1936.03.17 “The 1936 Gubernatorial Election”
by Clifford Kennedy Berryman (1869-1949)
13 x 13 in., ink on board
Coppola Collection
Berryman was a Pulitzer Prize–winning cartoonist with The Washington Star newspaper from 1907 to 1949. He was appointed draftsman to the United States Patent Office in Washington, DC, serving there from 1886 to 1891. During his tenure, Berryman submitted sketches to The Washington Post. In 1891, he became an understudy of political cartoonist George Y Coffin at The Washington Post. After Coffin died in 1896, Berryman took over the position as cartoonist for the newspaper.
Berryman was a prominent figure in Washington, President Harry S. Truman once told him, "You are ageless and timeless. Presidents, senators and even Supreme Court justices come and go, but the Monument and Berryman stand.”
New York Times: Lehman Candidacy will aid Roosevelt; his promise to run again no surprise.
Local Democratic leaders were much interested yesterday in the report that Governor Herbert H. Lehman on his recent visit to President Roosevelt at the White House had agreed tentatively to run for re-election. The report caused no surprise, as it has been assumed for some time that the Governor would comply with a request from the President to run again.
His renomination, it is believed, would be a great aid to President Roosevelt in carrying New York State, and the forty-seven electoral votes of New York might decide the Presidential election. Renomination of Governor Lehman, according to local Democrats, would place former Governor Alfred E. Smith in somewhat of a dilemma. Mr. Smith has indicated that he will not support President Roosevelt for re-election. It is believed that he would support Governor Lehman, to whom he is indebted for personal and financial support in his campaigns for Governor and President. Renomination of Governor Lehman, President Roosevelt's supporters believe, would greatly weaken the effect of Mr. Smith's opposition to the President in the coming campaign.
The delivery of the message comes from GH O’Connor. George Henry O'Connor (1874-1946) was an American lawyer, businessman and singer. He was described at the time of his death as "almost beyond a doubt the most popular man in Washington."
At the same time as his legal career, he became a leading stage entertainer and recording artist. O'Connor was the favored entertainer of a succession of US Presidents, from Taft to Truman, particularly at White House Correspondents' Association dinners, and became known as the "Troubadour to the Presidents."
Using O’Connor here was for two reasons, it seems. The first is the message: the song “Tain’t no digrace to run when you’re skeered” was an early 20th C lyric with racist overtones that would likely be in O’Connor’s repertoire. The twist in changing up the words being the scheming FDR who seeks to shore up his own election through Lehman running again.
The cartoon shows FDR with some degree of anxiety. Lehman may not have feared stepping away from office, and was ambivalent about running again, but FDR feared what that decision would mean for him.
The second reason: it’s easy to overlook the dedications on these cartoons, where the artist has gifted the piece to someone. But this time, it’s poignant: “To my life-long friend and perennial pleasure philanthropist George H. O’Connor, with hearty good wishes.”
