McCutcheon, John T. (John Tinney), 1870-1949

In the first vignette, Alton B. Parker knocks on the door of August Belmont. Caption: Mr. Parker—”Did I understand that there was a $50,000 job vacant around here?” In the second, Henry Gassaway Davis holds a large money barrel while President Roosevelt walks away with West Virginia woman. Caption: At last reports Uncle Henry Davis was still holding his own. In the third, “Dr. Bryan,” “Dr. Hearst,” and “Dr. Watson” all attempt to doctor a bandaged Democratic donkey. Caption: The Doctors—”Cheer up, we’ll begin work on you again.” In the fourth vignette, William Preston Harrison walks from the “West Side” to the “North Side.” Caption: William Preston Harrison leaves from again. In the fifth, Parker stands beside William H. Douglas who holds a sign with a shoe on it that reads, “It pays to advertise.” In the sixth, Chicago Mayor Carter H. Harrison stares at a sign that reads, “Wisconsin for Roosevelt . . . 50,000—Illinois for Roosevelt . . . 230,000—Indiana for Roosevelt . . . 60,000.” Caption: The states he promised Parker.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-10

Alton B. Parker paints a picture of President Roosevelt and Chair of the Republican National Committee George B. Cortelyou robbing the “trusts” for the “campaign fund.” Roosevelt holds an “anti-trust prosecution” big stick in his hand. A disgusted voter clenches his fists and walks away. Caption: Voter—”Attacks on the president’s personal honesty can gain you no votes, Mr. Parker.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-03

Theodore Roosevelt salutes a banner with four stars; one is being turned to gold by a figure holding a wand.

Collection

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site

Creation Date

1918

Mascots for Progressives, Republicans, and Democrats unite in showing admiration for Theodore Roosevelt after he was shot in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the 1912 presidential campaign.

Collection

Dickinson State University

Creation Date

1912-10-17

Columbia, holding an apple labeled “1904,” appears as a teacher with students named “Rep. President (looking like Theodore Roosevelt), Rep. Senate, [and] Rep. House.” Beyond her on the board are these questions: “When is a Trust not a Trust? How about Tariff Revision and if so, why? Shall we have reciprocity with other countries?”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904

Three-panel cartoon shows the patriarch of a family reading in the newspaper that President Roosevelt “likes to see large families,” the family boarding the train, and their arrival at the White House. President Roosevelt looks startled at their number but is “delighted” to see them.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

Unknown

Grover Cleveland welcomes President Roosevelt to his home, where the two men compare hunting and fishing stories.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-18

Cartoon representation of President Roosevelt leading the Rough Riders through London, England.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-09-28

Cartoon depicts President Roosevelt in various scenes with a diverse group of friends from Rough Riders to professors. Meant as a comment on Roosevelt’s breadth of knowledge, skills and interests.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-07-25

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11

Creator(s)

McCutcheon, John T. (John Tinney), 1870-1949

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt sits at his desk, writing an editorial for the Outlook before being disturbed by the sounds of naval gunfire. Hearing the ships, he rushes out of the house and rows into Oyster Bay in the midst of the warships to observe the maneuvers from close range, where he is greeted by sailors.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-22

A “Republican convention” newsboy delivers a telegram that says “you are nominated!” to President Roosevelt, who reaches for the telegram.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-24

President Roosevelt rides on a horse race track past the “judges’ stand” as the “grand stand” and crowds cheer him on.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-21

A number of men sit or stand in a “political waiting room—the presidential possibilities and impossibilities”: President Roosevelt, Grover Cleveland, William Jennings Bryan, Arthur P. Gorman, Alton B. Parker, William Randolph Hearst, Chicago Mayor Carter H. Harrison, Missouri Senator Francis Marion Cockrell, and George Gray. The date—March 4, 1904—is on one wall while another wall has a sign that reads, “Smoking allowed.” Roosevelt reads “How to Ketch a Catamount” while Cleveland’s book—”Fish I Have Caught”—is upside down. There are some hand-drawn additions by “REL.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-03-04

This cartoon depicts various components of President Roosevelt’s annual message, including international relations with Colombia, Canada, the Philippines, Turkey, and China; support for Civil War veterans and General Leonard Wood; and “more lighthouses for Hawaii.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-12

In this cartoon strip, President Roosevelt thinks about the annual message. In the first section, Roosevelt begins to write as a boy says, “They sent me for the message.” Caption: “Now, to write my annual message.” In the second, Roosevelt starts to put his pen down as the boy says, “I’m waiting for the message.” Caption: “I hope Hanna will take the national chairmanship.” In the third, Roosevelt dips his pen again as the boy says, “They’re waiting for me.” Caption: “Here, I’m forgetting all about this message.” In the fourth, Roosevelt puts his pen to his mouth as the boy asks, “How long will I have to wait?” Caption: “It seems to me that Hanna ought to take charge of the campaign.” In the fifth cartoon, Roosevelt’s pen starts to drip as the boy grabs a chair and says, “It’s extry when I have to wait.” Caption: “What ails this pen, anyway? I don’t seem to get started.” In the sixth, Roosevelt puts his hand on his chin as the boy says, “Gee, my time’s valuable.” Caption: “Now, if Hanna would only take the chairmanship, I’d rest easy.” In the seventh, Roosevelt sits up and looks at the boy, who says, “I’m still waiting for the message.” Caption: “Hello, what does this boy want? O, yes; he’s the boy that came for the message.” In the eighth, the boy falls asleep, and Roosevelt begins writing. Caption: “And then the President settled down to work.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-12-10

President Roosevelt puts up his left hand and holds his big stick in his right hand. “The World” and “The Sun” cross paths and turn the sky dark. There are several papers: “Is C. P. Taft a grafter?” “Is Douglas Robinson a grafter?” and “Who got the money?”

comments and context

Comments and Context

Readers of the day generally were sophisticated enough to understand when cartoonists relied on Biblical allusions, scenes from operas or mythology, or from Shakespeare or other literary sources. In this cartoon, John T. McCutcheon of the Chicago Tribune harkened to the account in the tenth chapter of Joshua.

A large crown sits perched atop a building with women holding various shields, including “Panama Canal,” “rate bill,” “prosecution of criminal trusts,” “regeneration of the Philippines.” At the top of the crown is a woman holding “conservation of natural resources” and “development of water ways.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

“Missouri” stands in the “Republican column” with “New York,” “Penn.,” “Ohio,” “Illinois,” “Ind.,” “Wis.,” “Mich.,” “Mass.,” and “Iowa” and faces the “Solid South,” which holds a “Democratic column” banner. The footsteps make it clear that “Missouri” walked away from the Democratic column. A handwritten note is included: “Dear Mr. Loeb—Pls show this cartoon . . . to the president.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-10

President Roosevelt cuts down a tree while a dog looks on. There are five tree stumps in the background.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-12