Herblock: A Cartoonist's Life

by Herbert Block, Herblock

A Cartoonist's Life tells of the remarkable career that has spanned the era from Roosevelt to Clinton. Herb Block opposed isolationism before World War II; warned of nuclear hazards in the '40s; opposed McCarthyism in the '50s and racism in the '50s and '60s; and zeroed in on Watergate in the '70s and Iran-contra and other Reagan-Bush scandals in the '80s.
He coined the word "McCarthyism" and describes that time of fear. He also writes engagingly about personal incidents and meetings with public figures.
Herbert Block has been using the pen name "Herblock" since the age of thirteen, when he started contributing quips and comments to a humor column in the Chicago Tribune and apprenticed himself to the columnist. He dropped out of college to take his first cartooning job with the Chicago Daily News at age 19.
In 1946, after a wartime stint in the Army, he moved to The Washington Post - then a comparatively small paper.
He is the only cartoonist to win the Elijah Parish Lovejoy Award for contributions to the cause of freedom of speech and the press, the National Press Club Fourth Estate Award and the Franklin Roosevelt Freedom Medal. He is also the only living cartoonist whose work is in the National Gallery of Art.

Genres: Memoir, Humor, Politics, Nonfiction, Journalism, Biography

320 pages, Hardcover

First published October 18, 1993

Reviews

[P.J. Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant artist tells it like it was, with sparkling humor. Good insights into five decades of American history. Inside-the-Beltway gossip about American movers and shakers.

Herblock had a sharp pen, considering that he hobnobbed with the people he satirized. He often encountered them at Washington dinners and parties. That could have been awkward, but he was not afraid of the powerful. President Lyndon Johnson said of him, “Oh, he’ll come over and eat your cookies, but then he’ll go back and draw a cartoon giving you hell the next day.” It was a distinction to catch hell from Herblock; his victims sometimes even requested the original cartoons.

His cartoons present a liberal point of view, but no prominent politician was safe from Herblock, who had no sacred cows. He knew lots of celebrities. The reader will enjoy his anecdotes about fellow cartoonists, authors, journalists, even movie stars. Political cartooning is hard work and Herblock excelled at it for half a century. This book suggests that he enjoyed every minute of it!

A fun read, especially for history buffs and political junkies. Lavishly illustrated with you know what. There is also a photo section.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A liberal cartoonist, most famously at the Washington Post, who's been around awhile. The first part of the book tells of growing up in an earlier age, and starting out. I always like starting out stories. The second part of the book is a romp through all the presidents he cartooned (starting with Eisenhower?). Confirms my belief that Reagan was very, very bad.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freedom of the press has always prevailed against attempts by government to control it. We rely on the Press to be a watchdog and report to us what they have uncovered. It is not only through words that this is accomplished, but also by means of political cartoons. One of America's greatest newspapers ever had one of the greatest political cartoonists ever: Herb Block. This book of his shares his life and his work, both of which are a reflection of the political history of the country. The years have not diminished the relevance of his story. Rather, in the current political climate, it is perhaps more relevant than ever.
Published by Macmillan, 1993.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

This memoir by syndicated political cartoonist Herbert Block is a well-written review of his life and work - which is to say, a review of politics from the Depression era to the turn of the 21st century. He had a long and successful career, drawing until shortly before his death. The wit in the memoirs is generally more amiable than the sharp stings of his cartoons, but it is still an interesting tale. He slips into some celebrity stories that are not related to his work, but what the heck. It's his life. Let him tell what he considers the highlights.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

History and humor abound in this delightful book. The foibles of administrations From FDR through Clinton are on display. A great reminder that we have made it through tough times before.
There are many reproductions of his cartoons which add to the book's appeal.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gotta take my review with a grain of salt. I was raised in the shadow of the Capitol during the free-wheeling 60's. So I can relate.

I really loved this book. Mr. Block tells lt like it is; holds nothing back; is in no way ashamed of being a liberal. Part of the charm for me was the book brought back floods of memories of old. It is a most entertaining account of Herblock's life.

The book is organized in a interesting fashion. There are many bite-sized chapters, perfect for those that have only an hour of so for reading. It covers a great deal of modern history, from WWII, FDR, the fabulous fifties (not counting McCarthy here), Truman, Eisenhower, the Kennedy years, the Nixon debaucle, Regean, Bush and Clinton years. Some real interesting ancedotes on living and working at The Washington Post. Highly recommended, especially if you're a geezer AND an ex-Washingtonian.