Paul Conrad
Paul Conrad | |
---|---|
Political cartoonist | |
Years active | 1950–2008 |
Spouse | Barbara Kay King |
Children | Jamie, David, Carol, Libby |
Parent(s) | Robert and Florence Conrad |
Relatives | Bob and James |
Awards |
|
Paul Francis Conrad (June 27, 1924 – September 4, 2010) was an American
At the conservative Times, Conrad brought a more liberal editorial perspective that readers both celebrated and criticized; he was also respected for his talent and his ability to speak truth to power. On a weekly basis, Conrad addressed the social justice issues of the day—poverty in America, movements for civil rights, the Vietnam War, the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, and corporate and political corruption were leading topics. His criticism of president Richard Nixon during the Watergate scandal landed Conrad on Nixon's Enemies List, which Conrad regarded as a badge of honor.
Early life
Conrad was born to Robert and Florence Conrad. He was raised in a conservative, Catholic family with his identical twin brother James and older brother Bob in
After graduating from Roosevelt High School, he and his brother spent time working construction jobs in
When the band did not work out, Conrad enrolled at the
Denver Post
After graduating from the University of Iowa with a degree in art in 1950,
Previously, in December 1963, lead cartoonist
Los Angeles Times
Conrad moved his family to southern California, and for three decades, from 1964 to 1993, he worked as the chief editorial cartoonist for the Los Angeles Times. His cartoons were now syndicated to hundreds of newspapers worldwide. In April 1967, Conrad drew the cover for Time magazine in an issue about the potential candidates for the 1968 United States presidential election. The cover art depicts the upcoming election as a horse race with the candidates as jockey's weighing-in. Caricatures of Lyndon B. Johnson, Bobby Kennedy, Hubert Humphrey, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, George Romney, Nelson Rockefeller, and Charles Percy grace the cover.[21]
During the Watergate scandal, Conrad drew numerous cartoons about Richard Nixon's downfall. One cartoon showed Nixon, during his last days as president, nailing himself to a cross.[22] Conrad later described the cartoon as one of his all-time favorites.[23] In 1973, the Associated Press contacted Conrad to inform him that he had been added to Nixon's Enemies List. Unperturbed, Conrad considered his place on this list as a badge of honor, but members of the list were exposed to greater scrutiny by the government and subject to investigation.[24]: 34–35 His tax returns were subsequently audited by the IRS several times, but no changes were made.[2]
Conrad accepted an early retirement from the Times on April 1, 1993, but continued to draw four cartoons a week in syndication for the Los Angeles Times Syndicate. Editorial cartoonist Michael Ramirez replaced Conrad at the Times with a conservative approach.[25][26]: 119–120
Sculptures
Conrad first became interested in sculpture in the mid-1970s. After working on a drawing of a crucifix depicting the Christian doctrine of the
After working with large sculpture, Conrad began creating small bronze sculptures of famous Americans, beginning with Richard Nixon.[29] Additional sculptures followed, including caricatures of Jerry Brown, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, John F. Kennedy, Ted Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr.[27] Six of these sculptures were featured in an exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 1979.[30][31] In the 1980s, Conrad often donated smaller bronze sculptures for fundraisers.[5] Later sculptures included Golda Meir, Abraham Lincoln, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush. Writer Grady Miller of the Canyon News, who met and visited with Conrad at his home in the late 1990s, recalled that Conrad "was specially proud of his bronze sculptures, which could be taken as an illustration of both his artistic range and his political beliefs".[32]
Conrad also created several other works of public art: Risen Christ, an altar piece located at Saint John Fisher Catholic Church in Rancho Palos Verdes, California; Otis Chandler, a bust of the publisher installed in the Los Angeles Times building; and Chain Reaction, a peace monument in the shape of a mushroom cloud located in the Santa Monica Civic Center.[3][5]
Awards
Conrad earned the
Controversies
As an editorial cartoonist who openly editorialized from a liberal point of view on the issues of the day, Conrad was involved in many publicized political and religious disputes over his cartoons.
