The Dirksen Congressional Center is pleased to announce the completion of their
Editorial Cartoon Collection project:
http://www.congresslink.org/cartoons/index.htm

The editorial cartoons and related lesson plans from The Dirksen Center will
teach students to identify issues, analyze symbols, acknowledge the need for
background knowledge, recognize stereotypes and caricatures, think critically,
and appreciate the role of irony and humor.

- About the Collection -

Editorial cartoonists loved Everett Dirksen (1896-1969)-his position of
influence as Minority Leader in the Senate (1959-69), his way with words, and,
of course, his distinctive appearance. Over the years, Senator Dirksen's staff
compiled a scrapbook containing more than 300 editorial cartoons. Topics covered
include Vietnam, civil rights, Republican Party politics, the Nuclear Test Ban
Treaty, reapportionment, Taft-Hartley 14(b), school prayer, Dirksen's recording
career, Senate procedures, congressional pay, presidential appointments, and
Dirksen's legacy. Naturally, cartoonists also used these topics to depict
Dirksen's relationship with President Lyndon Johnson, with his Democratic
colleagues in the Senate, and with the Supreme Court. In addition, cartoonists
sent Dirksen between 50 and 60 original sketches on equally diverse topics.

Among the scores of cartoonists represented in the collection are Herblock, Gib
Crockett, Hugo, Bill Mauldin, Gene Basset, Pat Oliphant, Al Capp, Wayne
Stayskal, Jim Berry, Guernsey LePelley, Tom Engelhardt, Paul Conrad, and Jim
Berryman.

There are only six of the original three hundred plus cartoons posted at this
time. Not all will lend themselves to lesson plans, though we will add to the
list as time permits -- we're working on 14 additional lesson plans at the
moment. We do plan to post all of the cartoons on the Web site. As you can
imagine, it takes time and we wanted to start small and adjust as necessary.

We welcome you to take a look and let us know what you think!

Cindy Koeppel
The Dirksen Congressional Center
2815 Broadway
Pekin, IL 61554
Phone: 309.347.7113
Fax: 309.347.6432
E-mail: ckoeppel@...
http://www.dirksencongressionalcenter.org