The Best Present for the Best Future!!!
Santa Claus in a steel helmet holds up a sheet marked 'United States War Bond' beside a Christmas tree, with a sack of more bonds at his feet. The tell is transfer: the Christmas figure and the gift setting attach seasonal goodwill to buying war bonds, with a direct appeal in the printed text.
Propaganda techniques used in this cartoon
- Date
- 1943
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- Office of War Information (cartoon artwork; artist Charles Alston)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Cartoon
- Issuer type
- State
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- Themes
- Home front, Economy and finance
- Event
- World War II
- Regime
- Roosevelt administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives (NARA), RG 208, Artworks and Mockups for Cartoons Promoting the War Effort (NAID 535594), retrieved October 3, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (U.S. government work)
Office of War Information. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 208, 208-COM-46 (NAID 535616).
Text on the object
GIVE A WAR BOND FOR CHRISTMAS! "THE BEST PRESENT FOR THE BEST FUTURE!!!" [On the bond sheets:] UNITED STATES WAR BOND [Signed:] Alston OWI
