Polk in His Extremity (pro-Clay cartoon), 1844

Cartoon of a pole topped by a "Civic Crown": Clay has nearly reached it saying "With ease I reach the goal", while Polk below is prodded with a cane and held up by others, one punning "His situation Looks rather pokerish". Tells: the Whig win is drawn as easy and settled, the Democrat's as failing (bandwagon); Polk is shown as a failing climber and his name is turned into the pun 'pokerish' (name-calling).

Date

1844

Period

Pre-1914

Made by

Drawn by H. Bucholzer; lithographed and published by James Baillie, New York

Region

North America

Country

United States

Medium

Cartoon

Issuer type

Media

Regime

Tyler Administration

Leader

John Tyler

Audience

Domestic public

Purpose

Persuade or win support

Theme

Elections and party politics

Event

1844 US Election

Techniques

BandwagonName-calling

Source

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

Source

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, retrieved October 2, 2026

Rights

Public domain: published 1844, US; LOC rights note: "No known restrictions on publication."
Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C. (item 2008661423)

CIVIC CROWN.
With ease I reach the goal, when the hearts of my countrymen are with me.
Almighty hero! desist, I beseech you: for this courtesy is more honored in the breech than in the observance.
Ye gods! what a climber this is! The more he is poked, the more he don't go up !
His situation Looks rather pokerish.

Lith. & Pub. by J. Baillie [illegible] N.Y.
POLK IN HIS EXTREMITY.
Entered according to an act of Congress in the Year [illegible] by [illegible] in the Clerk's Office in the District Court of the [illegible] Dist. of N.Y.