FREE AT LAST ... ALMOST

Few things have shaped my political life like Los Angeles Times political cartoonist, Paul Conrad. For thirty years he shaped the Op/Ed page of the Times thanks in large part to the last and only progressive member of the Chandler family of editors.

Conrad's time at the Times spanned several in a line of the greatest evils in American politics. Until now the worst was a man named Nixon.

Trying to use words to explain his art is never easy but because one of his drawing has always been so important to me, I will try.

On the very last day that former President Richard M. Nixon left office, Conrad drew a picture of two black hands, from the wrist up, hands reaching upward. Around each wrist was a hand cuff. But as those heaven sent hands reach upward, they broke the links of those cuffs between them.

Under that drawing was printed the words, "Free at last, thank God Almighty, free at last!"

When even an even greater "evil" leaves office this January 20th 2009, I will once again remember Conrad's art and pray those words, as I did then: "Free at last, thank God Almighty, free at last!"

Free at last! Thank God almighty!