A much-needed comedy element in the campaign of 1900
Subject(s): Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925, Democratic donkey (Symbolic character), Democratic Party (U.S.), Dewey, George, 1837-1917, McKinley, William, 1843-1901, Presidents--Elections, Republican elephant (Symbolic character), Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- )
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Illustration showing Admiral George Dewey as a circus clown, with William Jennings Bryan on a donkey labeled “Dem Party” and William McKinley on an elephant labeled “GOP” under the big top of a circus. Puck, as the ringmaster, stands in the background.
comments and context
Comments and Context
Admiral George Dewey was the Hero of Manila Bay. After following the orders of Acting Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt and moving America’s Pacific Fleet to the Philippines in contingency of war with Spain, when war came, the fleet completely destroyed Spain’s fleet with virtually no damage to the American Naval force. Dewey returned to America a popular man whose political prowess was less astute. He accepted the gift of a public-subscribed house and then signed it away to his new wife, a divorced Catholic woman, offending many groups of that day. He allowed himself to be drawn into politics — at least to dabble — by a brother-in-law who wound up abandoning Dewey’s ambitions. In the space of a year the hero widely was seen as an inept clown indeed. It took a lot for Puck to depict William Jennings Bryan, the ultimate Democrat nominee, as reasonably dignified, but the contrast was marked.
Collection
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Creation Date
1900-05-09
Creator(s)
Period
Governor of New York (October 1898-1900)
Repository
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division
Page Count
1
Record Type
Image
Resource Type
Rights
These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
A much-needed comedy element in the campaign of 1900. [May 9, 1900]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o275436. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Dalrymple, Louis, 1866-1905. A much-needed comedy element in the campaign of 1900. [9 May. 1900]. Image.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. February 26, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o275436.
APA:
Dalrymple, Louis, 1866-1905., [1900, May 9]. A much-needed comedy element in the campaign of 1900.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o275436.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. February 26, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs.
APA:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs.
