Ohio History Journal

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328 OHIO HISTORY

328                                                  OHIO HISTORY

Book Reviews

 

 

A Cartoon History of United States Foreign Policy: 1776-1976. By the

Editors of the Foreign Policy Association. (New York: William Morrow

and Company, 1975. xi + 210p.; illustrations, guide to sources, index.

Cloth, $7.95; paper, $3.95.)

The word "cartoon" in a title immediately creates an impression that a

work is light, is designed to entertain, and is not meant to be taken seriously,

which is certainly the case with this book. It is not a complete history of

American foreign policy by any means. Although the first cartoon dates back

to 1754, the early years of the republic are glossed over very quickly. More

than half of the book is devoted to the post-World War II era.

The cartoons themselves are entertaining and informative, not only of the

history of the period, but of taste in satire and of technique. A reader with an

intellectual interest in art will find the collection worthy of study. Works of

such men as Thomas Nast, Rollin Kirby, Daniel Fitzpatrick, Herbert

"Herblock" Block, Jay N. "Ding" Darling (whose drawings I used to see in

the old New York Herald Tribune, but which are attributed here to the Des

Moines Register), Bill Mauldin, and Pat Oliphant are represented. Even

cartoon strips such as "Pogo," "B.C.," "Small Society," and the "Wizard

of Id" put in brief and very funny appearances. Unfortunately, a brief

running text is provided. It is so unsatisfactory that I cannot believe that the

Foreign Policy Association could have had anything to do with it. To say the

least, it is sloppily written. Whoever was responsible commits most of the

errors that I do not permit my own students to make in term papers, such as

referring to newly introduced individuals merely by their last names without

any other introduction. I dislike such contractions as "can't," "didn't," or

"wouldn't." What is done in ordinary conversation is not necessarily proper

in written exposition. Also very annoying is the use of such slangy expres-

sions as "name of the game" (p.40), or "piece of the action" (p.43). This is

the kind of writing that puts freshmen into remedial composition classes, or

ought to.

The book does not seem to have been proofread with much care. At least

one line is omitted after line three on page seventy-five, which renders the

passage gibberish. Such a mistake should have been caught. On page one we

read a reference to the eight British colonies rather than the customary

thirteen. On page seventy-three the Sudetenland is placed in eastern

Czechoslovakia.

Much more serious is a statement on page eighty to the effect that Franklin

Roosevelt was considering asking Congress for a declaration of war before

the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. In all the books I have read on the

subject, I have never seen such a charge made. I am willing to acknowledge

that the distinguished editors of the Foreign Policy Association undoubtedly

have a greater command of the sources than I, but in the absence of any

references I could not check that statement. Until the allegation is substan-

tiated I, for one, cannot accept it at its face value.

The Foreign Policy Association has not done itself credit to have allowed

this work to appear under its auspices.

 

Kent State University                             Harold Schwartz