Cunningham, Joseph Harry, 1865-1946 | - Theodore Roosevelt Center

Cartoon in the Elmira Advertiser

President Roosevelt sits at his desk and holds a book entitled “Big Game in Africa Shown to Be Extinct” in one hand and “Petition from [T]exas. Spare African Animals. Signed–School Children. Petition from New England. Have mercy on African animals. Signed–School Children” in his other. His rifle–“my pet”–is on his desk as well as “Nature Stories.” On the ground is an open book: “Political Game in America: Dead and Dying.” Kermit Roosevelt says to his father, “Dad, they’re mollycoddles.” President Roosevelt replies, “Oh! No! This needs investigation.”

Comments and Context

As Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency drew to a close. he was not less busy as some Chief Executives who managed to “transition,” but rather more occupied than usual, which famously was hectic and strenuous at normal times. He was involved in a messy dispute with Congress, he hurriedly made appointments, proclamations, and executive orders while he had those powers, he prepared to meet the returning Great White Fleet from its circumnavigational tour, he did what he could to implement the initiatives that grew from the National Governors Conference he convened (on conservation matters), and so forth.

When Congress again convenes

Two men light matches to ignite two cannons–“Senate inquiry” and “House inquiry”–with “resolution” padding. They say, “Ready” and “Aim” as they are pointed toward President Roosevelt. The president smiles as he looks on holding a “reply” bomb. He says, “Fire away.”

Comments and Context

The inspiration for Joseph Harry Cunningham’s cartoon in the Washington Herald (reprinted in the Omaha Bee and clipped for the cartoon scrapbook kept by the Roosevelt White House) would be unclear to contemporary readers, but quite obvious to citizens at the end of 1908.

Cartoon in the Washington Herald

William H. Taft wears a suit made of “T. R.” tags and asks J. S. Sherman who is hiding in a hole, “Where have you been Jimmy boy?” Sherman replies, “Dare I come out?” In the background is a “Hearst volcano” with “letters” and “accusations.”

Comments and Context

Virtually every political cartoonist, whether pro-Taft or anti-Taft, had fun at his expanse; the broad aspects of William H. Taft were irresistible to caricaturists. But credit must be paid to an otherwise pedestrian cartoonist, Joseph Harry Cunningham of the Washington Herald, for adding some extra graphic stereotypes; it is surprising that they were not adopted by other cartoonists, or survived the presidential campaign.

Cartoon in the Washington Herald

President Roosevelt sits at his desk and holds a paper that reads: “for the uplift of the American farmer—reforms necessary etc. etc.” On the wall is a picture of William H. Taft and on the ground is “Darkest Africa” as well as a variety of papers: “Foraker silent,” “Hughes needs attention in New York,” “Illinois stirred up,” “West Virginia muddle,” “Indiana very uncertain,” and “Iowa situation cloudy.” An American farmer has a “bank account” paper in his pocket and says, “Don’t worry about us. You have other troubles.”

Comments and Context

The cartoon by Joseph Harry Cunningham in the Washington Herald addressed several matters that were prominent in the news of the time, only peripherally suggesting by the attitude of the figure representing American farmers that the agricultural section was dissatisfied with President Roosevelt at that time. Beyond normal nuances of support and priorities, such was not the case.

Cartoon in the Washington Herald

President Roosevelt leans against a hay stack with a book opened to “In Darkest Africa” and “Big Game Classified” as well as a picture of William H. Taft and the label of “my candidate.” He dreams of seeing William Jennings Bryan’s face in many animals as he walks off with his gun. Taft sits on a log and says, “Don’t be long.”

Comments and Context

Cartoonist Joseph Harry Cunningham probably was closer to the truth than he knew when he imagined President Roosevelt’s inability to forget politics, even while he was planning for his upcoming African safari. Similarly, he could have only surmised the role of candidate William H. Taft in the campaign against the Democrat William Jennings Bryan.

Cartoon in the Washington Herald

William H. Taft is dressed in clothing tagged with President Roosevelt’s initials and “my policies T.R.” belt as he boxes. Roosevelt holds “my oil” and says, “That’s a corker.” On the wall are “my rules”: “soak the malefactors,” “punch the trusts,” “upper cut the combinations–,” “solar plex the reactionaries–,” “jab the mollycoddles–” and “biff the bosses–.” On the ground is a picture of Taft with the label of “my candidate.”

