Center of Population

A tilted page from a 'Guide Book to America' describes Abilene, Kansas, with a population given as approximately 150,000,000, a principal industry of manufacturing 'I Like Ike' buttons, and points of interest tied to Eisenhower; a map of the United States is crosshatched most densely at its centre. The tell is bandwagon imagery in a satirical register: the cartoon argues that national attention has converged on Abilene around Dwight Eisenhower's candidacy.

Propaganda techniques used in this cartoon

Bandwagon

Date

June 5, 1952

Period

Cold War

Made by

Washington Evening Star (cartoonist Jim Berryman)

Region

North America

Country

United States

Medium

Cartoon

Issuer type

Media

Regime

Truman Administration

Leader

Harry S. Truman

Audience

Domestic public

Purpose

Persuade or win support

Theme

Elections and party politics

Event

1952 US Election

Source

Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are

Source

U.S. National Archives, Records of the U.S. Senate, Jim Berryman Political Cartoons (NAID 5730852), retrieved October 3, 2026

Rights

Public domain (U.S. government work)
Jim Berryman, Washington Evening Star. National Archives and Records Administration, Records of the U.S. Senate, 5743160 (NAID 5743160).

GUIDE BOOK TO AMERICA
Kansas (continued)
ABILENE....Population, (as of June 4, 1952), approximately 150,000,000; Elevation, On Top of the World; Topography, Ground Swells for a Favorite Son; Principal Industry, Manufacturing "I LIKE IKE" Buttons and Banners. Points of Interest, EISENHOWER Home, Site of Proposed EISENHOWER Museum, EISENHOWER Park,(Ike Spoke There), EISENHOWER Headquarters, and SUNFLOWER HOTEL, (Ike Slept There)........
MAP OF ABILENE SHOWING MAIN "BUSINESS" DISTRICT, AND SUBURBS
JIM BERRYMAN