What It Means

Description

Nast created this image in 1884 to celebrate Grover Cleveland’s (1837-1908) Presidential victory over James G. Blaine (1830-1893). The figure of Columbia gestures to a sign that describes what it will mean to have Cleveland as President. To the artist, Cleveland’s victory meant a triumph of honest and efficient government, which would perpetuate these ethical qualities with the application of Civil Service reform. Nast invokes the figure of Columbia to endorse Cleveland and the principles of honor and freedom.

Object Information

Date Created:

November 15, 1884

Local ID:

TN2001.105

Collection:

Collection of Macculloch Hall Historical Museum

Citation:

Thomas Nast (1840-1902), "What It Means", Harper's Weekly, November 15, 1884, TN2001.105

Creator(s):

Thomas Nast

Classification:

Engraving

Rights:

Public Domain

Appears In

Resource Kit
Macculloch Hall Historical Museum

The 22nd and 24th President: Thomas Nast Illustrates Grover Cleveland

Stephen Grover Cleveland (1837-1908) was the 22nd and 24th President of the United States. He was the only President to serve non-consecutive terms (1885–1889 and 1893–1897), up until this year when President Donald Trump won the office for a second time. In 1884 Nast, along with Harper’s Weekly editor George Curtis, broke with the Republican Party to support the Democratic Candidate Grover Cleveland. This Resource Kit explores Nast's illustrations in support of the first two-term President serving non-consecutive terms, his switch from a Republican to a Democrat, and Nast's waning influence as a political cartoonist.

Created by: Macculloch Hall Historical Museum

Grade 6-12