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HarpWeek Commentary: Thomas
Nast drew this cartoon in May 1868, but not for Harpers Weekly, for which he
had not worked in more than a year. It was intended for the short-lived Illustrated
Chicago News (April-June 1868), a would-be rival to Harpers Weekly.The cartoon is a close parody of a painting by J. L.
Gérôme called "The Death of Caesar." Nast obviously thought Johnson would be
impeached, so he showed him lying dead on the floor with his chair upside down and his
vetoes at his side. In the right front, a scroll has "Tenure of Office" written
on it. Johnsons own words "Treason is a crime and must be punished" are
thrown back at him in the sign over his head.
The Republican gladiators with their swords
upraised constituted the Managers to conduct the Impeachment. They are (from the left)
George Boutwell (Mass.), John Logan (IL.), John Bingham (Ohio), James Wilson (Iowa),
Benjamin Butler (Mass.), and Thomas Williams (PA). Thaddeus Stevens (PA) is shown exiting
the scene on the far right. Stevens died in August 1868; it is obvious that this cartoon
was drawn well before his death.
However, Harpers Weekly waited
for the end of Johnsons term before publishing it in the issue of March 13, 1869,
along with a contemptuous editorial. By then Nast was back as a regular contributor and
brought this cartoon with him. |
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Articles Related to the Remainder of Johnson's Term
and Life:
The Democratic
Convention (Give me another Horse) (cartoon)
July 25, 1868, page 480
All Quiet on the Potomac (cartoon)
October 31, 1868, page 695
Andrew Johnson
March 13, 1869, page 162
The Political Death of the Bogus Caesar (cartoon)
March 13, 1869, page 164
A. J. Returns to his First Love (cartoon)
March 6, 1869, page 160
"Farewell, A Long Farewell, To All My
Greatness!" (cartoon)
March 13, 1869, page 176
Preparing To Go Out (cartoon)
March 13, 1869, page 171
Home At Last (cartoon)
April 24, 1869, page 267
Notes
November 6, 1869, page 707
"Poor Andy" (cartoon)
November 20, 1869, page 752
Mr. Seward
March 20, 1869, page 178
The Whirligig Of Time (cartoon)
February 20, 1875, page 164
Death of Andrew Johnson
August 14, 1875, page 655
The Late Andrew Johnson (illus)
August 14, 1875, page 665