The whole thing
Subject(s): Elephants, Presidents--Elections, Republican elephant (Symbolic character), Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- )
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President Roosevelt wears a white elephant costume labeled “Republican Party” with the U.S. Capitol in the background.
Comments and Context
Trying to decipher Grant Hamilton’s cartoon, the historian likely will conclude that it is simpler than it might suggest. The “white elephant” metaphor probably does not apply; Roosevelt’s menacing grin was a simple caricature; and the caption “The Whole Thing” states the case in the political year of 1904 — it scarcely is an unfair attack.
Roosevelt was the “whole thing” in the Republican Party that year: he had no opposition to his candidacy in the convention. In the nation at large, there were few opponents or significant factions in his party in 1904. Was Roosevelt the “whole” party, and the party “wholly” his in 1904? Virtually so.
Therefore Hamilton was stating a fact, not stretching to make a pictorial attack. He did not need to portray Roosevelt in an elephant costume, at least not to suggest subterfuge.
Grant Hamilton spent the majority of his cartooning career at Puck‘s rival, the Republican Judge Magazine, as political cartoonist and art editor. It is not known why he switched to Puck in 1904 and drew anti-Roosevelt cartoons. Such professional peregrinations were uncommon among political cartoonists of the day.
Collection
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Creation Date
1904-10-05
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:
The whole thing. [October 5, 1904]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o277861. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Hamilton, Grant E.. The whole thing. [5 Oct. 1904]. Image.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 5, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o277861.
APA:
Hamilton, Grant E.., [1904, October 5]. The whole thing.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o277861.
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 5, 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.
