Life, 1920-04-22 · page 31 of 44
Life — April 22, 1920 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon satirizes the ineffectiveness of applying strict business management to diplomacy. A president with a business background demands his Secretary of State run the State Department "even with these foreign nations" like a profit-and-loss ledger, complete with deadlines and cost-cutting. The satire lies in the fundamental mismatch: international relations cannot be managed like a corporation. The president dismisses diplomatic complexity ("Don't bother me with the details"), treats longstanding issues like the Adriatic dispute as mere administrative problems needing quick resolution, and expects results through forceful rhetoric rather than negotiation. The accompanying cartoon labeled "A Jury of His Peers" reinforces this—showing the president surrounded by animals, suggesting his business-focused peers lack diplomatic sophistication. The page ridicules the notion that executive efficiency translates to statecraft, a timely critique given early 20th-century American politics.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
When a Business Man Is President Tih tresitent was frowning over a jorandum when the Secretary of ed in answer te the su President glanced up, d indicated a chair. as well say frankly,” be- HIN’ pOUNT! 1 DRAW THE LINE AT DEINKING HARE-TONIC!” A JURY OF HIS PEEKS gan the iresident, “that in the six months you have been at the head of the State Department you have not heen yetting results. The department has no punch. Matters are piling up What's the matter ? ver there, anyway ? You know my policies, don't you?” “Yes, Mr. “We'll just cut out the buts. think I know what's the matter, Like a lot of other around hh thought my campaign pledges t President, but fellows ) initi ate business methods were tu he inter- preted liberally after 1 was in office. You thought the departments would be run in the same old way, with the see clerks running or the boss, Well, you're dead retaries simply. chief “But, Mr. President “TL said ‘No buts.” Now get this: You will have to run that State De- partment and come out even with these foreign nations, or I will get some- body who will Adri- atic? That's getting to be a nuisance.” “ Well—er—” “Now look How about the here, Mr. Secretary. You've got to close that up right now, The with an with credit to this country! President banged the He emphatic tist “Don't bother me with the details. If you need help or backing, come to me; otherwise do the best you can; but, for Heaven's sake, let's have > action. I've put the Adriatic question at the top of a list of ten cases that should have been wound up long ago. Report back That's all. my secretary send ior the two weeks master-General.” Vacuous dear lady, these literary after- noons of yours are a great help to us brain workers.” “T am so glad.” “Yes, it’s the one pla be sure of getting a complete rest RIGGS: Clayton's wife must be back from her western trip. Griccs: How do you know? “TL see Clayton driving out to the golf club in a taxi.” comicbooks.com