Golden Age Political Comic Books - NO MODERN POLITICS! 2 2

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Lucas is Number One!

Scott W. Lucas - The Nation's Number One Senator!

 

Another Commercial Comics production, this time to support Scott W. Lucas, D*mocratic senator from Illinois and Senate Majority Leader. This presents a well-done biography of the senator's life. Too bad this handsome comic book couldn't help him win reelection in 1950 against R*publican Everett Dirksen.

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The Story of Sid McMath

 

The action packed story of the 34th governor of Arkansas! This comic book by Commercial Comics helped push McMath to a second term as Arkansas governor in 1950.

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Senator Brien McMahon – Statesman from Connecticut

 

This guy is the bomb! This was produced by the Citizens Committee for the Reelection of Senator Brian McMahon. The front cover shows Senator McMahon with a futuristic city behind him, complete with soaring rocketships and an atomic bomb’s mushroom cloud! This guy had power! McMahon was the chairman of the Senate special committee on atomic energy in 1945. He sponsored the bill that became the Atomic Energy Act. After an atomic bomb was detonated at Alamogordo New Mexico in July 1945, Senator McMahon called it "the most important thing in history since the birth of Jesus Christ." Next to this rare comic book, that is!

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The Story of Brigadier General William O'Dwyer, Candidate for Mayor of New York

 

In 1945, Brigadier General William O’Dwyer won the race for Mayor of New York City. He was reelected in 1949. He was forced to resign in 1950 after a scandal involving police corruption.

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The Story of Elpidio Quirino - Candidate for the President of the Philippines

 

Free comic books have promoted political candidates in many other countries, including this one from the Philippines to promote Elpidio Quirino. The comic book worked, and President Quirino served from 1948 to 1953.

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In the Good Hands of the Rockefeller Team

 

This 1962 campaign comic book promoted Nelson A. Rockefeller for Governor, Jacob K. Javits for U.S. Senator, Louis Lefkowitz for Attorney General and Malcolm Wilson, Lieutenant Governor, all from the great state of New York. Rocky and Javits won!

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You Need Rockefeller and Javits

 

This half-size comic book also helped promote Rocky and Javits in their bid for reelection. This features nice art, perhaps by Joe Simon.

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The Story of James Roosevelt

 

Roosevelt, oldest son of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, had an interesting life. He was the 1950 D*mocratic candidate for the governor of California. He was beaten by 30 points by Earl Warren. However, he later served as U.S. Representative from California for 10 years. During a subsequent business scandal, his third wife stabbed him eight times with his own Marine combat knife! This classy and scarce comic book shows him in happier times!

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Fayette E. Rowe

 

Fayette E. Rowe served as State Senator of Kansas from Cherokee County. His campaign produced this crude but charming comic book. He won and served from 1958-1964. Primitive yet charming American folk art in a free political comic book.

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Harry Thyng

 

This magazine sized comic book promotes Harry Thyng for United States Senator from New Hampshire. Thyng ran as a R*publican in 1966. Part of his platform was opposition to President Johnson’s Vietnam War policy, supported by D*mocrats. Thyng was defeated. You can’t blame the comic book for his loss – who would vote for a Harry Thyng?

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Commercial Comics

 

Malcolm Ater formed his Commercial Comics to create free comic books for a variety of causes. He found a profitable niche providing comic books for political campaigns. His first effort in the political arena was a huge winner.

 

The Story of Harry S. Truman

 

1948’s ‘The Story of Harry S. Truman” was a classic political free comic book. It provided an engaging story of the candidate in highly readable comic book form.

 

There are two versions of the comic book. One features Truman in a gray suit, and one shows him wearing a black suit. Perhaps the campaign staff thought the initial printing with the black suit made Truman look too much like an undertaker.

 

Anecdotal evidence says that the campaign distributed two and a half million copies of the comic book nationwide. This is close to the margin by which Truman won the election.

 

Truman himself wrote a letter of thanks to Malcolm Ater. He stated that he felt the comic book was largely responsible for his election victory.

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Other Commercial Comics Political Comic Books

 

Ater produced a number of other campaign comic books. Below are just a few…

 

1962

Dale Alford

D*mocratic Candidate for Governor

This 1962 comic book touted Dale Alford for governor of Arkansas.

Result? Alford loses, third in the field.

 

1966

A Man of Action

Maurice “Footsie” Britt

In 1966 Britt runs for lieutenant governor of Arkansas and wins. With a nickname like “Footsie”, how could he lose?

