Rube Goldberg had a lot to say about American elections. His biting wit and loopy cartooning brought welcome smiles and a dash of truth about the unavoidable nuttiness of politics. Later in his career, he left humor comics behind to enjoy a long career as a Pulitzer-Prize-winning political cartoonist. Here are three rare Goldberg gems on the topic of elections.
August 20, 1924. Considering that Americans would vote movie star Ronald Reagan into the office of President about a half century after this cartoon was published, Goldberg was on to something.
November 4, 1929. This cartoon is as relevant today as it was in 1929.
Publication date unknown. This cartoon appeared in numerous newspapers in August 2003 when comics historian Art Wood donated his massive original art collection to the Smithsonian. Among all the art available, Goldberg’s cartoon was chosen as the one to promote the event. The art style is from Goldberg’s later years as a cartoonist and was likely drawn in the 1940s or 50s. Notice the political speech is represented by a cloud of hot air.)
One thought on “Screwball Sunday: I Vote For Rube Goldberg—Three Election Cartoons”
Michael Fraley says:
I’m familiar with Goldberg’s comicstrip work, but had no idea he did political cartoons as well. Like Winsor McCay, Goldberg’s political cartoon style is not exactly Ding or Herblock! Their backgrounds in the “funny pages” groomed them to be something quite “other.”
I’m familiar with Goldberg’s comicstrip work, but had no idea he did political cartoons as well. Like Winsor McCay, Goldberg’s political cartoon style is not exactly Ding or Herblock! Their backgrounds in the “funny pages” groomed them to be something quite “other.”