Forensic Research Archive of Manipulation and Exploitation
Must've been a short circuit!, 1954 US cartoon: Two men labelled 'Bridges' and 'Knowland' tumble through the air, cut across

Must've been a short circuit! (REA appropriation)

Two men labelled 'Bridges' and 'Knowland' tumble through the air, cut across by banners reading '$35 million added... for REA... to agriculture appropriation'. Bridges says 'Must've been a short circuit!' and Knowland replies 'No! Just a shortage of Republicans!' The cartoon frames the vote as a defeat for the two named senators through a pun, giving one side of a legislative outcome (card-stacking, weak fit).

Propaganda techniques used in this cartoon

Card stacking
Date
June 4, 1954
Period
Cold War
Made by
Washington Evening Star (cartoonist Jim Berryman)
Region
North America
Country
United States
Medium
Cartoon
Issuer type
Media
Regime
Eisenhower Administration
Leader
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Audience
Domestic public
Purpose
Persuade or win support
Themes
Economy and finance, Elections and party politics
Source
Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
Source
U.S. National Archives (NARA), 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, 5743187 (NAID 5743187).

Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

MUST'VE BEEN A SHORT CIRCUIT!
NO! JUST A SHORTAGE OF REPUBLICANS!
$35 MILLION ADDED... FOR REA...
...TO AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATION
BRIDGES
KNOWLAND
JIM BERRYMAN WASHINGTON STAR

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