American Politics As Portrayed In Hustler Magazine

During the first couple years that Hustler was published in the mid 1970s, the magazine was not overtly political in its style and approach.  As time went on and the magazine became popular, pressure from social conservatives and anti-pornography crusaders increased, which led to Larry Flynt and company gradually becoming more socially and politically outspoken.  And, even though Hustler generally mocks everyone it deems worthy of scorn, the overall result was that the publication became openly left-leaning in its approach to politics.  Articles in the magazine exemplify this development, as social and political commentary has been given at least some focus in nearly every issue of the magazine since the late 1970s.  At times these articles seem to fit well with the images shown just pages away from the written pieces, and, in other instances, they seem like strange juxtapositions.  However, this uniquely idiosyncratic approach has become emblematic of Hustler's philosophy and tradition.  Taking a page or two from Al Goldstein's Screw, Al's "Shit List" became Larry's "Asshole of the Month" column in which political figures and religious hypocrites are ridiculed and mocked in screeds filled with harsh language and vitriolic denunciations.  Some of this material is quite humorous and can make one feel proud to be an American, because we have the right to express ourselves and criticize both political and religious leaders so vastly in this country, though in some cases the criticisms do tend to devolve into silly and petty examples of partisan, ad hominem lambasting.  Nevertheless, over the years, Hustler magazine has consistently proven itself to be a loud, proud and bold champion of First Amendment rights.

Though it might seem strange to mix porn and politics to some people, the connection is there and has always really been there, because the personal is political and vice versa.  Pornography wasn't really legal in the United States until the early 1970s, and the women's reproductive rights movement became increasingly successful around that time too, especially after the Roe v. Wade decision by the Supreme Court in 1973.  A year prior to that, in 1972, Linda Lovelace could be seen swallowing dicks down to the balls on the big screen in the film Deep Throat.  And the hit porn film Behind the Green Door soon followed.  Even though many feminists were against pornography in a number of ways back then, and some may even still be against it, nevertheless, time would show that a growing movement toward sex-positive feminism did eventually follow.  Our culture today is still dealing with myriad problems regarding gender inequality, consent, and so many other issues involving human sexuality and expression.  In the 1970s, things weren't really all too different compared with how they are now in some respects, though the bushes were usually thicker and fuzzier back then.  And so, it was into this kinky cultural milieu that Hustler magazine crawled out of the horny hillbilly cornfields of Ohio in 1974, showcasing mostly a mixture of hairy heartland ass and woolly Appalachian pussy.

Struggling to keep his magazine afloat in 1975, Larry Flynt published nude pictures of former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and, subsequently, the August 1975 issue of Hustler sold so well that Flynt was able to make his first million dollars.

Cover of Hustler August 1975:

Nude pictures of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis published in Hustler August 1975:

The first time an American flag was featured on the cover of Hustler magazine appeared in July 1976:

In a previous blog post, entitled, "U.S. Flag On Covers of Hustler Magazine", I exhibited the controversial history regarding the use of the flag on the cover of (and, at times, in) the magazine.

This cartoon, entitled, "The Bicentennial Ball", which appeared in the July 1976 issue, depicts Henry Kissinger, Ted Kennedy and Gerald Ford forcing themselves upon Lady Liberty:

Tricky Dick Nixon and Gerald Ford-skin were mocked in the August and November issues of 1976:

From July 1978, this image, entitled, "Declaration of Sexual Rights and Responsibilities", a nude remake of John Trumbull's 1818 painting, Declaration of Independence, seems to be espousing things that modern society still struggles with as well:

Like a lot of hillbillies from rural Appalachia, Larry Flynt grew up around religious superstition and evangelical Bible thumpers peddling their "sin and redemption" theology.  By the late 1970s, Flynt had become a successful and wealthy man, and was trying to navigate his newfound position of influence in the world.  When Ruth Carter Stapleton, the evangelical sister of President Jimmy Carter, befriended him in 1977, Larry was moved by her kindness, good intentions and honest frankness, and she even briefly got him to convert to Christianity.  Though, after Larry was shot on March 6, 1978, by Ku Klux Klan sniper Joseph Paul Franklin, and was subsequently confined to a wheelchair with permanent injuries, he soon denounced religion for good and over time became increasingly outspoken against religiosity.

The cover of Hustler from August 1978 seemingly lampoons this era and features a drawing of President Jimmy Carter looking through a copy of the magazine aghast:

Ruth Carter Stapleton's Hustler centerfold from August 1978:

What might have offended the Carters most about the August 1978 issue of Hustler is the following photo spread which seems to be mocking First Lady Rosalynn Carter with a big pile of coochie peanuts, entitled, "The White House Gynecologist":

This photo spread from Hustler August 1980, entitled, "Behind Closed Doors", depicts a Democratic Senator fooling around with his personal secretary:

U.S. - Iran relations in 1980 were in a bad way with the hostage crisis, sanctions and severed diplomacy, and this photo spread entitled, "Strip Search", from September of that year, features raunchy Ron Jeremy along with another guy portraying Iranian airport security guards apprehending two American female tourists attempting to smuggle contraband as an image of the Ayatollah Khomeini looks on:

In this controversial photo spread involving the American flag from August 1981, Robin can be seen spreading her knees and showing the world what she's got while her butt cheeks are seated directly on a flag that is touching the floor:

"Nancy: The President's Lady" is an obvious spoof of Nancy Reagan from October 1981 featuring jelly beans and framed pictures of chimpanzees (à la "Bonzo"):

