Failure Quote by James T. Patterson
““By 10:00 P.M. it decided to pull out all the stops: DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN. An early election-eve edition of the San Francisco Call-Bulletin carried a cartoon depicting a jubilant elephant and a doleful donkey. Only in the next edition was there a fast retouch: the elephant was now startled, the donkey joyous.62””
About This Quote
Source Historical article: San Francisco Call‑Bulletin, 1948 cartoon commentary
The cartoon was altered to soften political bias, showing the elephant startled and donkey joyful after initial partisan depiction
In simple terms: Media can revise imagery to balance political narratives
Key Takeaway
Recognize media bias and its correction
Themes
politics
media
propaganda
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
historical
analytical
When to use this quote
- election coverage
- media ethics
- public opinion shaping
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
image manipulation
public perception
political satire
Questions to Reflect On
- What motivates media to change political cartoons?
- How does visual framing affect public sentiment?
A Different Perspective
Altering images may still reflect underlying bias; not a full correction
