The elephant became linked to the Republican Party largely due to the work of political cartoonist Thomas Nast, who is often credited with popularizing both symbols. In an 1874 cartoon published ...

Origins: The elephant became associated with the Republican Party also thanks to Thomas Nast. In the same 1874 cartoon mentioned above, Nast depicted an elephant labeled "The Republican Vote ...

the Republican elephant, the Democratic donkey, and Uncle Sam. Publishing regularly in Harper's Weekly, the celebrated Nast drew thousands of cartoons during the second half of the nineteenth century.

It was German-born cartoonist Thomas Nast - a Republican - who really popularized the two symbols. The GOP elephant made its first appearance in its 1874 cartoon "The Third Term Panic," which was ...