Ronald Reagan's love of jelly beans was also mocked on the cover of the October 1981 issue:

I've heard it said that the United States is a reluctant empire, but an empire it still is in some ways with a consistently large military-industrial complex.  On the surface at least, much of American society seems to be pro-military, and pro-militarism, yet the casualties of war are often not discussed or focused on as much, though casualties are often the result of such an international military presence in conflicts around the world.  The photo spread entitled, "Oh Johnny... Come Again", that appeared in the May 1982 issue of Hustler is an interesting example of a porn magazine addressing the loss of a loved one due to military conflict:

Mocking religious hypocrites and Christian evangelicals became commonplace in Hustler magazine by the late 1970s.  In the November issue of Hustler from 1983, a Campari liqueur ad parody making fun of Reverend Jerry Falwell appeared that would end up causing such a legal ruckus that it resulted in a landmark Supreme Court decision in the case of Hustler Magazine v. Falwell (1988).  Larry Flynt and Hustler magazine won the case in a unanimous decision, which upholds the right to parody and mock public figures.  Now here's the infamous ad parody:

In 1984, Larry Flynt ran for President of the United States.  Unfortunately, he did not win, but the January 1984 issue of Hustler announced this to the world, and the magazine even included a "Larry Flynt For President" bumper sticker:

The political satire entitled, "Slime", a parody of Time magazine, from the December 1988 issue of Hustler depicts a political candidate screwing around with two female campaign workers and even simulating sex on top of a flag that is lying on a wooden floor:

The first issue of Hustler magazine that I ever saw, after my friend Sam pulled a damaged copy out of a hole in a tree in the woods of Whipple, Ohio, featured this image of Senator Bob Packwood's face superimposed over some pussy from April 1993:

The Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky Scandal took up a lot of time and attention in the late 1990s.  It's funny to think how lame and tame it all seems now compared to things that have since transpired in the United States and the rest of the world.  If only we still lived in a time when a blowjob between two consenting adults was the main thing people fixated on!  Of course, one of those adults was the President of the United States, William Jefferson Clinton, so it became "the cum shot heard round the world".  Of course, Hustler had to parody the affair, that being the Hustler thing to do, so the "Bill and Monica" photo spread appeared in January 1999:

Well, I don't know if she really pissed on him in real life or not, as shown in the fourth picture there, but that last image is likely how Monica's blue dress actually got stained!

Cover of Hustler November 2000:

In 2003, Larry Flynt claimed to have purchased nude pictures of Private Jessica Lynch, who was captured by Iraqi forces, rescued from an Iraqi hospital by U.S. troops and erroneously celebrated as a hero for the sake of national propaganda.  Flynt said he would never release any of the photographs, calling Lynch a "good kid" who became "a pawn for the government".  Here ain't one of those images:

My favorite image from Hustler magazine in which an American flag is visible is the remake of Washington Crossing the Delaware with McKenzie Lee as "Lady Liberty" in place of George Washington from the July 2006 issue (photographed by Matti Klatt):

On November 4, 2008, Hustler Video released the Sarah Palin parody movie Who's Nailin' Paylin?:

A series of Sarah Palin porn parody movies starring Lisa Ann soon followed.  I think there were five such films in total, though I found it odd to watch even one since Lisa Ann was portraying a political candidate I did not admire, and yet, there she was, fucking and sucking on screen.  It seemed even stranger to me than watching Hustler Video's Brady Bunch porn parody Not The Bradys XXX (2007).  Perhaps the oddest offering of the five Palin porn parodies is Letterman's Nailin' Palin (2009).  I mean, why?  Who knows, but a gang bang photo spread entitled, "Letterman's Nailin' Palin" appeared in the April 2010 issue of Hustler magazine:

The film Who's Nailin' Palin? 2 (2011) was promoted in the November 2011 issue of Hustler:

In the last two images there, Lizz Tayler can be seen depicting Bristol Palin fucking and sucking a dick.  Well, I guess something can be kinda mean and kinda hot at the same time!

Hustler took aim at General David Petraeus following the sex scandal involving his biographer Paula Broadwell, and the parody photo spread, entitled, "The General Goes All In", appeared in the June 2013 issue of the magazine:

Alexis Texas seems to be portraying Marilyn Monroe in the Oval Office with a certain President in "Intoxicating" from Hustler April 2014:

Also, from Hustler April 2014, is "White House Orgy":

Perhaps this is what has become of the White House bowling alley?

Hustler Video released Latinas Play Their Trump Cards in September 2015:

"Republican Candidate Wife Swap", Hustler magazine May 2016:

Hustler Video released Republican Candidate Wife Swap in January 2016.

In April 2016, Hustler Video released The Donald:

In the chump age of Trump, life now mimics parody, for porn and politics are now closer than ever following the Stormy Daniels-Donald Trump Scandal.  Since that time, Hustler magazine has reprinted old photo spreads featuring Stormy Daniels.  For example, the Mary Carey & Stormy Daniels, "Cheaters Win", photo spread from Hustler May 2003 was reprinted in the July 2018 issue of Hustler:

Also, Stormy Daniels, "Ring Mistress", from the April 2003 issue of Hustler's Taboo magazine was reprinted in the 44th Anniversary issue of Hustler in 2018:

It seems that as long as people and politics exist, so too shall sex scandals.  And, as long as Hustler exists, so too shall political porn parodies!