"I"ve always thought that the quality of humor rises in direct proportion to the level of hysteria and self-righteousness that exists in our country. If that is so, then this book is a bad sign because it had me in stitches from cover to cover." -Scott Trost, National Lampoon "A book you can continue to re-read . . . bound to spark some lively discussion and debate. . . . There"s plenty in this volume to entertain, stimulate and also irritate, in some cases, just about everybody." -Abilene Reporter-News It is a historical and political look at the year, a gauge of public opinion, a wealth of humor, and, in many cases, a perspective on the issues that may have been overlooked. In Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year: 1996 Edition, the most newsworthy events of 1995 are lampooned or championed by the best cartoonists across the U.S. and Canada. Among other things, this year"s edition covers Whitewater, Travelgate, a balanced federal budget, Bosnia, First Lady Hillary Clinton, and Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. The year had its ups and downs, its expected turns as well as surprises. The twenty-fourth installment in the series, this collection of the funniest and most memorable cartoons may make you laugh or make you sad but will always make you think. ABOUT THE EDITOR Editor Charles Brooks is past president of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists and was a cartoonist for the Birmingham (AL) News for thirty-eight years. He has been the recipient of thirteen Freedom Foundation awards, a national VFW award, two Vigilante Patriot awards, and a Sigma Delta Chi award for editorial cartooning. Brooks" cartoons appear in more than eighty books, including textbooks on political science, economics, and history, as well as encyclopedias and yearbooks. His original cartoons are on display in the archives of many libraries.