Without knowing him, many pine for Norman Rockwell’s spirit, that epic creator of American self-portraits, reminding us who we are. Maybe, as we turn into the stretch, there is a chance we will rediscover our inner Rockwell, the American magic. I think we can.
Norman Perceval Rockwell – who rose to fame as a Saturday Evening Post and Boys Life illustrator – was the Joe Rogan, Ronald Reagan, Tom Brady, and Andy Warhol of his day, only better than any modern icon at putting on canvas America’s self-perception, the goodness that makes us great.
Rockwell was not a game-changing writer., not a wit, like Alistair Cooke, who famously wrote a weekly column, Letter from America, when Europe held us in awe for our courage, spiritual bearing, can-do, physicality, dreams, and doing. Rockwell was the artist.
Rockwell drew and painted us – all of us, the common man, woman, and child to famous people – with respect, heart, humor, and humility – reminding us we are authentic, sincere, and believe in our faiths, family, freedoms, and nation, no hesitation.
He reminded us we are different, objectively, historically, and internally. The prints we leave are unique – winning world wars, bringing peace, pioneering medicine, communication, transportation, and humanitarianism. From innovation to music, dance, and movies we make hearts swoon, imagine big, walked on the moon, Americans are simply cut from different clothes, a completely different breed.
Norman Rockwell painted it, the power of Boy Scouts and their ideals, rewards of hard work, farming, factories, Rosie the Riveter, return home of a veteran. He painted parents, grandparents with kids, kids with dogs, old teaching young about the sea.
He taught through painting and was prolific. He taught love, devotion to duty, concern for others, and doing what was right for others, in health, sports, risk-taking, and family, for the young, the runaway sitting on a stool beside a caring officer, old sea captain carving as he talks with boys, little black girl escorted to school in our darkest era, white dress new, her hopes high.
He painted our joy and sadnesses, Lindbergh having crossed the Atlantic, Armstrong and Aldrin on the moon, how we love our country, the famous “Four Freedoms” we defended in WWII – Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want, Freedom from Fear.
He reflected our differentness, and strength that hides within it – right in plain sight. He painted boys playing football, girls being girls, kids not worried just doing, around campfires, running, hiking, heading for camp, sliding on toboggans, taking chances, and caring for animals. He painted the gentle in the tough, tough in the gentle.
He drew Christmas and Thanksgiving, making both real, grandparents, parents, and children in prayer, thanks over meals, the “Golden Rule,” accepting differences with delight. He drew marriage, mercy and mirth, curiosity and quirks, “The Art Critic” examining a model’s immodest bodice, lemonade stand capitalism, being shy, and asking why.
Most of all, Rockwell caused us to laugh – at ourselves, and reminded us of our humanity. He caused us to remember humility, how to laugh at our foibles, and forgive our neighbors’ of theirs. He taught us to step back, pause, breathe, and be grateful for all.
He was a master at capturing our character, but he worked at it. He went to school, drew every day, and considered this a gift that obligated him to give back.
At 18, he illustrated his first book, “Tell Me Why: Stories About Mother Nature.” He would illustrate dozens, and paint 4,000 original pictures. He tried to enlist in WWI. Underweight, he gorged himself, reenlisted, got in, and became a military artist. In World War II, his art helped fund war bonds.
Rockwell’s last work for the Boy Scouts was “Spirit of 1776.” He won the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977. Married twice, three children, having put wind beneath millions of wings for 60 years, he died this month in 1978.
An undying truth: Norman Rockwell loved this Nation – put that love to canvas. He painted so that we would never forget – that we are “one nation under God,” unique, great as we are good. We are original, individual, and love to be free – qualities captured in Norman Rockwell’s artistry. May we regain the awe he saw.
Robert Charles is a former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, former Reagan and Bush 41 White House staffer, attorney, and naval intelligence officer (USNR). He wrote “Narcotics and Terrorism” (2003), “Eagles and Evergreens” (2018), and is National Spokesman for AMAC. Robert Charles has also just released an uplifting new book, “Cherish America: Stories of Courage, Character, and Kindness” (Tower Publishing, 2024).
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