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Photo, Print, Drawing "We seem to have that paper tiger in our tank"

[ digital file from original drawing ]

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

About this Item

Title

  • "We seem to have that paper tiger in our tank"

Summary

  • Editorial cartoon drawing shows a soldier labeled "North Viet-Nam" running for cover as American bombs labeled "U.S. Retaliatory Strike" blow up supplies on a military supply route from China.

Names

  • Block, Herbert, 1909-2001, artist

Created / Published

  • 2/10/1965.

Headings

  • -  Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Air operations--American
  • -  Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Equipment & supplies--Vietnamese
  • -  Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Economic & industrial aspects--Vietnamese
  • -  Soldiers--Vietnamese--Vietnam (Democratic Republic)--1960-1970
  • -  Aerial bombings--Vietnam (Democratic Republic)--1960-1970

Format Headings

  • Drawings--American--1960-1970.
  • Editorial cartoons--American--1960-1970.

Genre

  • Editorial cartoons--American--1960-1970
  • Drawings--American--1960-1970

Notes

  • -  Caption label from exhibit "Herblock Looks at 1965": In this cartoon Herblock uses the term "paper tiger," a Chinese adage that signifies something is less threatening than it appears. Herblock intends the phrase to be ironic, arguing that Operation Flaming Dart, the aggressive U.S. response on February 7-8, 1965, to North Vietnamese attacks on U.S. military bases was effective in surprising the North Vietnamese. While President Johnson relied on bombing early in 1965, he waited as late as March 8, 1965, before sending ground forces into Vietnam.
  • -  Title from item.
  • -  Signed "Herblock" lower right.
  • -  Published in the Washington Post, February 10, 1965.
  • -  Copyright, 1965, by Herblock.
  • -  Inscribed in pencil at top left: 2-10-65.
  • -  Forms part of: Herbert L. Block collection (Library of Congress).
  • -  Exhibited: "Herblock Looks at 1965 : Fifty Years Ago in Editorial Cartoons" at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., March - September 2015.

Medium

  • 1 drawing : India ink, graphite, and opaque white over graphite underdrawing ; sheet 57.6 x 38.4 cm.

Call Number/Physical Location

  • BLOCK, no. 6257 (BB size)

Source Collection

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

Repository

Digital Id

  • hlb 06257 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hlb.06257

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2012636191

Reproduction Number

  • LC-DIG-hlb-06257 (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-hlb-06257 (digital file from original drawing)
  • Call Number: BLOCK, no. 6257 (BB size)
  • Access Advisory: ---

Obtaining Copies

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  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.
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  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.

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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. "We seem to have that paper tiger in our tank". Vietnam Democratic Republic, 1965. 2/10. Photograph. https://aj.sunback.homes/item/2012636191/.

APA citation style:

Block, H. (1965) "We seem to have that paper tiger in our tank". Vietnam Democratic Republic, 1965. 2/10. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://aj.sunback.homes/item/2012636191/.

MLA citation style:

Block, Herbert, Artist. "We seem to have that paper tiger in our tank". 2/10. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <aj.sunback.homes/item/2012636191/>.