Herblock
Herblock, the pen name of Herbert Block, was a prominent American editorial cartoonist known for his sharp critiques of political figures and social issues throughout the mid-20th century. He began his career as a cartoonist with the Chicago Daily News and later became associated with The Washington Post, where he worked for the remainder of his life. Renowned for his fearless commentary, Herblock gained recognition for coining the term "McCarthyism" during the 1950s red scare, where he boldly challenged the actions of Senator Joseph McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC).
Herblock's work addressed a variety of pressing topics, including nuclear proliferation, government corruption, and the Civil Rights movement. His cartoons, characterized by wit and insight, not only garnered three Pulitzer Prizes but also resonated with a wide audience—his illustrations were featured in over three hundred newspapers by the 1990s. His ability to blend humor with serious commentary made him a significant figure in American journalism, inspiring others to confront issues of power and injustice. Herblock's legacy endures as a testament to the impact of editorial cartooning in shaping public discourse.
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Herblock
- Born: October 13, 1909
- Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
- Died: October 7, 2001
- Place of death: Washington, D.C
Identification American editorial cartoonist
During the 1950’s, the willingness of Pulitzer Prize-winner Herblock to draw cartoons criticizing U.S. senator Joseph McCarthy and the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) emboldened others of all political leanings to be similarly outspoken.
One of the few editorial cartoonists who stood up to the 1950’s red scare, Herbert Block is credited with coining the term “McCarthyism.” Block, who had used the pen name Herblock since he was a teenage cartoonist, was inspired by family members. His father drew for Judge and other magazines, and he and Herbert’s older brother had been Chicago newspapermen.
After a stint as a police reporter with Chicago’s City News Bureau, Block began cartooning with the Chicago Daily News when he was nineteen. Four years later, he became the only editorial cartoonist with the Newspapers Enterprise Association (NEA) feature service, where his illustrations commented on poverty, fascism, and other current events. During the early 1940’s, the NEA president sought to temper Block’s enthusiastic jabs at tyranny, but the cartoonist was spared any censoring. He won the Pulitzer Prize for work done in 1941 and was drafted into the military in 1943. After World War II, Block was hired by The Washington Post, where he worked the rest of his career.
Critiquing the Era
During the 1950’s, Herblock anticipated social issues that lasted for decades, commenting on nuclear proliferation, the Civil Rights movement, and government corruption. He also attacked dictators of all stripes, from Nazis to communists, and criticized what he saw as demagoguery. He targeted such figures as Father Charles Coughlin, a liberal who advocated social justice, the corrupt politician Huey Long, Vice President Richard M. Nixon, and Joseph R. McCarthy, who became notorious for his witch-hunts of alleged communists. Block upset his Washington employer when he criticized Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1952 presidential campaign but was noticeably ahead of the press corps concerning McCarthy.
A civil libertarian, Block believed that there was something wrong about a handful of congressmen electing themselves to decide who and what was un-American. In fact, Herblock’s caricatures of McCarthy and Nixon, featuring rough, shady faces, reportedly annoyed both men to such an extent that McCarthy started shaving twice a day, and Nixon sought to erase the Herblock image.
Impact
“No editorial cartoonist in American history, not even nineteenth century political cartoonist Thomas Nast, has made a more lasting impression on the nation than Herbert Block,” wrote Library of Congress curator Harry L. Katz. With humor, wit, and insight, Herblock tackled controversial topics throughout his career, but the Pulitzer Prize he won in 1954—the second of three he earned—was for his running graphic commentaries on the HUAC and McCarthyism. Besides recognition by his peers in the press, Herblock earned widespread popularity: More than three hundred newspapers were using his cartoons by the 1990’s. His commitment and consistency encouraged others to take on McCarthy, as well as southern racists, Nixon, and many more targets.
Bibliography
Block, Herbert. Herblock: A Cartoonist’s Life. New York: Times Books/Random House, 1998. Herblock’s memoirs.
Block, Herbert. The Herblock Book. Boston: Beacon Press, 1952. A representative sampling of Herblock’s works from the 1950’s.