Back on the job
Subject(s): Domestics, Household employees, Loeb, William, 1866-1937, Uncle Sam (Symbolic character), Vacations
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Theodore Roosevelt arrives at the White House after a vacation at Oyster Bay. Following him, carrying the luggage, is William Loeb. Uncle Sam meets them at the entrance, dressed as a 17th century French butler. Caption: T.R.–Now, Sam, let’s get to work! / Sam–Yes, Sir; thank you, sir!
Comments and Context
One of the most iconic cartoons about Theodore Roosevelt frequently has been reprinted. Appropriately for cartoonist Udo J. Keppler, it combines truth and satire. Its humor transports the actual situation, arguably that 1906 was the high point of Roosevelt’s presidency in terms of activity and accomplishment, and that at times the nation might have felt that it was a long for the ride in his tumultuous administration. President Roosevelt’s private secretary William Loeb evidently felt the same way.
It had been a year of controversies in business and politics, and Roosevelt had taken a personal hand in gnarly congressional negotiations on a number of consequential bills — winning his way on all of them.
In reality the nation likely was happier with the President than portrayed by the resigned, compliant Uncle Sam in the cartoon. Within days, the President’s party would lose some congressional seats overall, standard in mid-term elections, but keep majorities in both houses of Congress, which rare circumstance held with Republican presidents for a century.
And the traveling president, bursting in from summertime “rest”? In ten days he would embark on a trip to Panama and Puerto Rico, becoming the first president to leave United States shores while in office.
Collection
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Creation Date
1906-09-26
Creator(s)
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:
Back on the job. [September 26, 1906]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o278576. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956. Back on the job. [26 Sep. 1906]. Image.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 5, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o278576.
APA:
Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956., [1906, September 26]. Back on the job.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o278576.
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.
