US Senator Ted Cruz to the Future Comic Coloring Activity Book 2013, Really Big Coloring Books publisher

Color me Conservative

It’s a Christmas miracle! Just in time for that All-American holiday Christmas, appears the perfect gift- just right for your right-wing child.

Forget Flutterbye Fairies, Furby Boom or Big Hugs Elmo.

This years “gotta have” present for the young tea party tyke in training is.- the Ted Cruz to the Future Coloring Book.”

Concerned that the liberal media will turn your child into a Obama supporter? Fear not! For hours of truth filled fun, this educational book promises to indoctrinate the kiddies in truth justice and the American way…at least the tea party way.

US Senator Ted Cruz to the Future Comic Coloring Activity Book 2013

The publisher, Really Big Coloring Books,  promises it is a “non partisan, fact-driven view of Texas Senator Ted Cruz, details his quotes, his ideas and what he believes will help America grow.”

This non-partisan book states that Cruz supports the second amendment unlike socialist President Obama who has a consistent disregard for constitutional right. If Obama had his way he’d probably outlaw the Nerf-N-Stroke Rapidstrike Blaster Junior wants for Christmas!

This truth filled book also states that “millions of citizens believe Obama Care is worse than any war.” But not to worry, make sure your child receives The Doc McStuffins Get Better Checkup Center for Xmas. It has everything Doc Mc Stuffins needs to do a checkup ( and best part is you don’t need Obama Care)

Just be sure to color within the line kids.

Coloring in Camelot

Vintage Coloring Book 1962 “JFK Coloring Book” illustration by Mort Drucker copy by Paul Laikin

Crayola and politicians were meant for each other.

For years, coloring books featuring  historical characters and events were popular and  I scribbled in my share of them as a child. Who wouldn’t love coloring in pictures of the US Capital, Thomas Edison and John Paul Jones leading the American navy to victories. Why I could spend hours coloring in the first Atomic bomb on Hiroshima, alone!

So it was no surprise that 1962 along with a toy nurses kit and a 6 room split level doll house   I received a “JFK Coloring Book” for Chanukah. It didn’t matter that the book illustrated by Mort Drucker of MAD magazine fame was a tongue in cheek satire of the Kennedy’s meant more for the cocktail party set than the milk and cookies set.

American’s of all ages were swept up in Camelot Mania and this 7-year-old was no exception.

Vintage Coloring Book 1962 “JFK Coloring Book” illustration by Mort Drucker copy by Paul Laikin
John Kennedy is flanked from left to right- Newscaster Edward R. Morrow, UN Ambassador Adlai Stevenson, and Secretary of State Dean Rusk

Stylish and brimming with confidence,  President Kennedy had the fresh air of progress, his energy as effervescent as a bottle of Pepsi and  a star struck nation was enthralled, eager to bask in his glow.

I took great care in coloring in JFK’s shock of chestnut hair selecting a raw sienna crayon, while carefully choosing carnation pink to fill in Jackies pill-box hat.

After all, it was JFK who would lead the US into the future and the fabulous promise of the 1960s. With a ring a ding ding Americans were ready to stare in to the future that Kennedy beckoned us to.

Color me ready for blast off!

Whereas Tea Party Ted Cruz’s book had not a whiff of irony, the JFK book was satire pure and simple.

Vintage Coloring Book 1962 “JFK Coloring Book” illustration by Mort Drucker copy by Paul Laikin
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy

Well bred fashion queen First Lady Jackie Kennedy  had appointed fashion designer Oleg Cassini as her exclusive couturier in 1961  dubbing him her “secretary of style.” The “Jackie Look” was recognized as being the single biggest fashion influence in history.

Vintage Coloring Book 1962 “JFK Coloring Book” illustration by Mort Drucker copy by Paul Laikin

Political nepotism became a well-worn joke prompted by Robert Kennedy’s appointment as Attorney General.

Vintage Coloring Book 1962 “JFK Coloring Book” illustration by Mort Drucker copy by Paul Laikin

The Presidents Rocking chair which he used to ease his painful bad back, set off a nationwide  trend towards rocking chairs.

Vintage Coloring Book 1962 “JFK Coloring Book” illustration by Mort Drucker copy by Paul Laikin

More than a few eyebrows were raised when kid brother Ted Kennedy entered the race for US Senate in 1962. Comedians  joked that once upon a time politicians promised a chicken in every pot, but the slogan from the White House was “a Kennedy in every office.”

Vintage Coloring Book 1962 “JFK Coloring Book” illustration by Mort Drucker copy by Paul Laikin

John F Kennedy Jr was a mere toddler, but hopes for the continuation of Camelot were already in place assuring his place in  1996.

Vintage Coloring Book 1962 “JFK Coloring Book” illustration by Mort Drucker copy by Paul Laikin

The Dream Kennedy Supreme Court

Vintage Coloring Book 1962 “JFK Coloring Book” illustration by Mort Drucker copy by Paul Laikin

The Cold War heated up between the Soviets and the US  particularly in October 1962 with the Cuban Missile Crises. Note Nikita Khrushchev has Fidel Castro in his pocket.

Vintage Coloring Book 1962 “JFK Coloring Book” illustration by Mort Drucker copy by Paul Laikin

A collection of influential  Democrats, Lyndon Johnson, former President Harry Truman, Frank Sinatra, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Adlai Stevenson.

Vintage Coloring Book 1962 “JFK Coloring Book” illustration by Mort Drucker copy by Paul Laikin

The president shock of unruly hair was a constant source of jokes for comedians and commentators alike.  The figure on the right is Labor Leader  Jimmy Hoffa  whose connections with organized crime caused attorney General Robert Kennedy to pursue him ruthlessly,carrying  on a so called “Get Hoffa” squad of prosecutors and investigators. Sending Hoffa  to the moon would apparently solve their problem.

Vintage Coloring Book 1962 “JFK Coloring Book” illustration by Mort Drucker copy by Paul Laikin

Vice President Lyndon Baines Johnson

Vintage Coloring Book 1962 “JFK Coloring Book” illustration by Mort Drucker copy by Paul Laikin

Press Secretary Pierre Salinger

Vintage Coloring Book 1962 “JFK Coloring Book” illustration by Mort Drucker copy by Paul Laikin

Everything concerning Caroline Kennedy was news and the nationwide interest in her was often beyond control.

© Sally Edelstein and Envisioning The American Dream, 2013. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Sally Edelstein and Envisioning The American Dream with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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