In the late 1970s,
Personal life
Conrad was an imposing man with a powerful voice who was often seen smoking a pipe while working on his cartoons. James Rainey of the Los Angeles Times described Conrad as a "towering, practically invulnerable figure" standing at "6 feet 2, [with] his large head framed by thick, black-rimmed glasses", his demeanor "loud and often profane in person".[11] The Library of Congress described him as "a tall Midwesterner with long hair swept straight back from his forehead [who] displayed a trait that he said he often wished for in his subjects: the ability to laugh at oneself".[23]
Conrad married Kay King, the Post's society editor, in 1953. As his wife, Kay became one of only two people (along with his editor at the Times, Edwin O. Guthman) who could influence his work.[11][2]
Although he was raised as a Republican and a Catholic, his views changed as he aged. By 1960, the media was comparing his point of view to an "Adlai Stevenson Democrat".[12] Conrad voted for only one Republican in his life, Dwight D. Eisenhower, but said he later regretted it.[8] He remained a devout Catholic and his belief in social justice informed his work.[8] According to Matt Schudel of The Washington Post, "Conrad considered himself an unabashed political liberal, except for his long-held opposition to abortion. He changed his views in the 1980s, when he came to believe that it was a matter of private choice."[6]
Death
Conrad died at home in Rancho Palos Verdes at the age of 86.[42] His funeral was held at Saint John Fisher Catholic Church in Rancho Palos Verdes on September 11, 2010, with eulogies delivered by journalist Robert Scheer and editorial cartoonist Tony Auth. Conrad was survived by his wife, Kay King, two sons, two daughters, and one grandchild.[11]
Legacy
Many publishers and journalists describe Conrad as one of the finest political cartoonists of the 20th century.[42] According to the Associated Press, "Southern California political junkies for decades would start their day either outraged or delighted at a Conrad drawing."[43] He was one of only several post-war cartoonists to have won a total of three Pulitzers for his work and he was the only cartoonist named on Nixon's Enemies List. From 1977–1978, Conrad held the Richard M. Nixon Chair at Whittier College, Nixon's alma mater.[2]
Conrad's editorial cartoons later appeared in exhibitions at the
His influence and legacy as an editorial cartoonist are explored in the documentary film Paul Conrad: Drawing Fire (2007).[45][46] In honor of this legacy, the "Paul Conrad Scholarship" is annually awarded to journalism and mass communication students by the University of Iowa.[42][47] The Huntington Library, which hosts the Conrad Collection papers, calls his body of work "a powerful record of key issues that have confronted [the United States] in the second half of the twentieth century".[48]
Public sculptures
- Trinity (Statue, Marymount California University)
- Risen Christ (Altar piece, St. John Fisher Church, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA)
- Otis Chandler (Bust, Los Angeles Times building)
- Chain Reaction, (Monument, Santa Monica Civic Center)
Publications
- When in the Course of Human Events (1973)
- The King and Us (1974)
- Pro and Conrad (1979)
- Drawn and Quartered (1985)
- CONartist (1993)
- Drawing The Line (1999)
References
- ^ Exact date unknown. There are two similar sets of photos dated from 1973 and 1977 in the Finding aid for Papers Paul Conrad 1950–2005 collection. For visual reference, at least three images have confirmed dates: the 2006 PBS documentary stills Archived 2014-03-17 at the Wayback Machine; a 1993 image published by The Des Moines Register in 2009; and an AP photo from 1984 Archived 2014-07-26 at the Wayback Machine (possibly on the occasion of winning his third Pulitzer).
- ^ a b c d e McFadden, R. D. (2010, September 4). Paul Conrad, Cartoonist, Dies at 86 Archived 2017-09-17 at the Wayback Machine. The New York Times. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
- ^ a b c d Longden, T. (2009, March 25). Famous Iowans - Paul Conrad Archived 2014-08-06 at archive.today. The Des Moines Register. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
- ^ ISBN 1558744703.
- ^ a b c d e Jones, A. (2001, October 26). Pen-and-ink prophet Archived 2014-10-14 at the Wayback Machine. National Catholic Reporter, 38 (1): 12–13.
- ^ a b Schudel, M. (2010, September 5). Pulitzer-winning political cartoonist Paul Conrad dies at 86 Archived 2018-12-15 at the Wayback Machine. The Washington Post, p. B04.
- ^ Cedar Rapids native, cartoonist Paul Conrad dies at 86. (2010, September 5). The Gazette. Archived from the original on November 11, 2013. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
- ^ a b c Multer-Wellin, B. (2006). Paul Conrad: Drawing Fire Archived 2012-11-08 at the Wayback Machine. Documentary, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).
- ^ Hawkins, H. (1980). Interview with political cartoonist Paul Conrad. KPBS. UC San Diego Library.
- ^ Paul Conrad Cartoons Archived 2010-06-11 at the Wayback Machine. (2009, October 23). Syracuse University. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f Rainey, J. (2010, September 5). Paul Conrad dies at 86 Archived 2013-11-08 at archive.today. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
- ^ a b c One of the Few. (1960, June 13). Time, 75 (24): 54. Retrieved August 11, 2014. (subscription required) Archived November 10, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Times Political Cartoonist Paul Conrad to Retire Archived 2013-11-09 at archive.today. (1993, January 25). Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
- ^ Try, Try Again. (1960, October 31). Time, 76 (18): 56. Retrieved August 11, 2014. (subscription required) Archived November 10, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Long, C. (1971, July). Cover story. The Quill, 59(7): Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi.
- ^ ISBN 9783110955774.
- ^ a b Cartoonist Going West. (1964, January 31). Time, 83 (5): 42. Retrieved August 11, 2014. (subscription required) Archived November 10, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ ISBN 0252069412.
