But suppose I don't renew the lease? (untitled)
A figure labelled "J.Q. Public", in a small hat with a cigar, speaks to Harry Truman, who holds a rolled architectural plan of the White House portico in front of the building. J.Q. Public asks what if he does not renew the lease. The cartoon uses the everyman personification to present the voter as a landlord of the presidency; plain-folks is a weak fit.
Propaganda techniques used in this cartoon
- Date
- January 12, 1948
- 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
- 1948 US Election
- 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, 5743142 (NAID 5743142).
Text on the object
---BUT--- SUPPOSE I DON'T RENEW THE LEASE? J.Q. PUBLIC Jim Berryman
