Controversial Election Begins 3rd Year of Comic Book Series

COLUMBUS, Ohio - June 10, 2013 - PRLog -- Jun. 10, 2013 - COLUMBUS, Ohio. -- Republican name-calling, disputes, infighting and rival factions lead to an unprecedented loss in a presidential election.  This seems like a great topic for a comic book--especially since it happened 100 years ago. The latest issue of Ohio Chronicles, the only mini-comic about Ohio history, follows the tumultuous re-election bid of William H. Taft, 27th president of the United States and Cincinnati resident.  The comic book will be available for purchase at comic book shops in the Columbus area and at Celebrate Local at Easton this week.

The story of Taft’s re-election bid is filed with personality conflict and regrets. Taft was hand-chosen by then president Theodore Roosevelt to succeed him in 1908. Taft easily won, but somehow lost the trust of his former mentor. The rancor between the two became so severe, the embittered Roosevelt ran against the incumbent Taft for the Republican nomination. When Taft took the nomination, Roosevelt started his own Progressive “Bull Moose” Party to run against Taft. The rivalry allowed Woodrow Wilson to capture the vote and become the 28th President.  Taft went on to become Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, altering forever how the court was viewed. The 16-page, full-color comic features a narrative of the election, a brief biography of Taft, and editorial cartoons and news articles from the period.

Artist and writer Lee Smith, a former Columbus School teacher, has been creating the comic books for over two years. His belief in a better way to get students involved with school and “Ohio’s colorful past” led to the creation of the ongoing bi-monthly publication.  “I believe that the short and sweet approach--stories that are 12 pages or less--keeps kids’ s attention,” said Smith.  “The medium allows an overload of information--chronology, quotes, historical images, clothing styles and character’s emotions-- that can help children to really become involved in the events that are being portrayed.” Smith tries to pick topics that are both interesting to young readers as well as those that relate directly to the Ohio Social Studies Standards for Fourth grade.

Previous topics of the Ohio Chronicles series have included The Battle of Lake Erie, The Land Ordinance of 1785, The Millfield Mine Disaster, Tecumseh, The Battle of Fallen Timbers and Ohio’s first Governor--Nancy Hollister. Among the topics being presented in the comic book series this year are:

President Taft--The 27th President of the United States holds the distinction of being our most overweight president as well as the only president to have served in the Executive and Judicial branches of Government.

The airship Shenandoah-- The Navy’s first dirigible faced an insurmountable storm over eastern Ohio leading to a most devastating crash.

John M. Langston--America’s first African-American elected to public office was also a leader in the abolitionist movement across the state of Ohio.

Johnny Clem-- The youngest enlisted “man” in the civil war, he ran away from home, and even Ohio, to join the Union Army.

ABOUT

As a recent publisher of history comics, Ohio Chronicles has published 12 issues and three teacher guides within the last two years. The comics are geared for fourth grade readers but can be enjoyed by readers of any age. The publisher has teamed up with many Ohio museums, including Historic Fort Steubens in Steubenville and Adena Mansions and Gardens in Chillicothe.