TOW #28 - Political Cartoon of the Cold War

Krushchev vs Kennedy

     Following the Cold War, the United States became engaged in extremely tense conflict with the Soviet Union that would last for 44 years. This political cartoon depicts the Soviet Premier Nikita Krushchev and President John F. Kennedy holding a finger on buttons that lead to a bomb under the other person. Artist Leslie Gilbert Illingworth uses facial expressions and gestures to illustrate the magnitude of this conflict, and prove that this was a conflict of mutually assured destruction. 

     In this political cartoon, both Krushchev and Kennedy have a stressed expression, which hints that both sides of the conflict share a degree of uncertainty in the issue at hand. With both countries stocking up on nuclear arms and fighting proxy wars, the Soviet Union and the United States were walking on a very thin line in terms of diplomatic relations. Although no actual wars were fought between the two countries, hence a 'cold' war, tensions were nonetheless high and the risk factor great. If one nuclear bomb was dropped, as the cartoon depicts, it was a guarantee that more bombs would be dropped in revenge. This would not only hurt the two countries involved, but the majority of the world; it would guarantee destruction on the global level, which is why both sides are being hesitant in holding that power.

     In this cartoon there appears to be a slight bias towards the United States, hinting that despite the apparent mutual destruction mentality, the United States had the upper hand. This can be seen in the many beads of sweat on Krushchev versus the mildly stressed President Kennedy.  Although the cold war was something posing threats on both sides, the artists depiction of the two leaders suggests that Kennedy holds the upper hand. Another contrasting attribute to the two leaders is Krushchev's  unshapely and balding figure versus the full-headed fit Kennedy. By portraying Kennedy in a more visually pleasing way, the author is able to subtly indicate his/her support for the United States in this 'cold' war. 

     From when World War II ended until the Soviet Union disbanded, the two nations were at war with each other. From stocking up on nuclear weapons, space races, and fighting proxy wars, tensions between the two nations grew greater with each year. This conflict grew so great that it brought upon the theory of mutually assured destruction, a major idea that artist Illingworth is trying to convey in his cartoon through use of facial and body language.