“Terrible Teddy” waits for “the unknown”
Subject(s): Boxers (Sports), Boxing, Presidents--Election, Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
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President Roosevelt as a boxer sits on a stool with his arms resting on the ropes in the near corner of a boxing ring, waiting for a challenger to enter the ring and sit in the vacant chair in the “Democratic Corner.”
Comments and Context
In this 1904 cover cartoon by Joseph Keppler, Puck takes a breath from its near-obsession with the upcoming presidential race, focusing on the Democrats’ scramble for the nomination. William Jennings Bryan, William Randolph Hearst, Alton Brooks Parker, Arthur Pue Gorman, David Bennett Hill, Grover Cleveland, and Richard Olney were among the candidates and power brokers receiving attention in Puck‘s cartoons.
Most of the uncertainty and drama was focused on the Democrats because there was no credible rival within the Republican Party. With the February death of Marcus Alonzo Hanna, who was the sole and remote aspirant to the Republican nomination besides Roosevelt, the incumbent’s renomination was a foregone conclusion.
Keppler in this cartoon confirmed Puck‘s occasional acknowledgement that Roosevelt was secure in the nation’s affection, and widely favored to win reelection, against virtually any Democrat.
Additionally, with the Democrats about to gather in St. Louis for their convention, Puck could not be caught publishing a cartoon whose point might be altered or nullified by last-minute events.
Collection
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Creation Date
1904-06-01
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:
“Terrible Teddy” waits for “the unknown”. [June 1, 1904]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o277822. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956. “Terrible Teddy” waits for “the unknown”. [1 Jun. 1904]. Image.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 12, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o277822.
APA:
Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956., [1904, June 1]. “Terrible Teddy” waits for “the unknown”.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o277822.
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. March 12, 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.
