PAT OLIPHANT
(b. 1935) Australian-American editorial cartoonist whose career spans more than fifty years. His trademark is a small penguin character named Punk, who is often seen making a comment about the subject of the panel. Photographic reproduction of a comic, 13" x 15 1/2", signed and inscribed: "For Robert Baer, Best wishes from Oliphant". ROBERT BAER (b. 1952) is an American author and a former CIA case officer who was primarily assigned to the Middle East. He is currently Time's intelligence columnist. The comic depicts Bert Lance, director of the Office of Management and Budget under Jimmy Carter, as a large, mangy dog, presenting Carter with a skunk. This is a reference to Lance's involvement in a banking scandal, which led to his resignation. The caption reads: "You're a good ol' hound dog, Bert... But you're getting a mite difficult to live with." Punk comments: "Love me, love my skunk". Very good.