Your TR Source
President Roosevelt sits at his desk and looks at three papers: “Panama Canal,” “Philippine Tariff,” and “Railroad Rate Legislation.” There is a picture of Abraham Lincoln on the wall. Uncle Sam directs several men, including a “R. R. trust” and a “obstructionist,” away.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-11
Uncle Sam looks at a plow “made in England” and a shovel “made in Germany” in disgust. Caption: Uncle Sam: “I can’t use those tools.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-05-20
President Roosevelt and Massachusetts Senator Henry Cabot Lodge wear Roman attire. Lodge holds an “arbitration treaties” knife as he walks toward Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-16
A cartoon depicting Uncle Sam patting President Roosevelt on the back, endorsing him for a second term as President.
Homer Davenport was a staff cartoonist for William Randolph Hearst in San Francisco for the Examiner, and in New York City for the Journal. His cartoons against William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt were savage, but by 1904 he admired Roosevelt and joined the smaller New York Mail, a Republican daily. For that paper Davenport drew the iconic “He’s Good Enough For Me,” which was widely reprinted, eventually gracing billboards, posters, postcards, and handbills. Roosevelt assisted Davenport’s hobby and business of importing white Arabian stallions to America. In 1912 Davenport redrew this famous cartoon, endorsing Roosevelt, before rejoining Hearst. He died soon thereafter, catching a cold whilst covering the return of the Titanic survivors on New York’s docks.
Cartoon depicting the grim reaper at a gravestone for soldiers from the Spanish-American War. At the bottom it reads, “Shall this monument be erected to political incompetence and corruption?”
More American soldiers died from tropical fevers and diseases while waiting in Cuba to return to the United States (generally, due to bureaucratic incompetence), and the so-called “embalmed beef” scandal–rancid provisions–than from combat. Publisher William Randolph Hearst and his cartoonist Homer Davenport were avid proponents of the war, but largely anti-McKinley, and attacked the Republican administration at every chance.
A cartoon depicting Uncle Sam patting President Roosevelt on the back, endorsing him for a second term as president. This copy appeared in “A Cartoon History of Roosevelt’s Career,” and the caption explains that the cartoon was widely circulated by the Republican party during the 1904 presidential campaign.
1904
A soft bat labeled Stuffed, held by a hand labeled the President, is seen hitting a strong man labeled The Trusts and not hurting him. Caption: Deal gently with the erring; ’tis better far to curb the trusts with love, than war.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-03
President Roosevelt swims in a “Pool of Popularity” while a large man who has donned Roosevelt’s shed Rough Rider clothing stands in the foreground. The clothes are an ill fit, and beneath the breeches extend pantaloons with dollar signs on them.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-06-14
American soldiers are lined up as a firing squad facing Filipino children. Cartoon is addressing the Balangiga Affair and Massacre. Caption: Criminals because they were born ten years before we took the Philippines.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-05-05
Homer Davenport presses Theodore Roosevelt to visit Silverton, Oregon.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-04
Homer Davenport suggests William Bailey Howland handle the funds, based on his statement. He sent Theodore Roosevelt the few checks he received.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-10-05
Homer Davenport tells President Roosevelt that he has spoken with Edward P. Hatch, who is interested in purchasing the Tribune. Hatch has asked Davenport to think of people who may wish to join the venture, and Davenport asks Roosevelt to consider the same thing. Hatch believes, as Roosevelt does, that if the paper is well run with a suitable staff, it could be very beneficial.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-25
Political cartoonist Homer Davenport thanks President Roosevelt for his letter as it cheered him considerably in his recent illness. In Aleppo, Davenport acquired twenty-seven horses and mares of blood purer than he and Roosevelt have seen before. Aleppo’s governor was curious about “Americk,” a nation he had heard to be the greatest of them all, and he rejoiced that Davenport carried a letter of friendship from Roosevelt, “The Sheik of All Americk.” Davenport also notes that though William Randolph Hearst has offered to employ him, Davenport will refuse because he feels Hearst unfit for the office he seeks and because he desires “to plod where I know I am on the right side.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-13
Homer Davenport, political cartoonist and Arabian horse breeder, writes to President Roosevelt inquiring about a permit from the Turkish Legation to obtain Arabian horses. Davenport also describes the German and French governments process to obtain and breed stallions and mares.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-28
The father of Homer Davenport has a friend, G. A. Waggoner, who wrote a book called Stories of Old Oregon. Waggoner was one of the early Oregon pioneers. Davenport was asked to send the book to President Roosevelt and knows that the book would please Roosevelt and his family.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-05
Abraham Lincoln kneels beside a dying Civil War soldier in gray. Two other soldiers and a cannon are in the background.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-11
Uncle Sam sits on a couch with David B. Hill as they both cry. On the ground is a paper that reads, “Hill to retire after the campaign.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-30
Uncle Sam looks at a “Wolfert’s Roost” rock that David B. Hill hides behind, holding a “gold standard” trap. Caption: Uncle Sam: “You may catch Bryan but you can’t catch me.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-28