A herculean task
Subject(s): Aldrich, Nelson W. (Nelson Wilmarth), 1841-1915, Allison, William B. (William Boyd), 1829-1908, Bacon, Augustus Octavius, 1839-1914, Elkins, Stephen B. (Stephen Benton), 1841-1911, Gorman, Arthur P. (Arthur Pue), 1839-1906, Hercules (Roman mythological character), Legislators, Morgan, John Tyler, 1824-1907, Platt, Orville Hitchcock, 1827-1905, Presidents, Spooner, John C. (John Coit), 1843-1919, Supernatural, Tillman, Benjamin R. (Benjamin Ryan), 1847-1918
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Theodore Roosevelt, as Hercules, wears a lion skin and holds a sword. He faces a nine-headed hydra, with each head identified as that of a senator. The hydra’s tail is labeled “U.S. Senate.”
Comments and Context
In an earlier time, such as when this cartoon in Puck appeared, average people were conversant with elements of Western intellectual heritage like Greek mythology. The contextual background of this political cartoon by J. S Pughe might have been evident to many readers in 1905. In one of ancient Athens’ most durable myths, the Second Task of Hercules was to conquer the multi-headed monster Hydra.
Among the Hydra’s malign aspects were poisonous breath and blood, and the regenerative ability to grow two heads where one would be severed. To confront this challenge, and so he could proceed past Hydra’s lair at the Lake of Lerna on his journey, Hercules enlisted his nephew Iolaus. Shunning his club, sickle, and other weapons, Hercules took up his sword and instructed Iolaus to use a smoldering firebrand to cauterize the wounds with the poisoned blood as Hercules decapitated each ugly head.
President Roosevelt confronted a Hydra-headed monster in many respects at the commencement of his second term. After a resounding reelection and obvious public support, and much of the nation’s press and political cartoonists endorsing his policies, Congress loomed as a roadblock to his agenda… or at least speed-bumps on the path he was obliged to traverse.
The House of Representatives, displaying nascent insurgency against its established order, was more favorably inclined to work with the president. The Senate, less so — and, ironically, his major opposition emanated from his own Republican Party. This disparity is displayed by cartoonist Pughe’s choice of the antagonistic senators: five of the nine are Roosevelt’s fellow Republicans. Four of them were senior members of the upper house, known (proudly) as “The Big Four” who influenced legislation: Nelson W. Aldrich; William B. Allison; John C. Spooner; and Orville Hitchcock Platt.
Roosevelt relished the role of a Hercules. Without a sword or firebrand, except metaphorically, in his second term he achieved many of policy goals, employing publicity, appeals to the public, articles and speeches, flattery, alliances, old-fashioned politics, and few compromises. A Herculean task, from Pughe’s vantage point in 1905.
Collection
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Creation Date
1905-04-05
Creator(s)
Pughe, J. S. (John S.), 1870-1909
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
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 herculean task. [April 5, 1905]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o278090. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Pughe, J. S. (John S.), 1870-1909. A herculean task. [5 Apr. 1905]. Image.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. February 13, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o278090.
APA:
Pughe, J. S. (John S.), 1870-1909., [1905, April 5]. A herculean task.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o278090.
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 13, 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.
