Skip to main content

Search

My Visit
Donate
Home Smithsonian Institution

Site Navigation

  • Visit
    • Museums and Zoo
    • Entry and Guidelines
    • Maps and Brochures
    • Dine and Shop
    • Accessibility
    • Visiting with Kids
    • Group Visits
      • Group Sales
  • What's On
    • Exhibitions
      • Current
      • Upcoming
      • Past
    • Online Events
    • All Events
    • IMAX & Planetarium
  • Explore
    • - Art & Design
    • - History & Culture
    • - Science & Nature
    • - Innovation & Tech
    • Collections
      • Open Access
      • Snapshot
    • Research Resources
      • Libraries
      • Archives
        • Smithsonian Institution Archives
        • Air and Space Museum
        • Anacostia Community Museum
        • American Art Museum
        • Archives of American Art
        • Archives of American Gardens
        • American History Museum
        • American Indian Museum
        • Asian Art Museum Archives
        • Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, African Art
        • Hirshhorn Archive
        • National Anthropological Archives
        • National Portrait Gallery
        • Ralph Rinzler Archives, Folklife
        • Libraries' Special Collections
    • Podcasts
    • Stories
  • Learn
    • For Caregivers
    • For Educators
      • Art & Design Resources
      • Science & Nature Resources
      • Social Studies & Civics Resources
      • STEAM Learning Resources
      • Professional Development
      • Events for Educators
      • Field Trips
    • For Students
    • For Academics
    • For Lifelong Learners
  • Support Us
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Membership
    • Make a Gift
    • Volunteer
      • Smithsonian Call Center
      • Ambassador Program
      • Museum Information Desk
      • Docent Programs
      • Behind-the-Scenes
      • Digital Volunteers
      • Participatory Science
  • About
    • Our Organization
      • Board of Regents
        • Members
        • Committees
        • Reading Room
        • Bylaws, Policies and Procedures
        • Schedules and Agendas
        • Meeting Minutes
        • Actions
        • Webcasts
        • Contact
      • Museums and Zoo
      • Research Centers
      • Cultural Centers
      • Education Centers
      • General Counsel
        • Legal History
        • Internships
        • Records Requests
          • Reading Room
        • Tort Claim
        • Subpoenas & Testimonies
        • Events
      • Office of Human Resources
        • Employee Benefits
        • How to Apply
        • Job Opportunities
        • Job Seekers with Disabilities
        • Frequently Asked Questions
        • SI Civil Program
        • Contact Us
      • Office of Equal Opportunity
        • EEO Complaint Process
        • Individuals with Disabilities
        • Small Business Program
          • Doing Business with Us
          • Contracting Opportunities
          • Additional Resources
        • Special Emphasis Program
      • Sponsored Projects
        • Policies
          • Combating Trafficking in Persons
          • Animal Care and Use
          • Human Research
        • Reports
        • Internships
    • Our Leadership
    • Reports and Plans
      • Annual Reports
      • Metrics Dashboard
        • Dashboard Home
        • Virtual Smithsonian
        • Public Engagement
        • National Collections
        • Research
        • People & Operations
      • Strategic Plan
    • Newsdesk
      • News Releases
      • Media Contacts
      • Photos and Video
      • Media Kits
      • Fact Sheets
      • Visitor Stats
      • Secretary and Admin Bios
      • Filming Requests

