The Noise of democracy thomas nast and the elections of 1872 &
1876 September 21 - December 9, 2012 Thursday, September 20
Members' Gallery Talk - 5:30 p.m. Opening Reception 6:00 - 7:30
p.m. Renowned political cartoonist Thomas Nast created some of
his most famous work between the Presidential elections of 1872
and 1876. The Noise of Democracy examines the issues and
personalities that shaped these important elections. As a
cartoonist for Harper’s Weekly, Thomas Nast’s visual
commentaries helped shape opinion in an age that faced many
issues similar to those of today. Monetary policy, third-party
politics, the separation of church and state, and civil service
reform were among Nast’s topics in this period, when he was at
the height of his powers. The Presidential election of 1872
pitted Republican incumbent Ulysses S. Grant against newspaper
publisher Horace Greeley, who was first nominated by the
splinter Liberal Republican Party and then by the Democratic
party. The highly partisan media of the time conduc