Doonesburyhas long been a comic strip staple in American newspaper syndication. The series, created by Garry Trudeau, debuted in 1970, making it 54 years old this year. It celebrates its anniversary on October 26, marking big milestones as several strips are now turning 50. The satirical strip has seen its titular protagonist, Michael Doonesbury, mature from a college-aged adult to a senior citizen, taking a striking journey syndicated comic heroes are rarely seen undergoing.
From politics to education, Trudeau’s comic strip has provided consistently humorous commentary across a variety of topics. It has excelled in its handling of political scandals and responses to them, as well as other social and economic hardships.Doonesburydoesn’t shy away from presenting differing ideologies and personalities behind them, occasionally featuring debate setups, news coverage observances, and press releases.Going back through fifty-year-old strips from the series, it’s easy to see that history repeats itself, as many issues spotlighted back then are still prime topics of discussion now.
10January 4, 1974
Political Conferences are Consistently Unproductive, Decades Later
This strip, published early in 1974, presents a press conference involving a resolution centered on conflict in the Middle East. This has continued to be a topic of contention.Doonesbury’sstrength lies not in pointing out conflicts that are occurring in the world but in satirizing reactions to them and the ineffective ways of dealing with those conflicts. The strip features Mark Slackmeyer and Ollie Amen engaged in a debate, with Mark presenting a resolution Mr. Amen does not agree with. Debates and social commentary are regular focuses ofDoonesbury, but this particular moment excels when Ollie points out the conference is a “farce, an obscene joke.” This is met with Mark calling for a vote immediately. The same sentiment is mirrored regularly during any political year as citizens reflect on “complacency” from their governmental representatives.
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9January 6, 1974
Midnight Cereal Doesn’t Always Invite Conversation
Family dynamics are another focus ofDoonesburystrips, particularly involving fathers and sons. In this strip, a man goes downstairs, where he hears the sound of cereal being eaten. Arriving in the kitchen, he begins a conversation about the activity, philosophizing for several panels. When he finally hits a stopping point, his father walks away, immediately cutting the evening discussion short abruptly. It’s clear they don’t see eye to eye and that the father can find his son tiresome at times - in this case, particularly because it’s far too late for such a deep conversation. Midnight bowls of cereal aren’t uncommon, but such intense philosophizing about such a simple activity isn’t always welcome. This strip carries on paternal disapproval in a way that is relatable while being exceptional at characterization within a small space.
8January 9, 1974
Familial Embarrassment Continues, Highlighting Tension in Paternal Relationships
The same man as the strip above is once again seen with his father, albeit in a car instead of a kitchen. It begins with the father kicking his son out of the vehicle. This is surprising since there was a previous discussion that ended with the son not being allowed to hitchhike. However, the reason is situational. Hitchhiking directly from the house would be an embarrassment to the father. Away from their residence, the man is allowed to get a ride from a stranger as he is forcibly kicked out by his dad, processing the situation with significant confusion. Instead of having concerns due to safety, the father simply does not want to be embarrassed by his son. This exchange revisits and highlights the general tension and disagreements the two have in their relationship.
7March 2, 1974
Presidential Excuses are Nothing New
This strip from March 1974 is presented in a style that is classic forDoonesbury. The president and his administration are represented simply by the existence of the White House in the strip’s panels, a dialogue exchange floating above it. Following the Watergate scandal, the fictional version of President Nixon is represented as having multiple speech options for his resignation. The strip highlights the administration’s assurance that these are “contingency speeches” that won’t be needed. In hindsight, this was not the selected speech for delivery. This particular iteration keeps attention away from scandal, attempting to garner empathy through fake illness. With later presidential scandals to come, this presentation of decisions is particularly humorous as attempts are frequently made to downplay and draw attention away from the most important issues at hand, such as the expected integrity of the office.
