Judge — November 28, 1896 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "A Record-Breaker" — Judge Magazine, November 28, 1896 This political cartoon satirizes William McKinley's 1896 presidential election victory. Uncle Sam (left, in top hat) marvels at an enormous turkey labeled "150,000,000 POPULAR VOTE MAJORITY OF THE" — representing McKinley's record-breaking electoral support, depicted as a grotesquely oversized bird. The caption reads: "Gee whiz! Look at the size of that McKinley turkey. I never expected such a BIG Thanksgiving as this!" The note clarifies: McKinley was elected "by the largest majority ever given a presidential candidate." The joke equates his electoral landslide to an absurdly large Thanksgiving turkey — celebrating the exceptional scale of his victory. The Industrial Poultry Yard sign and urban backdrop emphasize American prosperity tied to McKinley's pro-business platform.