Pulitzer-winning cartoonist Paul Conrad dies at 86; pencil deflated presidents for 50 years

Pulitzer-winning cartoonist Paul Conrad dies at 86

LOS ANGELES — Paul Conrad, the political cartoonist who won three Pulitzer Prizes and used his pencil to poke at politicians for more than 50 years, has died. He was 86.

David Conrad says his father died Saturday of natural causes at his home in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.

Conrad took on U.S. presidents from Harry S. Truman to George W. Bush with his stark, aggressive visual style.

His favorite target was President Richard Nixon. At the time of the president’s resignation, Conrad drew Nixon’s helicopter leaving the White House with the caption: “One flew over the cuckoo’s nest.”

David Conrad said his father considered appearing on Nixon’s enemies list to be his proudest achievement.

Conrad worked at the Los Angeles Times for 30 years and helped the newspaper raise its national profile.