Merely another figurehead
Subject(s): Americans--Politics and government, Corruption, Croker, Richard, 1843-1922, Mayors, McClellan, George B. (George Brinton), 1865-1940, New York (State), New York (State)--New York, Tammany Hall, Van Wyck, Robert Anderson, 1849-1918
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Tammany Hall boss Richard Croker, as a pirate, nails a new figurehead labeled “McClellan” to the bow of a ship labeled “Tammany.” The old figurehead labeled “Van Wyck” lies on the ground.
Comments and Context
If there is a historical flaw in Joseph Keppler’s cartoon, it is not that the Tammany ship (of the corrupt Democratic organization typically controlling New York City) found it facile to change the figureheads — mayors who were pliant to the will of the Tammany “boss.” Since Boss Tweed and John Kelly and Richard Croker, it had been so for decades.
By 1903, however, Richard Croker was a figurehead himself, barely active during the election of George McClellan as New York City mayor. The Irish-born Croker endured scandals that were worse than usual; had devolved some of his powers; and attempted to run the party and city from his estates in Ireland and England, where he managed stables of race horses.
In this election, it was Croker’s successor Charles Murphy, asserting his Irish roots and political brutality as well as any of his predeccesors, who ran the mayoralty campaign and took charge of Tammany Hall.
Collection
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Creation Date
1903-10-28
Creator(s)
Period
U.S. President – 1st Term (September 1901-February 1905)
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:
Merely another figurehead. [October 28, 1903]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o277403. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956. Merely another figurehead. [28 Oct. 1903]. Image.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. February 26, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o277403.
APA:
Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956., [1903, October 28]. Merely another figurehead.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o277403.
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.
