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Cunningham, Joseph Harry, 1865-1946

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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.

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

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

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.