 

1954

Paul H. Douglas

This 1954 comic says “Reelect America's Number One Senator”. This comic helps him win a second term as a senator from Illinois. Douglas was so popular he was considered for a presidential candidate.

 

1954

Charles R. Howell

Howell runs for Senator from the state of New Jersey. Result - he loses narrowly to Clifford P. Case.

 

1960

The Story of Thorn Lord

In 1960 Thorn Lord is candidate for the United States senator from New Jersey. Again, this D*mocrats loses to incumbent Clifford P. Case.

 

1953

Robert B. Meyner

In 1953, Meyner runs for Governor of New Jersey. He wins!

 

1956

Wayne Morse The Man

In 1956 Morse runs for his third term as a senator. He faces a challenge - one year earlier he had switched parties from R*publican to D*mocrat. He says on the back cover, “I am not the property of any political party. My obligation is to the people - all the people of Oregon. My only political boss is my conscience!”

 

Morse uses this comic book to help convince people that he is a maverick speaking out for their interest. He successfully wins his third term as a senator!

 

1959

John Patterson

In 1959, Patterson runs for governor of the state of Alabama. He won. But it was a rough campaign, as the condition of this comic book shows.

 

1958

J. Millard Tawes

Tawes is the D*mocratic candidate for governor of Maryland in 1958. He wins, using this comic book.

 

1958

Harrison “Pete” Williams

Using this comic book, Harrison wins his first election for senator from New Jersey. He is reelected in 1964, 1970, in 1976. Williams is convicted of bribery and conspiracy in 1980 and has to leave the Senate in shame. But he was the first senator from New Jersey to win four terms, and it all began with this comic book.

 

Scorecard

Out of these ten campaigns, free comic books from Commercial Comics helped win seven. An outstanding record!

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CAUSES

 

Giveaway comic books help promote political causes. From higher taxes to lower taxes, from freedom to oppression, comics span the spectrum of political programs and causes.

 

1974 Tempe, Arizona Bikeway Plan

 

This 1974 comic book features well-done art to sell the idea of building a bikeway around the Tempe, Arizona area. It portrays the future as scenic and peaceful as everyone gives up their gas-guzzling automobiles to use bikes. Bucolic scenes of people looking fit and healthy as they ride their bikes are shown in a well done comic book style.

 

In this case there was no political persuasion involved - the deed was already done. The city of Tempe produced this comic book to explain to its valued citizens why they adopted the bikeway plan. This comic book informed citizens in a slightly menacing style how they were going to ride bikes and like it!

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Here's What a R*publican Congress Did for You

 

This was published in 1952. This promotional comic book points out how the R*publican 80th Congress dealt with issues of national defense, the economy, protection from communism, benefits to labor, and agriculture. Busy guys, and they still found time to produce this comic book to brag about it!

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In Other People's Homes

 

This 1964 comic book promotes the Social Security program. It shows that most of us live our lives in other people’s homes. The old lady is looking at you. She’s coming to your home next...

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St. Louis Let's Do It November 8!

 

This unique comic book was published in 1966 to promote a series of bond issues for the city of St. Louis. The causes spanned from street lights to zoos.

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Oregon's Balanced Tax Plan - Ballot Measure Number One

 

This was published by People for a Better Oregon. This hopeful hippie comic book promotes the idea of taxing tourists instead of residents. When was the last time you visited Oregon?

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Responsible Economic Policy and Management really are subjects for Comic Books!

 

Inflation is Your Fight

 

This 1951 comic book from the National Association of Manufacturers points out the wisdom of keeping prices in check after the economic disruption of war. The gripping story encourages personal responsibility and government responsibility. This features nice artwork by DC artist Dan Barry.

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The Street Where You Live

 

This pioneering comic book is called The Street Where You Live and What You Can Do to Improve It. This was produced in 1960 by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

 

This comic book show the importance of voting to improve your community. This encouraged African-Americans to register to vote to help elect politicians that would build stronger communities.

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PHILOSOPHIES and IDEOLOGIES

 

Americanism

 

John F. Kennedy / Spanish Version

The United States Information Agency used comic books to promote the image of the United States around the world. They produced this free comic book to promote the healthy and strong image of then President John F. Kennedy. This was produced shortly before Kennedy’s Assassination. It describes his upcoming reelection campaign. This version is in Spanish. Versions have been reported in English, Turkish, and French.