- ^ Down Under to Denver. (1964, September 18). Time, 84 (12), 86. Retrieved August 11, 2014. (subscription required) Archived November 10, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Heitzmann, W. R. (1988, September). The Power of Political Cartoons in Teaching History Archived 2013-11-09 at the Wayback Machine. [PDF] Occasional Paper. National Council for History Education. p. 4. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
- ^ A Letter From The Publisher Archived 2014-08-14 at the Wayback Machine. Cover art. (1967, April 14). Time, 89 (15): 35. Retrieved August 11, 2014. (subscription required) Archived July 21, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Lamb, C. (2006, October 17). The State of Political Cartooning Archived 2017-11-01 at the Wayback Machine. Paul Conrad: Drawing Fire. Independent Lens. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
- ^ a b c French, Y. (1999, October). Afflicting the Comfortable Archived 2018-02-09 at the Wayback Machine. Library of Congress Information Bulletin, 58(10). Retrieved November 8, 2013.
- ISBN 0313356017.
- ^ Astor, D. (1997, July 26). Los Angeles Times hires Mike Ramirez. Editor & Publisher, 130(30): 30.
- ISBN 9780231130660.
- ^ a b Conrad, Paul (Summer 1980). A Preface to the Sculpture Archived 2015-11-25 at the Wayback Machine. Michigan Quarterly Review, 19 (3): 339–340. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
- ^ Founders Week 2012 Archived 2014-08-12 at the Wayback Machine. The Marymount Mariner News. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
- ^ Martelle, Scott (April 8, 2006) Paul Conrad's work with bronze caricatures Archived 2014-07-18 at archive.today. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
- ^ Ianco-Starrels, Josine (March 18, 1979). Conrad Cartoons on View at LACMA. Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Bradner, Liesl (September 1, 2010). 'I, Con: The Brilliant Work of Paul Conrad' on exhibit Archived 2014-08-19 at the Wayback Machine. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
- ^ Miller, Grady (October 3, 2010). Paul Conrad: A Bitter Appreciation Archived 2014-08-19 at the Wayback Machine. Canyon News. Retrieved August 16, 2014.
- ^ Editorial Cartooning Archived 2015-12-24 at the Wayback Machine. The Pulitzer Prizes. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
- ISBN 1455601101. pp. 203–204.
- ^ Journalism that makes a difference. (1997). The Quill. Society of Professional Journalists.
- ^ Astor, D. (1998, July 4). Conrad gets AAEC's first Lifetime Award. Editor & Publisher, 131(27): 32.
- ^ Lifetime honor bestowed after 50 cartooning years. (May 22, 2000). Editor & Publisher, 133(21): 24.
- ^ ISBN 0738202703.
- ISBN 9780231130660. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
- ^ Goldberg, D. (1999). Faith-Based Compassion. Tikkun, 14(6): November/December.
- ISBN 0275968766.
- ^ a b c Bennett, M. (2010, September 7). Famed cartoonist and UI alum dies at age 86 Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine. The Daily Iowan. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
- ^ Dalton, A. (2010, September 5). Pulitzer-winning cartoonist Paul Conrad dies at 86 Archived 2013-11-17 at the Wayback Machine. Associated Press. Huffington Post. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
- ^ Fischer, A. (1999, August 5). Cartoonist Paul Conrad Speaks Sept. 8. News Releases. PR 99-120. The Library of Congress. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
- ^ Independent Television Service. (2006) The Film Archived 2017-10-17 at the Wayback Machine. Paul Conrad: Drawing Fire. Independent Lens. PBS.
- ^ Holzberg, C. (2007, April 15). Paul Conrad: Drawing Fire. Booklist, 103(16): 55.
- ^ Scholarships Archived 2013-11-10 at the Wayback Machine. The University of Iowa, School of Journalism & Mass Communication. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
- ^ Lampooning Injustice: Paul Conrad's Perspective on Civil Rights Archived 2018-04-17 at the Wayback Machine. (2008). Teaching American History. Library Lesson Plans. The Huntington Library. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
Further reading
- Auth, T. (2010, September 20). Paul Conrad. Time, 176(12): 26.
- Buell, E. H., Maus, M. (1988). Is the Pen Mightier than the Word? Editorial Cartoons and 1988 Presidential Nominating Politics. PS: Political Science and Politics, 21(4): 847–858. (subscription required)
- Freedman, Leonard. (Spring 2012). Wit as a Political Weapon: Satirists and Censors. Social Research, 79(1): 87–112. (subscription required)
- Hess, S., Northrop, S. (2010). American Political Cartoons: The Evolution of a National Identity, 1754–2010. Transaction Publishers. ISBN 1412811198.
- Petechuk, D. (2003). Conrad, Paul. In W. L. O'Neill & K. T. Jackson (Eds.), Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Thematic Series: The 1960s (Vol. 1, pp. 201–203). New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.
- Rainey, J., & Noland, C. (2010, September 4). Times editorial cartoonist Paul Conrad dies at 86. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
- Wallis, D. (2007). Killed Cartoons: Casualties From the War on Free Expression. W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN 0393329240.
External links
- Finding aid for Papers Paul Conrad, 1950–2005 at the Huntington Library
- Paul Conrad Cartoons 1963–1969 at Syracuse University
- PAUL CONRAD: DRAWING FIRE site for PBS
- Pro and Conrad.com
- Appearances on C-SPAN