Sullivant, T. S. (Thomas Starling), 1854-1926

A bear labeled “Taft,” a wolf labeled “Fairbanks,” a fox labeled “Cortelyou,” and a cat labeled “Knox” chase a “Republican nomination” bunny into the “T.R.” tent. Beside the tent is a gun, a “big stick,” and a cowboy hat.

comments and context

Comments and Context

The redoubtable T. S. Sullivant, a cartoonist admired by contemporaries and later generations of cartoon scholars, hit closer with his trademark depiction of animals than the concept of this cartoon. The political-cartooning portion of his career, roughly 1904-1910, was devoted to the daily editorial pages of newspapers in the Hearst chain. Those newspapers have been insufficiently preserved and studied, and therefore Sullivant’s work of these years largely is unknown.

President Roosevelt holding his “big stick” and San Francisco Mayor Eugene E. Schmitz in his arms steps up on a platform, “Conquest of California.” In the background are other figurines of Roosevelt: “San Juan Hill,” “Russian Jap Peace,” and “Anti-race Suicide.”

Comments and Context

T. S. Sullivant was one of the great American cartoonists of his time, active mostly between the 1890s and his death in 1926. His specialties were animal subjects and ethnic themes. Between roughly 1904 and 1909, he was employed by William Randolph Hearst, principally to draw daily political cartoons. The drawings often were cartoon masterpieces, but unlike his earlier and subsequent work for magazines and color supplements — both rare enough today — are virtually inaccessible to scholars due to the scarcity of newspaper files.

This commentary by Sullivant is one example. It is mildly critical of Roosevelt — for instance, the inevitable Rough Rider outfit is inappropriate except for one cited accomplishment — but notes a few of the substantial achievements of a life that indeed was busy.

President Roosevelt holds a “big stick” and directs a coach driven by a Republican elephant and a “working man” forward. Indiana Senator Charles W. Fairbanks and four “trust” men sit in the carriage.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-09

President Roosevelt holds a “Secret Service” pistol in his pocket. A “congressman” asks Uncle Sam dressed in a police uniform, “Disarm him! I think he is going to use that gun on me!”

comments and context

Comments and Context

One of America’s greatest cartoonists of his day or any other was T. S. Sullivant. He drew magazine gags, mostly for Judge and Life magazines, between the mid-1890s and the mid-1920s, except for the period approximately between 1905 and 1910, when he was engaged to draw political cartoons for William Randolph Hearst’s New York American, and unfortunately many of these are lost, as few copies of Hearst’s daily newspapers were preserved.

Andrew Carnegie toasts to King Edward VII of England and President Roosevelt, who holds up his “big stick.” Caption: Mr. Carnegie toasted King Edward and President Roosevelt “Our two rulers.”—News Item.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-07