Herbert L. Block BY: RJ Kaminski

Herbert Block, more commonly known as “Herblock,” was most famous for being an editorial cartoonist who drew political caricatures and cartoons for the Chicago Daily News and The Washington Post.

            Block began writing political cartoons in high school and eventually continued his obsession in college.  He was published in his college’s newspaper and a local paper as well.  However, after he landed an interview for a potential job at The Chicago Daily, he never returned to school. 

            Upon moving to Cleveland in 1933, Herblock became the staff cartoonist for the Newspaper Enterprise Institution.  After completing nine years of outstanding work, Herblock won a Pulitzer Prize in 1942.  He joined the army for two years, while still producing cartoons and releasing news updates.  He became the chief editorial cartoonist after being hired by The Washington Post.  (After being discharged from the Army)

            A few fun facts about Herbert Block are that he never married and he listed his address in the company’s index as “The Washington Post.”  He was a man that lived and breathed cartoons and all of his colleagues would agree that he took his work very seriously. 

            Block worked at The Washington Post for 55 long years until he died in 2001.  The Herb Block foundation was founded after his death and they work to create and promote charitable organizations that support the basic freedoms that all Americans should have the right to enjoy. 

            Two of Herblock’s most common targets for cartoons were President Richard Nixon as well as Senator Joseph McCarthy.  He went so far as to draw a cartoon of Nixon coming out of a sewer.  After Nixon saw this, he promptly cancelled his subscription to The Washington Post.  Herblock never had any boundaries as he also criticized tobacco companies even though he was a smoker himself. 

            Some of Herblock’s lifetime achievements included 3 Pulitzer Prizes, while sharing a fourth for his coverage on the Nixon/Watergate scandal.  He also was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1944 as well as the Golden Key Award from the National Cartoonists Society Hall of Fame.  

Sources: American Journalist Text
http://myloc.gov/Exhibitions/herblock/Pages/Overview.aspx
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ARTblock.htm