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Photo, Print, Drawing "Now, where was I? Oh, yes -- why don't all the poor people get out and work!"

[ digital file from original drawing ]

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

About this Item

Title

  • "Now, where was I? Oh, yes -- why don't all the poor people get out and work!"

Summary

  • Editorial cartoon shows a Congressman, with a 41% pay increase letter in his pocket, giving a speech about the need for welfare recipients having a work ethic. He is surrounded by suitcases labeled "Congressional Easter recess", "February recess", "Long weekends", and "Junkets" representing Congress' extensive time off from work.

Names

  • Block, Herbert, 1909-2001, artist

Created / Published

  • 4/11/1969.

Headings

  • -  United States.--Congress
  • -  Travel--1960-1970
  • -  Vacations--1960-1970
  • -  Wages--1960-1970
  • -  Poor persons--1960-1970
  • -  Congressional privileges & immunities--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 1969": Countering a congressman's words about the need for welfare recipients to have a work ethic, Herblock surrounded him with suitcases representing congressional perks and put a fat pay raise in his pocket. Most new presidential administrations set a quick legislative agenda typically addressed in the State of the Union address, but in 1969, Congress had not passed any legislation prior to leaving on an April recess. Later, the Nixon administration attempted to make reform of the welfare system a priority, but the Senate blocked it.
  • -  Title from item.
  • -  Signed "Herblock" lower left.
  • -  Published in the Washington Post, April 11, 1969.
  • -  Copyright, 1969, by Herblock.
  • -  Forms part of: Herbert L. Block collection (Library of Congress).
  • -  Exhibited: "Herblock Looks at 1969 : Fifty Years Ago in Editorial Cartoons" at the Graphic Arts Gallery, Thomas Jefferson Building, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., September 2019 - March 2020.

Medium

  • 1 drawing : graphite, India ink, and opaque white over graphite drawing ; sheet 56 x 38.1 cm.

Call Number/Physical Location

  • BLOCK, no. 7256 (BB size)

Source Collection

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

Repository

Digital Id

  • hlb 07256 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hlb.07256

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2012637880

Reproduction Number

  • LC-DIG-hlb-07256 (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-07256 (digital file from original drawing)
  • Call Number: BLOCK, no. 7256 (BB size)
  • Access Advisory: ---

Obtaining Copies

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    • 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. "Now, where was I? Oh, yes -- why don't all the poor people get out and work!". , 1969. 4/11. Photograph. https://aj.sunback.homes/item/2012637880/.

APA citation style:

Block, H. (1969) "Now, where was I? Oh, yes -- why don't all the poor people get out and work!". , 1969. 4/11. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://aj.sunback.homes/item/2012637880/.

MLA citation style:

Block, Herbert, Artist. "Now, where was I? Oh, yes -- why don't all the poor people get out and work!". 4/11. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <aj.sunback.homes/item/2012637880/>.