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Long Live King Andy I Cartoon

Description:

This cartoon appeared about two weeks before Election Day. Andrew Johnson sits as King with Secretary of State William H. Seward as his grand vizier pointing to the line for the chopping block. The upside down duck on the medallion refers to John Forney, one of Andrew Johnson's loudest critics, who was called a "Dead Duck" by Johnson when asked to defend himself against Forney. Thomas Nast used the "Order of Dead Ducks" to ridicule Johnson on several occasions symbolizing his lack of political influence.

At the left is Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles pictured as Neptune, Roman god of the sea. The "290" on his chest is the original number for the Alabama, the British-built warship that the Confederates under Raphael Semmes used to sink Union merchant ships during the war. At the right, Columbia sits in chains. Seward is also shown below because he made a speech in St. Louis after Johnson spoke in which he referred to a king-minister relationship as an analogy for Johnson and himself.

The man with his head on the chopping block is Thaddeus Stevens, Johnson’s principal adversary in the House. Behind Stevens are abolitionist Wendell Phillips, publisher John W. Forney, Senator Charles Sumner (Johnson’s principal adversary in the Senate), Congressman (and General) Benjamin Butler, orator Anna Elizabeth Dickinson, publisher Horace Greeley, Congressman John Logan and, at the very end stands Thomas Nast with a sketchbook under his arm.

Creator:

Thomas Nast for Harper's Weekly

Creation Date:

November 3, 1866

Collection Title:

Harper's Weekly

Collection Number:

051 H236, 1866

Image Number:

nov 3, 1866