Herblock’s 1953 April Fool’s Day cartoon boldly lampoons Senator Joseph McCarthy’s character and career to date. Casting him as a disreputable-looking huckster who has set up shop between the U.S. Capitol and government buildings, Herblock details the senator’s credentials—McCarthy’s placard reminds the viewer of his speech in 1950 insinuating the State Department harbored communists. His list of unsavory specialties includes faked documents, private investigations, and smear jobs. Some fellow Republicans challenged McCarthy, but years passed before his damaging crusade ended.