Harding, Nelson, -1944

President Roosevelt carries a tray that is barely balanced and includes a teapot of “Jap. Treaty Rights,” “T. R.’s Western popularity,” and his big stick. Meanwhile, a dog–“Western legislature”–is tangled in his feet. “Japan” says, “My tea, please.”

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With less than a month remaining in his presidency, Theodore Roosevelt continued to prioritize the troubled relations between the United States and Japan. Specifically, the largely local San Francisco-area friction related to Japanese immigrants and residents was a matter that he refused to ignore, instead recognizing its malignant prejudice and injustice, its immediate effect on diplomatic and trade relations between the two nations, and the dangers of provoking long-range strategic and even military responses in the future.

A young boy–“California”–falls out of bed and says, “Help! Help! Papa, the Japs are comin’!” President Roosevelt says, “Hush, son, it’s only a nightmare.” Caption: He’s dreaming again.

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Nelson Harding borrowed from a popular comic strip in a competitor of his own Brooklyn Eagle for this cartoon. He was hardly giving free advertising to a rival (New York Herald) because the comics strip Little Nemo in Slumberland had swept New York City and much of the nation, appearing not only in Sunday funny papers, but in reprint books, games, and toys; and at the time of this cartoon was transformed into a lavish Broadway operetta with a cast of hundreds of actors and animals, and music by Victor Herbert.

President Roosevelt and Uncle Sam, holding a big stick and a “Law of 1825” rifle respectively, run toward the “legal jungle” stepping on Indianapolis News and World newspapers about the Panama Canal.

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The title of Nelson Harding’s cartoon was a pun because the pursuit of President Theodore Roosevelt and Uncle Sam (representing, in this case, the Attorney General’s office) was after literal newspapers.

In the first vignette, President Roosevelt uses his big stick to push South Carolina Senator Benjamin R. Tillman into the “Undesirables Club.” Caption: As seen from the White House. In the second vignette, Tillman uses his pitchfork to hoist Roosevelt into the “Ananias Club.” Caption: As it looks from the Senate.

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This cartoon from early in Nelson Harding’s career, through frequently reprinted in history texts, seldom is placed in context. President Theodore Roosevelt’s altercations with the Populist firebrand “Pitchfork” Ben Tillman were well known — in fact Tillman’s enemies were legion — and history knows Roosevelt’s mythical “Ananias Club” to which he consigned liars and opponents who engaged in exaggeration and hyperbole. He borrowed the name from the early church member, recorded in the New Testament Book of Acts, who was struck dead by the Holy Spirit for lying to the Apostles about his tithes and offerings.

Harding’s inspiration was the story of that week, emanating from, originally, a simple request by the president that Congress charter an increased scope of duties for the Secret Service. Roosevelt maintained that new forms of crime — especially interstate offenses — required heightened federal action. The Congress peremptorily dismissed Roosevelt’s request; there were back-and-forth reiterations; words became sharper; the president implied that Congressmen must have feared being investigated; an angry resolution was fired at the White House… and so forth.

In the first section of the cartoon, President Roosevelt throws a “message” snowball that hits “Congress” in the back of the head. In the second section, “Congress” runs with a “rebuke” umbrella raised and says, “I’ll fix that boy,” as Roosevelt hides behind the wall with a huge snowball. In the third section, Roosevelt throws the huge “exposures” snowball at “Congress,” who has dropped his umbrella.

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This Nelson Harding occasionally has been reprinted in articles and history texts, and therefore is familiar as a comment on the sometimes contentious relationship between President Roosevelt and the Congress. The precise inspiration seldom is received notice.

President Roosevelt walks toward a “canal ‘scandal'” jack-in-the-box with his big stick in his hands. Uncle Sam puts his hand on Roosevelt’s right shoulder. Caption: Uncle Sam–“There’s no need of getting excited, Theodore.”

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The context of this Nelson Harding cartoon is, in the cartoonist’s view the scandal that was not a scandal, but nevertheless perturbed President Roosevelt. His brother-in-law, as well as William H. Taft’s brother, were accused of illicitly profiting from negotiations and transactions during the “taking” of Panama and beginning of construction of the Panama Canal four years previous. The president was also offended at the implied criticism of his management.

President Roosevelt holds up a stuffed bear labeled “canal ‘scandal.'” Caption: Another nature fake exposed.

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The Brooklyn Daily Eagle advertised itself as an independent paper, and it usually was. Many such journals proved their independence by attacking all sides of partisan debates, but the Eagle, more than most publications, praised both sides when they though politicians or parties deserved approval.

President Roosevelt is dressed as Santa Claus and puts “liar” Christmas cards into the “editors stockings.”

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Theodore Roosevelt enjoyed extraordinarily friendly relations with the press, or, specifically, with reporters. Newspapers, owners, and many editors dissented from Roosevelt’s policies, but many reporters from such papers enjoyed access to the White House and friendly relations with the president. In the days before regular press conferences and formal press briefings, it was probably Roosevelt who began the tradition of meeting with reporters or groups of reporters, sharing background information, and answering many questions. As a ground rule, reporters were required to respect Roosevelt when he asked not to be quoted directly; and they would be barred afterward if they violated trust.

A woman holds up a newspaper with a picture of President Roosevelt and William Jennings Bryan sitting at desks facing one another with papers of “our policies” in between their two desks. Roosevelt holds his big stick. The headline reads, “Dame Rumor’s Daily: Extra!!! Mr. Roosevelt to be Associate Editor of the ‘Commoner.'”

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Nelson Harding joined his peers’ humorous speculation about Theodore Roosevelt’s post-presidential life. He had been offered university presidencies, management of major newspapers, and was pushed to run for governor or senator from New York State.

