Life — July 29, 1920 — page 13: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a scholarly gentleman in his study, surrounded by books and academic materials, gazing thoughtfully at a portrait on the wall. The caption reads: "One man who sees nothing incongruous in the selection of the nominee." The satire targets the tension between intellectual merit and political selection. The figure appears to represent someone educated and refined—surrounded by evidence of learning and serious study—yet he finds nothing odd about a candidate's nomination despite apparent unsuitability. The humor lies in the disconnect: this "father of the candidate" sees his selection as perfectly reasonable, while the magazine's readers presumably find it absurd or problematic. The cartoon suggests political patronage or nepotism overrides qualifications.