Top of page

Notice
Tuesday, January 27, 2026: Due to inclement weather, all Library of Congress buildings are closed to the public.

Photo, Print, Drawing "--Notes just confuse him..." / Conrad.

[ digital file from original drawing ]

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

About this Item

Title

  • "--Notes just confuse him..." / Conrad.

Summary

  • Cartoon shows Secretary of State John Foster Dulles playing a trumpet with the mouthpiece stuck in his ear. The music stand in front of him holds no music, but a sign reads "Foreign Policy 'by Ear'". A cheerful President Eisenhower reassures Uncle Sam, saying "Notes just confuse him." In March 1947, at the Gridiron Club Banquet, Senator J. William Fulbright lampooned the secretary in a song saying that peace would have been better served "If you had stood in bed all year and let somebody else play secretary just by ear..." Foreign policy disasters of the previous year included the Soviet invasion of Hungary and the Suez Canal crisis. Dulles's aggressive foreign policy inspired considerable criticism, but Eisenhower gave him his full backing.

Names

  • Conrad, Paul, 1924-2010, artist

Created / Published

  • 1957.

Headings

  • -  Dulles, John Foster,--1888-1959
  • -  Eisenhower, Dwight D.--(Dwight David),--1890-1969
  • -  Uncle Sam (Symbolic character)--1950-1970
  • -  International relations--United States--1950-1960
  • -  Trumpets--1950-1960

Format Headings

  • Editorial cartoons--American--1950-1960.
  • Ink drawings--American--1950-1960.

Genre

  • Editorial cartoons--American--1950-1960
  • Ink drawings--American--1950-1960

Notes

  • -  Title from item.
  • -  Inscribed: Best regards to Art Wood P.C.
  • -  Forms part of: Art Wood Collection of Caricature and Cartoon (Library of Congress).
  • -  Unprocessed in WOOD/Conrad.357
  • -  Date from verso/ww
  • -  Source: Washington post, Mar. 3, 1957, p. A1 ljr

Medium

  • 1 drawing : ink brush and crayon over graphite underdrawing ; 37.5 x 32.5 cm (sheet)

Call Number/Physical Location

  • Unprocessed in PR 13 CN 2001:055-4 [item] [P&P]

Repository

Digital Id

  • ppmsca 07882 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsca.07882

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2005676913

Reproduction Number

  • LC-DIG-ppmsca-07882 (digital file from original drawing)

Rights Advisory

Online Format

  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

Rights & Access

More about Copyright and other Restrictions

For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.

  • Rights Advisory: Rights status not evaluated. For general information see "Copyright and Other Restrictions...," https://aj.sunback.homes/rr/print/195_copr.html
  • Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-07882 (digital file from original drawing)
  • Call Number: Unprocessed in PR 13 CN 2001:055-4 [item] [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:

Conrad, Paul, Artist. "--Notes just confuse him..." / Conrad. United States, 1957. Photograph. https://aj.sunback.homes/item/2005676913/.

APA citation style:

Conrad, P. (1957) "--Notes just confuse him..." / Conrad. United States, 1957. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://aj.sunback.homes/item/2005676913/.

MLA citation style:

Conrad, Paul, Artist. "--Notes just confuse him..." / Conrad. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <aj.sunback.homes/item/2005676913/>.