Political cartoons provide a brief sense of levity, especially in the heat of election season. Often critiquing both sides of the political aisle, caricatures of candidates and their follies help to push us through from one Election Day to the next.

Mike Smith has been the cartoonist for the Las Vegas Sun since 1983. He’s critiqued the candidates of 10 presidential elections throughout his career and is currently creating caricatures of an 11th set of candidates. An exhibition on Smith’s work and coverage of the Oval Office over the decades is currently available on the first floor of Lied Library. However, as a Nevadan, the cartoons included throughout his collection – available for research in UNLV Special Collections & Archives – often hit closer to home.  Here are just a few of Mike Smith’s cartoons covering topics other than those in federal office. 

Nevada

Despite its long standing history in the state, Nevadans haven’t always been a fan of nuclear testing. This cartoon dates back to 1984 when Smith was only just starting out as the Sun’s cartoonist, even though it remains relevant to Nevada politics today. 

Las Vegas

As a Las Vegas resident for over forty years, Mike Smith hasn’t hesitated to joke about the town’s antics. When COVID-19 broke out in 2020, no one knew exactly what that meant for Las Vegas’s tourist economy, but Smith certainly had a few ideas for how we’d reopen.

UNLV

At the top of their game in the 90s, it was hard for anyone to ignore the Runnin’ Rebels, including Smith. While his cartoons often critique the happenings of the university, everyone could share in his frustration with the referee calls against our team.

Smith’s collection of cartoons features thousands more jests on topics ranging from Washington D.C. to our campus community. The collection can be viewed during normal operating hours at UNLV Special Collections & Archives.