President Roosevelt pushes off the “big stick” and says, “Don’t flinch; don’t foul” as he leans on Timothy L. Woodruff who leans on George Rumsey Sheldon who leans on Secretary of State Elihu Root who leans on J. S. Sherman who leans on Frank H. Hitchcock who ultimately leans on William H. Taft who is fighting against William Jennings Bryan. On the other side William Randolph Hearst pours a “Standard Oil” can and says, “I’ll make ’em slip.” Meanwhile, Norman Edward Mack leans against Herman Ridder who leans against William James Conners who leans against Charles Francis Murphy who leans against John Worth Kern who leans against Bryan. Uncle Sam referees.

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It was impressive cartoon that readers of the Brooklyn Eagle beheld in the Election Day edition of the paper. It was, properly, not partisan or biased toward a candidate or party, published as it was on Election Day when political argumentation traditionally ceased.

Uncle Sam puts his hand on William H. Taft and a shadow of William Jennings Bryan.

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In the 1908 presidential campaign, the Brooklyn Eagle was friendlier to the Republican Party than it was previously or subsequently. Like many Democrat-leaning newspapers (or, sometimes, traditionally partisan journals) it simply could not endorse William Jennings Bryan, despite his trademark policy prescriptions having mellowed somewhat.

Newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst is depicted as “the big can” with the spout labeled “Standard Oil disclosures” dancing beside “the big stick,” which features President Roosevelt’s face.

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Somewhat obscured by the passage of time is the biggest issue in the 1908 presidential election, certainly the major controversy of the campaign: the Archbold Letters. Not the tariff, not government regulation, not conservation, America’s battleship program, the Panama Canal, nor the recent stock-market panic.

William Jennings Bryan stands up in his “attack on Roosevelt” boat that is about to collapse after being hit by “the big stick.” Caption: W–J–B–/He went to sea/In an open boat;/And while afloat/The little boat bended–/My story’s ended.

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History can note the statistical likelihood that throughout the career of Theodore Roosevelt that the general situation pictured by cartoonist Nelson Harding — that opponents of Roosevelt usually “came a cropper,” losing and often regretting the altercations. It might be said that Roosevelt loved a fight; at least frequently referred to the tactic of hitting back, hitting hard, and finishing fights.

William H. Taft marches straight ahead on the “path of dignity and fairness” following the sign “to the presidency.” He bypasses the “road to turmoil,” the “byway of personalities,” the “trail of political controversy,” and the “lane of heat and rancor.”

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“Straight Ahead!” is an unusual cartoon by Nelson Harding, a cartoonist more noted for his powerful concepts than his facile drawing or competent caricatures. Two decades after this cartoon appeared he would win two consecutive Pulitzer Prizes for political cartooning, making him the only person in his profession to have that distinction; but this early drawing displays his awkward style.

President Roosevelt and William Jennings Bryan use “the big stick” to hit both Timothy L. Woodruff and Charles Francis Murphy on their backsides.

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In the Democratic Brooklyn Eagle, cartoonist Nelson Harding pictured William Jennings Bryan, the presidential candidate, and President Roosevelt as ideological and political partners. It should be noted that he did not show William H. Taft, the Republican nominee, who was by implication an afterthought. Republican cartoonists and newspapers seldom did this, indicating a desire on the part of Democrats to identify with Roosevelt. On the stump, Bryan himself was eager to identify himself with major points of Roosevelt’s policies.

William Jennings Bryan runs away from Oyster Bay with “the big stick” that has a label: “loaned for convention week only –T.R.”

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The suggestion of cartoonist Nelson Harding in this drawing is not that President Roosevelt would have cooperated, or even passively colluded, with William Jennings Bryan. Just the opposite, but the artist’s point was that Bryan might need a Roosevelt-style Big Stick to prevail against rivals the Democratic National Convention, scheduled to open three days after publication of this cartoon.

William H. Taft stands on the “political scales” to see if he meets the requisite number of delegates for “G.O.P. nomination.” Unbeknownst to him, President Roosevelt also puts his weight on the scale.

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Nelson Harding of the Brooklyn Eagle (and at the end of his career the New York Journal) was an artist of limited abilities. Yet he compensated for his labored caricatures, exacting penwork, and unsure anatomy with invariably brilliant, succinct concepts.

President Roosevelt points to the “Taft boom” tree in which hides William H. Taft, in front of a group of “the governors.” Roosevelt steps on a hatchet labeled “attacks on Taft.”

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This cartoon by Nelson Harding appeared during the Conference of Governors that President Roosevelt convened at the White House.

President Roosevelt holds an old shirt labeled “discarded policy” as William Jennings Bryan comes to the door with a bag of old clothes: “cast-off Roosevelt policy” and “old populist doctrines.” Caption: Mr. B.—”Any old clothes to-day, gentleman?” Mr. R.—”Go ’round to the back door.”

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Nelson Harding’s typically perceptive cartoon about current political realities illustrates the fact that the famous French saying, Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose (The more things change, the more they stay the same) is not always true. His political cartoon’s accurate depiction of the relative positions, and relationships, between the two party leaders Theodore Roosevelt and William Jennings Bryan, would have seemed incredible to readers and politicians four years earlier, or at the beginning of the Roosevelt administration.

President Roosevelt swings “the big stick” at battleships hanging from a tree as “Congress” holds onto the branch. A paper begins to fall to the ground: “pledge of 2 battleships each year in future.” A little boy labeled “Navy” watches the battleships fall.

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Theodore Roosevelt, whose first major book was about the naval aspects of the War of 1812, and who was Assistant Secretary of the Navy before forming the Rough Rider Volunteer Regiment to fight in Cuba, never abandoned a lively interest in America’s seaborne defense capabilities.