Herb Block lambasted President Ronald Reagan's fiscal policies by depicting symbols that contrasted sharply in form and meaning. His obese "Deficit" figure and the Washington Monument visually juxtaposed debt with a homage to one of the nation's most admired presidents. During both terms of office (1981-1989), Reagan tried to foster economic growth through policies based on supply-side economics. According to the administration's Office of Management and Budget, by the 1986 elections, the federal deficit had ballooned to nearly one trillion dollars.