The greatest juggling act on earth
Subject(s): Capitalists and financiers, Corruption, Gould, George Jay, 1864-1923, Harriman, Edward Henry, 1848-1909, Hill, James J. (James Jerome), 1838-1916, Juggling, Monopolies, Morgan, J. Pierpont (John Pierpont), 1837-1913, Municipal services, Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919, Supernatural
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A four-headed, eight-armed monster, formed out of the upper torsos of James J. Hill, Edward Henry Harriman, J. Pierpont Morgan, and George Jay Gould, juggles New York State and municipal services and federal influence in Congress, while stepping on a red liberty cap. Three diminutive figures stand in the left foreground: the center figure represents Theodore Roosevelt, the one on the left is labeled “You,” and the one on the right is labeled “Me.” Caption: Messrs. Hill, Harriman, Morgan and Gould, sole managers and proprietors.
Comments and Context
Udo J. Keppler’s center-spread drawing in Puck is a rare example of the magazine presenting a political cartoon not on a specific issue or policy debate. As a generic observation of the “current situation,” it speaks to history as an iconic representation of the truth, and not merely a cartoonist’s truth.
The one hyperbolic element (or exaggeration in reverse) is the diminutive size of President Roosevelt in the lower left. The quartet of business titans did indeed represent measures of control over American life, politics, and the economy — along with a few other names like Rockefeller, Schiff, Belmont, and insurance executives — but Theodore Roosevelt made sure that the American people and its government asserted its own independence and dominance, at least as an arbiter in business practices.
The realms of the hydra-headed monster are depicted in the juggled items, but the specific sources of the moguls were: Edward Henry Harriman, railroads (Union Pacific, Southern Pacific, and others); James J. Hill, railroads (“The Empire Builder” of the Great Northern and other railroad lines); George Jay Gould (railroads, family fortune from elevated trains and Western Union); and J. Pierpont Morgan (a multitude of interests, chiefly banking). The influence of all in related industries, and in politics at every level, was clear.
Collection
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Creation Date
1907-02-06
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:
The greatest juggling act on earth. [February 6, 1907]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o285711. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956. The greatest juggling act on earth. [6 Feb. 1907]. Image.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 5, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o285711.
APA:
Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956., [1907, February 6]. The greatest juggling act on earth.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o285711.
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.
