Judge — December 22, 1928 — page 14: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon titled "Judge" depicts a menacing figure dressed as Santa Claus, holding Calvin's Christmas letter to Santa. The letter reads: "Dear Santa, I want the Kellogg Peace Treaty ratified and bitted into more pleasure your truly Calvin." The satire targets Calvin Coolidge (U.S. President 1923-1929), caricatured as a malevolent Santa. The joke critiques Coolidge's push for the Kellogg-Briand Pact (a treaty renouncing war as foreign policy). The artist suggests Coolidge's Christmas "wish" for this treaty's ratification is naive or sinister—depicting peace efforts with a twisted, villainous Santa implies skepticism about the treaty's effectiveness or motives. The cartoon reflects contemporary political debate over American isolationism and international peace agreements.