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"George Stevens Jr. (New York, NY) Producer, 'Herblock - The Black & The White'" [3]
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“....Block aggravated politicians, including Senator Joseph McCarthy, who publicly denounced him…” [2] In the late 40s and 50s, McCarthy was exploiting the postwar fears of the American public through his accusations of communist behavior. Herblock coined the term, "McCarthyism" in an attempt to describe the tension. By showing the motives behind the HUAC [House Un-American Activities Committee] madness, the cartoonist helped break the hysterical hypnosis that McCarthy created over the people. |
"Cartoonist Herbert L. Block, cartoonist for The Washington Post's editorial page since 1946 and better known as Herblock, is shown in April 1979." (AP Photo)
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“Herblock and Joe McCarthy were made for each other: the great cartoonist and opponent of government tyranny versus the most destructive demagogue in American history.” [3] |
"Senator Joseph McCarthy (R-Wis.) ... in Washington on March 16, 1954." (AP Photo)
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Herblock was a luminary in the dark cloud of suspicion that McCarthy brought upon the American people. He felt it was his duty to guide the public towards the truth amongst all the accusations that the senator brought forth. He became a frontrunner of the press force, taking on issues that others were scared to tackle.
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Cartoons courtesy of The Herb Block Foundation
Photographs courtesy of Associated Press
Photographs courtesy of Associated Press