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Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year, 1992

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In American history textbooks or juvenile biographies of political figures, I always like to see editorial cartoons. From Thomas Nast to Bill Mauldin and Herb Block to Jeff MacNelly, a great editorial cartoon can capture the politics of a moment better than any photograph could ever do. "Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year: 1992 Edition" covers the events of 1991, including operation Desert Storm. On the prelude of the next Gulf War it is interesting, to say the least, to go back and see what was being drawn back then.

Beyond the heroism of Desert Storm 1991 saw the disintegration of the Soviet Union (see cover), the economic recession, the Bush White House, and the rising figures of the Democratic campaign trail (no Bill Clinton but lots of Mario Cuomo at this point). Other targets include the Senate confirmation hearing of Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas, the David Duke campaign in Louisiana, peace prospects in the Middle East, the U.S. Congress bouncing checks, the plight of the poor and the homeless, and the plagues of crime and drugs. There are 345 editorial cartoons by more than 180 of the leading cartoonists in both the United States and Canada represent the complete political spectrum fomr the liberal left to the conservative right, along with the middle of the bird. The result is a fascinating walk down memory lane regarding what we thought about Saddam Hussein invading Kuwait, Ted Kennedy's reputation for drinking and womanizing, and Oliver North getting his conviction overturned, as well as remembering the death of Dr. Suess and the beating of Rodney King.

"Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year: 1992 Edition" was compiled and edited by Charles Brooks, former president of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. The book opens with the Award-Winning Cartoons from 1991 for the Pulitzer Prize (Jim Borgman, "Cincinnati Enquirer"), National Headliners Club Award (Borgman), National Society of Professional Journalists Award (Jeff MacNelly, "Chicago Tribune"), Fischetti Award (Mike Keefe, "Denver Post"), and National Newspaper Award/Canada (Roy Peterson, "Vancouver Sun"). This particular volume is over a decade old, but is worth checking out just to see how much (and how little) has changed in terms of war in the Middle East, Saddam Hussein, and a President Bush leading the nation to war.