A very special meaning - The New York Times

“I am deeply heartened by all the words of encouragement I have been receiving in the past few weeks. However, your message was especially ... Averyspecialmeaninghttps://www.nytimes.com/1974/05/05/archives/a-very-special-meaning.htmlGivethisarticleAdvertisementContinuereadingthemainstoryCredit...TheNewYorkTimesArchivesSeethearticleinitsoriginalcontextfromMay5,1974,Page47BuyReprintsViewontimesmachineTimesMachineisanexclusivebenefitforhomedeliveryanddigitalsubscribers.AbouttheArchiveThisisadigitizedversionofanarticlefromTheTimes’sprintarchive,beforethestartofonlinepublicationin1996.Topreservethesearticlesastheyoriginallyappeared,TheTimesdoesnotalter,editorupdatethem.Occasionallythedigitizationprocessintroducestranscriptionerrorsorotherproblems;wearecontinuingtoworktoimprovethesearchivedversions.In1948,beforetelevisionhadbecomeagreatfactorinAmericanlife,thenotedBritishanthropologistGeoffreyGorerwroteofthecomicsthattheyareoneofthefewimportantbonds(thefilmsbeinganotherandthePresidentialelectionsathird)unitingallAmericansinacommonexperience.”ThismaybethereasonthattheWhiteHousehasspentsometimeinrecentmonthscorrespondingflatteringlywithcomic‐strip,artists.OnthewalloftheroomwhereChesterGoulddraws“DickTracy”thereisaframedletterfromthePresidentoftheUnitedStates,datedNov.7,1973.Itreads:“IamdeeplyheartenedbyallthewordsofencouragementIhavebeenreceivinginthepastfewweeks.However,yourmessagewasespeciallymeaningful,comingasitdidfromamanwhoseworkhasbecomeapartofourmodernfolklore!“YourassuranceofcontinuingtrustreaffirmsmyfaiththatthisAdministrationcanachievethegreatgoalsallAmericansseek,andIjustwantyoutoknowofmypersonalappreciationforyourgenerousandverythoughtfulexpressionofconfidence.Withkindpersonalregards.“RichardM.Nixon.”Then,inAprilof1973,GaryTrudeau,whodraws“Doonesbury,”beganaseriesofstripsinwhichtwoofhisyoungAmericans,Mark‐andZonker,arediscussingtheirGovernment,andMarkmentionsJohn‘D.Ehrlichman.Zonker,likemillionsbfAmericansjustoneyearago,hasneverheardofEhrlichmanandaskswhoheis.“EhrlichmanisthePresident'sadviserondomesticaffairs,”repliesMark,“andassuchheisresponsibleforthequalityoflifeinAmerica.”“Well,”saysZonker,“nowonderI'dneverheardofhim.”ByApril26,TrudeaubegantosensethatEhrlichmanwasgoingtobecaughtupintheWatergateaffair,“whichmeantthathewouldbecatapultedintothepubliclimelight,inwhichcasethesestripswouldnolongerbeappropriate.TheirpointwasthatEhrlichmanwasanonymous,yetpowerful,andtotallyunaccountabletotheAmericanpeople.ButIwasabletopullallthestripsexceptthatfirstoneandsubstituteothers.“EhrlichmanresignedonApril30andonMay18hewrotemealetter—onWhiteHousestationery!Hewrote:‘Iwouldconsideritaprivilegetobeabletoobtaintheoriginaldrawingoftheattachedcartoon.Needlesstosay,ithasaveryspecialmeaningtomeandwouldbeagoodadditiontotheotheroriginals:;thatIhavereceivedthroughtheyears.“'Ifyouareabletoforwardtheoriginal,woulditbepossibleforyoutomailittomyhomeaddress…Manythanks.Yourssincerely,JohnD.Ehrlichman.”Ehrlichmanhadattachedtheonlyoneoftheseriesthatran—andonthebottomoftheletter,headdedwithapen:“Ihearmyresignationfouledupyourfollowingseries—SorryNexttime(I)letmeknowwhatyou'replanningandI'lltrytocooperate—JE.”J.C.AdvertisementContinuereadingthemainstory