Comments and Context

Cartoonist Joseph H. Cunningham, who seldom displayed prescience in his cartoons, much less a gift of prophecy, unknowingly forecast the sad summary of the Taft Administration vis a vis the policies of Theodore Roosevelt. And this cartoon was one of the very first of the 1908 campaign, after the nomination of William H. Taft and before he was elected or inaugurated.

An Oyster Bay conference

President Roosevelt talks with three other President Roosevelts and says, “Gentlemen, as I was saying…” In the background is William H. Taft wearing clothing tagged with Roosevelt’s initials and on the ground is a picture of Taft with the label of “my candidate.”

Comments and Context

Cartoonist Joseph Harry Cunningham in this drawing made the salient observation — not an attack or suggestion, but very close to the truth — that President Roosevelt might be more involved than William H. Taft, the Republican candidate, in the upcoming presidential campaign.

Tagged

William H. Taft is dressed in clothing tagged with President Roosevelt’s initials: “T.R.” To his right is a “my policies T.R.” suitcase.

Comments and Context

With scarcely an inch or a thread on the generous bulk of presidential candidate William H. Taft, cartoonist Joseph Harry Cunningham evoked, perhaps unknowingly (and with little logical connection) a cartooning icon of a decade earlier. Homer Davenport of the Hearst papers sought to discredit Marcus Alonzo Hanna of Ohio, the close adviser of President William McKinley. He caricatured Hanna as a bloated presence, whether as an amanuensis or a Svengali, but invariably in a gaudy, checkered suit. The industrialist’s every square in the suit and vest was filled with a dollar sign. The venomous Davenport even turned Hanna’s first name into an accusatory pun: “Dollar Mark.”

Cartoon in the Washington Herald

President Roosevelt admires his painting of William H. Taft—”my candidate for president”—and says, “Nice work.” There is a picture of “James S. Sherman for vice-president” on the wall, which Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon points at and says, “Oh! I don’t know — he’s one of us.”

Comments and Context

This cartoon by Joseph Harry Cunningham was published four days after the closing gavel of the 1908 Republican National Convention. It presents an accurate depiction of the convention results, as well as the relative positions of the candidates, the president, and the Old Guard party stalwarts, who are represented by Speaker Joseph Gurney Cannon.

Cartoon in the Washington Herald

Inside of a “Taft boom” barrel sits a “third term” cat with a “popular demand” brick tied to it. Roosevelt holds up a big stick to swing at the cat.

Comments and Context

With the Republican National Convention only ten days away Joseph Harry Cunningham’s cartoon cleverly portrays the intangible dilemmas that remained, at least for President Roosevelt, and despite the commonly held consensus that his choice, William H. Taft, would be the presidential nominee.

In Africa after March 4—may-be

President Roosevelt has his big stick at his feet and holds out his hands toward a snake, a lion, a tiger, a giraffe, a rhino, and a monkey. The “G.O.P.” elephant says, “He hypnotized me.”

Comments and Context

The Washington Herald’s Joseph Harry Cunningham paid subtle compliments to President Roosevelt in this cartoon that was published precisely a week before the Republican National Convention would convene in Chicago. Presidents did not attend their parties’ conventions in those times, nor did candidates unless they were nominated in last-minute stampedes or compromises.

Cartoon in the Washington Herald

A group of “governors” dance around a large President Roosevelt. William Jennings Bryan watches from the background.

Comments and Context

Through 1908, Joseph Harry Cunningham of the Washington Herald was improving as a caricaturist and a graphic conceptualist. It was a requirement more urgent than felt by the nation’s other political cartoonists, perhaps, as his local news was America’s national news.

Cartoon in the Washington Herald

President Roosevelt holds a newspaper that reads, “Roosevelt the people’s choice. Probability that the Chicago convention will stampede to him,” as he pets a “third term” cat. Roosevelt says, “That’s a good pussy–now go ‘way and leave me alone.”

Comments and Context

There are two smiles in this cartoon by Joseph Harry Cunningham, and it is probably intentionally challenging to discern whether the cat or President Roosevelt bears a stronger resemblance to the famous Cheshire Cat in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Cartoon in the Washington Herald

President Roosevelt uses his patented “Roosevelt invigorator” with “necessary measures,” “anti-injunction,” “anti-trust,” and “currency legislation” to blow into the mouth of a “Do Nothing 60th Congress” elephant costume that appears to be on Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon who says, “A storm must be brewing.” Roosevelt’s big stick lies on the ground with the United States Capitol building in the background.