Johnson as Lear

National Portrait Gallery

Object Details

Artist
David Levine, 20 Dec 1926 - 29 Dec 2009
Sitter
Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr., 27 May 1911 - 13 Jan 1978
Lyndon Baines Johnson, 27 Aug 1908 - 22 Jan 1973
Robert Francis Kennedy, 20 Nov 1925 - 6 Jun 1968
Wilbur Daigh Mills, 24 May 1909 - 2 May 1992
Exhibition Label
Named Time’s 1964 “Man of the Year” because of his remarkable presidential successes, Lyndon Johnson (1908–1973) received that distinction again in 1967 for his perceived failures. Violently scorned for escalating the Vietnam War, chastised by African Americans for moving too slowly on civil rights, and hounded in Congress for the costliness of his ambitious domestic programs, Johnson had even been deserted by much of his own Democratic Party. By the first week of 1968, when this caricature appeared on Time’s cover, his approval rating had plummeted from a peak of 80 percent to 38 percent.
Artist David Levine (1926–2009) took his inspira- tion from Shakespeare’s play King Lear (c. 1606), which centers on a man who runs afoul of his children and his own good intentions. Fellow Democrats Senator Robert Kennedy (1925–1968) and Representative Wilbur Mills (1909–1992) belea- guered the president; only one member of Johnson’s political “family” remained loyal: Vice President Hubert Humphrey (1911–1978).
Lyndon Johnson (1908–1973) fue “Hombre del Año” de la revista Time en 1964 por sus notables logros en la presidencia, y volvió a serlo en 1967, esa vez por lo que se opinaba eran sus fracasos. Despreciado con violencia por intensificar la guerra de Vietnam, criticado por los afroamericanos por su lento avance en materia de derechos civiles y atacado en el Congreso por el alto costo de sus ambiciosos programas domésticos, Johnson incluso fue abandonado por gran parte de su propio Partido Demócrata. Para la primera semana de 1968, cuando apareció esta caricatura en la portada de Time, su índice de aprobación se había desplomado de 80 por ciento a 38 por ciento.
El artista David Levine (1926–2009) se inspiró en el drama shakesperiano El rey Lear (c. 1606), sobre un hombre que se enemista con sus hijas y se desvía de sus buenas intenciones. Acosado por sus compañeros demócratas, el senador Robert Kennedy (1925–1968) y el representante Wilbur Mills (1909–1992), el presidente solo contaba en su “familia” política con un miembro fiel: el vicepresi- dente Hubert Humphrey (1911–1978).
Collection Description
In 1978, Time magazine donated approximately eight hundred works of original cover art to the National Portrait Gallery. The museum is dedicated to telling the stories of individuals who have shaped the United States, and the Time Collection—featuring prominent international figures and events—enriches our understanding of the United States in a global context.
En 1978, la revista Time donó a la National Portrait Gallery cerca de 800 obras de arte originales creadas para sus portadas. Nuestro museo se dedica a narrar la historia de figuras que han contribuido a forjar el desarrollo de Estados Unidos, y es así que la Colección Time, que incluye retratos de importantes personalidades internacionales, nos ayuda a comprender mejor a nuestra nación en un contexto global.
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Time magazine
1967
Object number
NPG.78.TC475
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Copyright
© David Levine
Type
Drawing
Medium
Ink and graphite pencil on paper
Dimensions
Sheet: 37.5 × 27.6 cm (14 3/4 × 10 7/8")
Mat: 45.7 × 35.6 cm (18 × 14")
See more items in
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Location
Currently not on view
National Portrait Gallery
Topic
Costume\Dress Accessory\Eyeglasses
Costume\Headgear\Headdress\Crown
Religious\Halo
Cartoon\Political
Lyndon Baines Johnson: Male
Lyndon Baines Johnson: Arts and Culture\Literature\Writer
Lyndon Baines Johnson: Politics and Government\Vice-President of US
Lyndon Baines Johnson: Arts and Culture\Education and Scholarship\Educator\Teacher
Lyndon Baines Johnson: Politics and Government\Government official\President of US
Lyndon Baines Johnson: Social Welfare and Reform\Philanthropist
Lyndon Baines Johnson: Politics and Government\Government official\US Senator\Texas
Lyndon Baines Johnson: Politics and Government\Government official\US Congressman\Texas
Lyndon Baines Johnson: Civilian awards\Presidential Medal of Freedom
Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr.: Male
Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr.: Politics and Government\Presidential candidate
Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr.: Politics and Government\Vice-President of US
Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr.: Arts and Culture\Education and Scholarship\Educator\Professor\University
Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr.: Politics and Government\Government official\US Senator\Minnesota
Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr.: Politics and Government\Government official\Public official\Mayor\Minneapolis, MN
Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr.: Medicine and Health\Pharmacist
Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr.: Arts and Culture\Journalism and Media\Broadcast journalist\Newscaster
Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr.: Civilian awards\Presidential Medal of Freedom
Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr.: Civilian awards\Congressional Gold Medal
Robert Francis Kennedy: Male
Robert Francis Kennedy: Politics and Government\Government official\US Senator\New York
Robert Francis Kennedy: Law and Crime\Lawyer
Robert Francis Kennedy: Politics and Government\Government official\Cabinet member\US Attorney General
Robert Francis Kennedy: Arts and Culture\Literature\Writer
Robert Francis Kennedy: Politics and Government\Presidential candidate
Robert Francis Kennedy: Politics and Government\Campaign director
Robert Francis Kennedy: Politics and Government\Brother of US President
Robert Francis Kennedy: Civilian awards\Congressional Gold Medal
Wilbur Daigh Mills: Male
Wilbur Daigh Mills: Law and Crime\Lawyer
Wilbur Daigh Mills: Politics and Government\Government official\US Congressman\Arkansas
Portrait
Record ID
npg_NPG.78.TC475
Metadata Usage (text)
Usage conditions apply
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4cf18e411-c819-436f-9897-2fc822bcaeb4

Related Content

  • 1968: A Year in the Collections

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
View manifest View in Mirador Viewer

Footer logo

Link to homepage

Footer navigation

  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Get Involved
  • Inspector General
  • Records Requests
  • Accessibility
  • EEO & Small Business
  • Shop Online
  • Host Your Event
  • Press Room
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use

Social media links

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn

Get the latest news from the Smithsonian

Sign up for Smithsonian e-news

Get the latest news from the Smithsonian

Email powered by BlackBaud (Privacy Policy, Terms of Use)
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Back to Top