Party Animals By, Ernesto Sanchez The complete history of the republican and democratic mascots. From conception to the present. Also a mini biography and a tribute to the creator Thomas Nast.

Party Animals We are all familiar with the Democratic donkey and the Republican elephant. Most of us have seen the pachyderm and the beast of burden in countless political cartoons, but how did they come to be the official "mascot" for the two parties? "Righty" the elephant, as he is known today, was first conceived in the mind of political cartoonist Thomas Nast in 1874. He is also credited for popularizing the donkey, now known as "…

…and intelligent. Although the donkey is not the official mascot of the Democratic Party, it is accepted and adored by most Democrats. The elephant however is the official mascot of the Republican Party. You see countless cartoons incorporating the political creatures in newspapers and TV adds. Dozens of different artists have shown their view of the animal making them look either ridiculous or dignified. Whatever the case, many cartoonists owe their job to Thomas Nast.