Comments and Context

Joseph Harry Cunningham in the Washington Herald almost anticipated a Rube Goldberg invention, in those eponymous cartoon panels with complicated mechanisms that required patient study and ultimately accomplished little. In this political cartoon President Roosevelt works the bellows to inflate an elephant costume with Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon inside.

Threatened eclipse of sons

Uncle Sam looks up at the sky and sees several eclipses: a “partial eclipse in New York” with Charles Evans Hughes, a “partial eclipse in Penns.” with Philander C. Knox, a “partial eclipse in Wisconsin” with Robert M. La Follette, a “partial eclipse in Indiana” with Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks, a “partial eclipse in Illinois” with Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon, a “total eclipse in Chicago,” and a “partial eclipse in Ohio” with William H. Taft. “My world” with President Roosevelt is about to overshadow Taft.

Comments and Context

Things were looking up in 1908. . .or at least people were looking up to the heavens. An unusually high number of solar and lunar eclipses were due that year, and the spectacular once-in-a-lifetime Halley’s Comet was due to brighten the skies in 1910. All were matters of public discussion and newspaper feature stories.

What’s the answer?

President Roosevelt fires a “rapid-firing message gun” from the White House at Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon as a “third term” animal looks over Roosevelt’s shoulder. Cannon bends over as he is hit with “forest reserves,” “postal bank law,” “anti-injunction,” “executive control,” “power over securities,” and “control of wealth.” The United States Capitol building is in the distance and a “big maul” gavel and “former messages” are on the ground.

Comments and Context

Joseph Harry Cunningham’s drawing in the Washington Herald is an unfortunate example of how an important and even salient point might be buried at the hands of an inferior cartoonist. The context is simple — and historically significant — about the management of President Roosevelt reform program; a major policy address, recently delivered to Congress as a Special Message; and the growing intransigence of the Republican Old Guard regarding Roosevelt’s initiatives.

To resign or not to resign

Secretary of War William H. Taft sits at his desk filled with “official business” papers as the shades of Uncle Sam and President Roosevelt stand behind him. Roosevelt points out the window at cannons firing for Wisconsin Senator Robert M. La Follette, Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks, Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon, Philander C. Knox, New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes, and the most for Taft.

Comments and Context

More than two months before the Republican National Convention convened to nominate a presidential cabinet, cartoonist Joseph Harry Cunningham of the Washington Herald presumed that William H. Taft would be the party’s choice; as did most of the country.

Cartoon in the Washington Herald

President Roosevelt and William Jennings Bryan look at each other. In between them are two hearts–“our policies”–with the arrow of “public welfare” through them.

Comments and Context

Joseph Harry Cunningham’s cartoon in the Washington Herald did not appear on Valentine’s Day, nor even April Fool’s Day, so it evidently fell in the category then of common discussion. President Roosevelt recently had delivered a long, substantial, and fairly radical special message to Congress. In the paper he outlined an extensive list of policy prescriptions for the last year of his presidency and beyond.

Session half over, too

President Roosevelt sits at his desk with a long list for his “next message!!!” On the desk is his big stick–“coaxer”–and on the wall is a calendar with half the days of March checked off. Roosevelt tells Rhode Island Senator Nelson W. Aldrich and Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon, “Now go–and get busy.”

Comments and Context

March 1908 marked the beginning of the last year of President Roosevelt’s administration, and a period of increased activity. Other presidents might have, and did, see a possibility to rest in the waters of a lame-duck status, but it was not Roosevelt’s style.

Individual and public servant

In the first cartoon, President Roosevelt holds his “big stick” and a paper that reads, “Election Day 1904: Under no circumstances will I be a candidate for or accept another nomination.” In the second cartoon, Roosevelt holds his “big stick” and a paper that reads, “December 12, 1907: I have not changed, and shall not change the decision thus announced.” In the third cartoon, the people holds the “big stick,” and Roosevelt defers to it in Chicago on June 16, 1908. In the fourth cartoon, a larger group of people hold the “big stick” and Roosevelt defers on November 3, 1908.

Comments and Context

Joseph Harry Cunningham of the Washington Herald apparently wanted to be a prophet as well as a cartoonist in this four-panel treatment of the 1908 political season. Aided by veloxes or photostats to enable him to depict identical figures, even in evolving sizes, Cunningham depicted the phases of President Roosevelt’s declination of another term in the White House.