1939 Alajalov Allegorical Pictorial Map of Presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt

This 1939 Constantin Alajálov allegorical pictorial map chronicles the Presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt not as 'a history, but a free-wheeling trip through the headlines of the last seven years.' It must be noted that all these headlines fall largely on the negative side, probably because Henry Luce, the publisher of Fortune Magazine, was a harsh critic of Roosevelt, even stating after F.D.R.'s death that it was his 'duty to go on hating him'.

Tracing the Odyssey of F.D.R.

Beginning with a Republican elephant that has died of thirst, F.D.R. is inaugurated to cheers of 'happy days are here again'. Soon, the banks go on holiday, F.D.R. gives his first fireside chat, and prohibition is repealed. From there comes another stock market crash and a plethora of alphabet agencies, in the form of medications prescribed by F.D.R. to an ailing Uncle Sam. The next highlight on this 'free-wheeling trip' is the fiery disaster that was the U.S. Army delivering airmail. Then comes Dr. Townsend and his proposal for an old-age pension, which in fact leads to the Roosevelt administration's proposal of Social Security later in the trip. Per this mad voyage, the next year focuses on F.D.R's reelection campaign, complete with a resuscitated Republican elephant, hobbling along with the help of a crutch. This poor elephant, again, ends up dead along the side of the road soon after, as Roosevelt is elected to a second term. Then another stock market crash occurs (supposedly created by F.D.R.) and is swiftly followed by the confirmation of a former Ku Klux Klan member to the Supreme court, and yet another recession. Nearing the final bend in this winding road, F.D.R. begins fighting with Democrats in Congress, even going so far as to try to purge members from the Party, illustrated here by a bottle of medicine (read: poison) he offers to the Donkey, which then kicks it back at him. The journey nears its end with references to large spending proposals for the Army, Navy, and Air Corps, along with a field full of planes for England and France. F.D.R. is also shown 'tsking' caricatures of Hitler and Mussolini. The journey ends with a blindfolded Uncle Sam walking into a dense fog after having passed a sphinx with F.D.R.'s head.

Publication History and Census

This incredible piece was created by Constantin Alajálov and published in the October 1939 issue of Fortune Magazine. An example is part of the P.J. Mode collection at Cornell University.