The Cartoonist

PrevNextClose
John F. Kennedy looks on in exasperation as a small girl (Caroline) sits in a chair talking on the telephone, which is labelled Direct Line to the Kremlin’ In the second panel, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev is seen speaking on the phone, to Caroline, labelled Direct Line To The White House. Khrushchev is watched by a portrait of himself.
It was nice talking to you Mr. Khrush. Just a moment, daddy wants to say something.

The Herald, 8 April 1963

The Herald supposed that a direct line between the White House and the Kremlin was needed to defuse tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. Frith imagines what might happen if a line was installed.

Several months later, a direct line was established by teletype machine; contrary to popular culture, there was never a red phone.