Thomas NastCalled the "Father of the American Cartoon," Thomas Nast (1840-1902) was an influential caricaturist and political cartoonist. Remembered for his Civil War illustrations in Harper's Weekly, Nast's political cartoons were also instrumental in the downall of Boss Tweed and the election of President Ulysses S. Grant. He solidified America's picture of Santa Claus by portraying him as a round, twinkly, elfin figure, which he based on descriptions in Washington Irving's writings and Clement Moore's poem "The Night Before Christmas." Nast also popularized the donkey as a symbol representing the Democratic Party and the elephant as a Republican Party symbol. Read More Read Less