6April 9, 1974
Self-Referral Never Helps, Especially in the Cases of Presidents
When it comes to political offices, certain positions have a lot of weight, such as the presidency. How people in positions of power refer to themselves can impact perceptions of them. In some cases, this could be intentional or unintentional. In this particular strip,Doonesburysuggests that President Richard Nixon might be attempting to blur the lines between his different identities. While president, he is also a citizen. However, the weight of the role can strongly limit personal interjection and available personal freedom. In this case, Nixon tries to dissociate himself at a time when he has a high-profile scandal keeping him at the forefront of the public and the press. Using self-referral often becomes tedious rather quickly, and in cases of misconduct, it’s even more tiresome when used as an attempted manipulation tactic.
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5May 10, 1974
Law School Acceptance isn’t All It’s Cracked Up To Be
A prominent storyline inDoonesburyin 1974 was Joanie Caucus' efforts to get into law school. From being on the waiting list to receiving rejection letters, her persistence and patience highlight the struggles of moving into new stages and careers in life. However, there are moments when this domestic plot ties back into political commentary specific to the time. In this particular strip, Joanie notes specific people who were admitted into law school. These individuals played a role in the Watergate scandal, calling their professional integrity into question and presenting a jab at people in power who abuse it despite being successfully accepted into prestigious programs. Especially comedic is the children’s oblivious reactions to the grouping of names, believing the Watergate individuals presented are people Joanie considers friends that she knows personally when she’d rather avoid association with them.
4May 23, 1974
Political Scandal Documents are a Lucrative Market
Political scandals are worth a lot in press coverage, but also potential revenue.Like many Doonesbury strips, this one features the Watergate scandal. It emphasizes multiple ways for the president to capitalize on the release of the transcripts. At a small price, interested parties can purchase an edited iteration of the transcript. It can be inferred that this edition would significantly cut out some of the more incriminating aspects of the documents, making Nixon appear less controversial. This moneymaking opportunity would allow the creators to put their own spin while still coming out on top financially. Political scandal documentation is often in high demand, as noted with theReynolds Pamphlet, published by Alexander Hamilton in 1797, and Robert Mueller’sReport on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election, which was released in 2019.
3August 6, 1974
Parents Never Believe Their Children’s Motives are Innocent
Published in August 1974, this strip highlights an age-old perception parents can have of their children. Mark’s father has been admitted to the hospital following a heart attack. The patient questions his son about his being present, and even when told a positive reason, he believes that more selfish ones have to be the main motivator for visitation. The cost of tuition is no laughing matter, but the parental belief that their offspring only visit when they need something has long been a reliable element in humor.It is also a staple ofDoonesburycharacters to not be taken seriously by their parents, making his father’s disbelief of a serious matter an enjoyable twist on the gag.Fathers' relationships with their sons is a hallmark theme forDoonesbury, and this strip excels in showing why it has been so successful.
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2August 14, 1974
Some Prisons Come With Special - Unbelievable - Privileges
Allenwood, a prison in Pennsylvania, has a history of being referred to as a “country club” facility, going back to the 1970s. This comparison is highlighted in this strip from August 1974, which features the imprisonment of Jeb Magruder, the deputy director of President Nixon’s campaign for re-election. Involved in the Watergate scandal, he was sentenced to prison at Allenwood. In this particular strip, the warden says that the prisoner is unavailable for an interview. Despite claims that the facility is not as accommodating as its reputation leads people to believe, the potential interviewee is partaking in an unavoidable squash game. This failure to be available to the press highlights the privileged perception of the prison. It also highlights what comes with money, continuing a pattern of perceived lack of genuine punishment in regard to wealthier classes of society.
1September 23, 1974
If Only Inflation Were This Easy to Solve
Inflation has continued to be a prevalent issue in global politics, particularly in recent years. This strip, published in September 1974, echoes the matter being one that never seems to remain fixed. Price fluctuations are a constant in life and the political realm. In this instance, the president in the strip calls General Motors personally, requesting the favor of reversing the price increases on its products. The direct call-out shows how consumers likely wish these issues could be resolved. The immediate consideration given by the company and the promise made are far from realistic, highlighting the frustration of the matter. Even if companies were to acknowledge issues with price increases, the likelihood of apologies and a lack of future increases are a pipe dream that many would love to have roots in reality instead of only in aDoonesburycomic strip.
