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Photo, Print, Drawing "I am authorized to say, 'What whale?'" / Herblock.

[ digital file from original drawing ]

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

About this Item

Title

  • "I am authorized to say, 'What whale?'" / Herblock.

Summary

  • Editorial cartoon shows a Nixon White House spokesman, possibly John Dean, addressing a group of reporters, behind him is a whale labeled "Nixon Scandals" which he is refusing to acknowledge.

Names

  • Block, Herbert, 1909-2001, artist

Created / Published

  • 1973 June 5.

Headings

  • -  Nixon, Richard M.--(Richard Milhous),--1913-1994
  • -  Dean, John W.--(John Wesley),--1938---Public appearances
  • -  Watergate Affair, 1972-1974
  • -  Whales--1970-1980
  • -  Corruption--United States--1970-1980
  • -  Politics & government--United States--1970-1980

Format Headings

  • Editorial cartoons--1970-1980.
  • Ink drawings--1970-1980.

Genre

  • Editorial cartoons--1970-1980
  • Ink drawings--1970-1980

Notes

  • -  Caption label from exhibit "Herblock!" (2009) "Here He Comes Now": Herblock uses the visual metaphor of the dead whale in the room for the evidence that by June 1973 the Watergate scandal had overwhelmed Richard Nixon personally, despite his continued denial. As the Senate began the Watergate hearings on May 18, 1973, Nixon's staff exposed his knowledge and participation in the illegal activities. Washington Post reporters Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward reported on June 3, 1973, that former White House Counsel John Dean, a key Watergate witness, intended to reveal Nixon's involvement when he testified.
  • -  Title from item.
  • -  Signed "Herblock" lower left.
  • -  Published in the Washington Post, June 5, 1973.
  • -  Copyright 1973, by Herblock.
  • -  Forms part of: Herbert L. Block Collection (Library of Congress).
  • -  Exhibited in: "Herblock!" at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., 2009-2010.

Medium

  • 1 drawing on paper : graphite, ink, opaque white, and overlays over blue pencil and graphite underdrawing ; 56.4 x 35.5 cm (sheet)

Call Number/Physical Location

  • BLOCK, no. 8236 (BB size) [P&P]

Source Collection

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

Repository

Digital Id

  • ppmsca 04895 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsca.04895

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2004666591

Reproduction Number

  • LC-DIG-ppmsca-04895 (digital file from original drawing)

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-ppmsca-04895 (digital file from original drawing)
  • Call Number: BLOCK, no. 8236 (BB size) [P&P]
  • Access Advisory: ---

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      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.

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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. "I am authorized to say, 'What whale?'" / Herblock. United States, 1973. June 5. Photograph. https://aj.sunback.homes/item/2004666591/.

APA citation style:

Block, H. (1973) "I am authorized to say, 'What whale?'" / Herblock. United States, 1973. June 5. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://aj.sunback.homes/item/2004666591/.

MLA citation style:

Block, Herbert, Artist. "I am authorized to say, 'What whale?'" / Herblock. June 5. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <aj.sunback.homes/item/2004666591/>.