient resolution for most publication purposes.
  2. If there is information listed in the Reproduction Number field above: You can use the reproduction number to purchase a copy from Duplication Services. It will be made from the source listed in the parentheses after the number.

    If only black-and-white ("b&w") sources are listed and you desire a copy showing color or tint (assuming the original has any), you can generally purchase a quality copy of the original in color by citing the Call Number listed above and including the catalog record ("About This Item") with your request.

  3. If there is no information listed in the Reproduction Number field above: You can generally purchase a quality copy through Duplication Services. Cite the Call Number listed above and include the catalog record ("About This Item") with your request.

Price lists, contact information, and order forms are available on the Duplication Services Web site.

Access to Originals

Please use the following steps to determine whether you need to fill out a call slip in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room to view the original item(s). In some cases, a surrogate (substitute image) is available, often in the form of a digital image, a copy print, or microfilm.

  1. Is the item digitized? (A thumbnail (small) image will be visible on the left.)

    • Yes, the item is digitized. Please use the digital image in preference to requesting the original. All images can be viewed at a large size when you are in any reading room at the Library of Congress. In some cases, only thumbnail (small) images are available when you are outside the Library of Congress because the item is rights restricted or has not been evaluated for rights restrictions.
      As a preservation measure, we generally do not serve an original item when a digital image is available. If you have a compelling reason to see the original, consult with a reference librarian. (Sometimes, the original is simply too fragile to serve. For example, glass and film photographic negatives are particularly subject to damage. They are also easier to see online where they are presented as positive images.)
    • No, the item is not digitized. Please go to #2.

  2. Do the Access Advisory or Call Number fields above indicate that a non-digital surrogate exists, such as microfilm or copy prints?

    • Yes, another surrogate exists. Reference staff can direct you to this surrogate.
    • No, another surrogate does not exist. Please go to #3.
  3. If you do not see a thumbnail image or a reference to another surrogate, please fill out a call slip in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room. In many cases, the originals can be served in a few minutes. Other materials require appointments for later the same day or in the future. Reference staff can advise you in both how to fill out a call slip and when the item can be served.

To contact Reference staff in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room, please use our Ask A Librarian service or call the reading room between 8:30 and 5:00 at 202-707-6394, and Press 3.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Block, Herbert, Artist. "It's still a representative form of government - they represent us" / Herblock. , ca. 2000. 2000 May 18. Photograph. https://aj.sunback.homes/item/00652526/.

APA citation style:

Block, H. (ca. 2000) "It's still a representative form of government - they represent us" / Herblock. , ca. 2000. 2000 May 18. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://aj.sunback.homes/item/00652526/.

MLA citation style:

Block, Herbert, Artist. "It's still a representative form of government - they represent us" / Herblock. 2000 May 18. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <aj.sunback.homes/item/00652526/>.