Life, 1928-08-30 · page 15 of 36
Life — August 30, 1928 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes the 1928 U.S. presidential election through a "Newspaper Reader's Presidential Questionnaire" that poses absurd, character-focused questions about unnamed candidates rather than substantive policy issues. Questions ask which candidate can "handle a brawl more expertly," whose wife wears "better-looking hats," and which candidate's dog is "preferred by the candidates' wives." The top cartoon shows a taxi driver (labeled "Old Hackman") remarking to a bride about her mother's divorce history—likely a jab at modern social trends. The bottom cartoon mocks political superficiality with three caricatured figures and the caption "Now say 'thank you' to the doctor, nicely." Overall, the page criticizes how voters and media focus on personality and trivia rather than actual qualifications or policy positions during presidential campaigns.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Otp Hackman (to bride): Yes, I remember the day I took your mother to get her first divorce. A Newspaper Reader’s Presidential Questionnaire 1. Wnich can put more grace into throwing out the first ball, Hoover or Smith? Which has more speed? 2. Is either candidate a southpaw? 3. If both candidates are southpaws, what is the name of the Communist candidate? 4. What is the comparative experience of the candidates in the business of pling wreaths on the grave of the Un- nown Soldier? 5. Which candidate can handle a uowel more expertly? A pitchfork? A sap bucket? 6. What can Hoover go around in? Smith? Whose favorite caddie has more freckles? 7. Is either candidate a reader of detective stories? 8. Which candidate looks more im- pressive in Indian headdress? In overalls? In chaps and sombrero? On a horse? On an electric hobby-horse? In a delegation of Daughters of the American Revolution? Of milk-bottle-cap manufacturers? 9. What are the respective breakfast menus of the candidates? Does either candidate make breakfast the largest meal of the day? 10, What are the respective forms of bait used by the candidates in trout fishing? 11. What is the comparative experi- ence of the candidates in the business of greeting Tom Mix? Tom's horse? Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks? Al Jolson? Schumann-Heink? Chief Two Guns White Calf? The boy who grows the largest cauliflower in North Dakota? “Now say ‘thank you’ to the doctor, nicely.” 12. Which candidate will Mr. Mays, the White House barber, like to work on better? 13. Which candidate’s wife wears better-looking hats? Smiles wider? Hugs little girls with flowers more charmingly? 14. What breeds of dog are preferred by the candidates’ wives? Check. Collie Airedale Mrs. Hoover ie) Qa Great Dane Poodle Miscellancous o Oo Airedale Mrs, Smaru a is] Great Dane Poodle Miscellaneous ie) a ie] Tupper Greenwald. is] Collie DEFYING THE ELEMENTS Just after Hoover had delivered his ac- ceptance speech, in which he pleaded for strict enforcement of the dry law, no fewer than eight inches of rain fell in Washington, D. C. King Canute couldn’t hold back the tide. Neither can Hoover. Jum: How do you know there has been a picnic here? Zim: I see by the papers. comicbooks.com