His influence has been enormous, both on his profession and the general public, although he modestly eschews such praise with anecdotes. One such story involved a comment overheard during the 1954 Army-McCarthy hearings. Apparently his caricatures of the senator as an unshaven, belligerent Neanderthal found their mark. Herblock's fellow editorial cartoonists have paid tribute to him in a series of caricatures, including this one by Tony Auth. Humor has been one of Mr. Block's greatest assets, drawing people in, encouraging them to read the cartoon and consider his opinions.
Laughter warms the coldest heart and lends perspective to serious issues and events.
Mr. Block's cartoons may never cure cancer or the common cold, but for the better part of a century they have helped ward off the ill effects of war, bigotry, economic opportunism, political arrogance and social injustice. Mr. Katz, a curator in the Library's Prints and Photographs Division, is the curator of the Herblock exhibition. The Library of Congress 101 Independence Ave.