Herblock: A Cartoonist's Life

The single finest political cartoon image of a politician and the winner of our national "gut feeling" awareness award goes to Herblock's Richard Nixon rising from a casket with his dracula cape, fangs and 5 o'clock shadow just below the hands holding the wooden stake and mallet. No, Nixon was still alive and kicking when Herblock did that commentary. He was trying to become an "elder statesman" and given his political history of rising from oblivion -- Herblock had him and us dead square.Walt Kelly (Pogo) and Herblock were the seminal political cartoonists of the middle of the century. They are missed. This -- all too short -- book covers the only a few highlights out of a 50 year career. Buy the book. Herblock is gone, but his insights will not fade.GRO

The fact that Herblock's cartoons give conservative Republicans indigestion every time they're published should be one reason to buy this book. The fact that Herblock can be equally scathing of Democrats who wimp out on their responsibilities is another. Contrary to the assessment of the overly-partisan reviewer below, I maintain that Herblock is an equal-opportunity gadfly and, as this autobiography shows, one who has led an interesting life both at the Washington Post and away from it. Buy this book and piss off a conservative!