When reading many of the cartoons on this site it is hard to tell if it is 2008 or 1929. The editorial cartoons seem to carry the same basic messages. This cartoon shows a despondent gentleman in 18th century garb, labeled "D.C." (District of Columbia) slumped in a chair, surrounded by papers reading "Criticism," "Attack on D.C. Methods," "Demands for Explanation," and "Police Investigation." A heavy gentleman (labeled "Wall Street") with a bandaged head, entangled in yards of ticker tape, offers his sympathy. The government of the District of Columbia came under heavy criticism in November 1929 for its handling of various incidents including a sensational murder case, police insubordination, and violations of the Prohibition laws.

That followed closely on the great Wall Street market crash of October,29 1929. The cartoonist suggests that both New York and Washington have their problems. Berryman generally depicted the District as an 18th century colonist, reflecting the fact that its residents had no vote.

Clifford K Berryman, (1869-1949), was a famous political cartoonist who worked for the Washington Star from 1902-1949, won the Pulitzer Prize in 1944 for a cartoon on manpower mobilization. His son, James T. Berryman (1902-1971), won the Pulitzer for his 1950 cartoon, "All Set for a Super-Secret Session in Washington."

Clifford Berryman was the source of the cartoon that created the term "teddybear." The name derives from a bear-hunting trip in Sharkey County, Mississippi in 1902, when Theodore Roosevelt's tracker found and caught an old injured bear. Roosevelt refused to kill the lassoed animal, calling it "unsportsmanlike," and "Teddy's Bear" was immediately publicized by political cartoonists, taking journalistic license and changing it to a young and cute bear. Berryman immortalized the incident as part of a front-page cartoon montage. Berryman pictured Roosevelt with his gun beside him with the butt resting on the ground and his back to the bear, gesturing his refusal to take the trophy shot. Written across the lower part of the cartoon were the words "Drawing the Line in Mississippi," which coupled the hunting incident to a political dispute.

Medium : 1 drawing :

Created/Published : November, 1929

Creator : Clifford K. Berryman, artist, 1869-1949

Part of the Cartoon Drawing Collection housed in the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress

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Product #: acd2a06269