Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. Artwork under copyright: © The Al Hirschfeld Foundation.
Caricature of James F. Byrnes
Object numberMO 1944.26.6.2
Name
Drawing
Artist
Al Hirschfeld
(American caricaturist, 1903-2003)
Dateca. 1943
Mediumpaper (illustration board), ink
Dimensionsoverall H 7 3/4 in x W 10 3/8 in (19.7 cm x 26.4 cm )
DescriptionAn original pen and ink caricature of James F. Byrnes in the form of a dog. Byrne's face - sporting long, dark eyebrows and drooping features - is placed on the body of a very thin dog with a long neck, long, hanging ears, and a thin, curved tail. The drawing is unsigned by the artist.
Byrnes's name is handwritten twice on the reverse of the caricature for identification purposes, once in pencil (possibly by Al Hirschfeld) and once in ink.
Label TextThis caricature of James F. Byrnes is one of eight pen and ink caricatures (MO 1944.26.6.1-8) that Al Hirschfeld drew of some of Franklin D. Roosevelt's distinguished friends and prominent visitors to the White House. The caricatures were the basis of comedy slide effects used at the National Press Club preview of this subject. The caricatures were sent to FDR in June 1943 by Carter T. Barron, the Washington, DC representative of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures.Byrnes's name is handwritten twice on the reverse of the caricature for identification purposes, once in pencil (possibly by Al Hirschfeld) and once in ink.
A key supporter of the New Deal, James Francis Byrnes (1879-1972) was a close ally of Franklin D. Roosevelt. After first meeting at the Democratic National Convention in 1912, Byrnes supported FDR’s comeback into politics as governor of New York. As a senator from South Carolina from 1931-1941, Byrnes became one of FDR’s men on Capitol Hill who helped to get the job done for the administration.
Byrnes was appointed to the Supreme Court by Roosevelt in 1941, but after serving just one term as a justice, stepped down to head the Office of Economic Stabilization and then to become director of the Office of War Mobilization. His influence over the wartime economy earned him the nickname of FDR’s “assistant president.” Even with this close relationship, Byrnes was denied the opportunity to become FDR’s running mate in 1944. Byrnes accompanied FDR to the Yalta Conference and became an advisor to President Truman after the death of FDR.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteDeposited at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum by Franklin D. Roosevelt on August 3, 1943. It was donated as a bequest of FDR to the Library in 1947.
Credit LineEstate of Franklin D. Roosevelt
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesPortraits (National Archives Identifier 778816)
Use Restriction StatusRestricted - FullyCopyright© The Al Hirschfeld Foundation.
Copyright or other proprietary rights are held by individuals or entities other than the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum does not warrant that the use of these materials will not infringe on the rights of third parties holding the rights to these works, or make any representations or warranties with respect to the application or terms of any international agreement, treaty, or protections that may apply. It is your responsibility to determine and satisfy any copyright or other use restrictions. Pertinent regulations can be found at 36 C.F.R 1254.62.Collections
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