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Holiday wishes from MAD Magazine herald a new regime in the White House and a new era as the publication matures.

Lester Krauss is responsible for the simple cover; mascot Alfred E. Neuman reflected in a red ornament.

Only two features reflect the season. Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men is a three-page photo spread spoofing world leaders, personalities and enemies making nice for the holidays. Featured are Richard Nixon, Edward Kennedy, Dr. Timothy Leary, Rev. Billy Graham, Gen. William Westmoreland, Gamel Abdul Nasser, Golda Meir, Mao tse-Tung, Chaing Kai-shek, Jacqueline Kennedy, Jacqueline Susanne, Muhammed Ali, Tom Smothers, Dick Smothers, Hugh Hefner, Pope Paul VI, William F. Buckley, Stokley Carmichael and George Wallace.

The second is The Month Before Christmas. Frank Jacobs teamed with Don Martin for their version of Clement Clark Moore’s ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas with a current-day consumerism bent.

MAD (1952) 132

More topical subjects included Nixon’s the One; a single-page gag predicting the next eight-years with Tricky Dick at the helm. If anyone had known what would happen… Ronnie Nathan and Jack Rickard handled the jab.

Sergio Aragones presented his look at protests and demonstrations over a four-page spread.

Fellow Mad man Al Jaffee presented a one-page What New Trend is Destroying a Time-Honored Theater Art?

Also on board for the issue were Larry Siegel and Mort Drucker with The Academy Awards Show We’d Like to See. The talented Drucker lampooned Dustin Hoffman, Joseph Cotton, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Raquel Welch, Vanessa Redgrave, Ali McGraw, Warren Beatty, Lee Marvin and James Coburn. Addressed were new categories based upon the current sexual mores portrayed in films.

Dave Berg took five pages to present The Lighter Side of Birthdays.

Antonio Prohias checked in with two Spy vs. Spy features.

The remainder of the issue spotlighted slapstick and one-offs in the usual manner that kept the magazine at the forefront of modern culture for decades, finally becoming an icon.