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Theodore Roosevelt, wearing his Rough Rider uniform, and with a “Nobel Prize” extending from one pocket and “The Big Stick” leaning against the wall, changes the title of a large painting of George Washington standing next to his horse so that it reads: “First [crossed out and replaced with] Second in War, First [crossed out and replaced with] Second in Peace, First [crossed out] in the hearts of his countrymen.” A book “Alone in Cuba” lies on the floor next to his feet.
Comments and Context
At the dawn of President Roosevelt’s final months of the presidency — that is, after the midterm elections in his second term — Puck inexplicably felt its oats and started attacking the president, its erstwhile friend and ally in reform battles since 1901.
This cartoon by Hassmann was not inspired by the Nobel Prize for Peace, which was announced two months prior to this cartoon, in December of 1906. Rather, the petty depiction of the diminutive Rough Rider defacing and upstaging The Father of His Country was occasioned by the fact that Washington’s Birthday was celebrated the week this cartoon appeared. An easy target for a cartoonist.
A little extra venom was mixed with the cartoonist’s ink, seen in the dismissive title of the book on the floor — Alone in Cuba, a sarcastic reference to Roosevelt’s account of his Spanish-American War experiences. The cartoonist was not original, however; the riposte was first made by the print humorist “Mr. Dooley” (Finley Peter Dunne).
Collection
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Creation Date
1907-02-20
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 art critic. [February 20, 1907]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o285714. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Hassmann, Carl, 1869-1933. The art critic. [20 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/o285714.
APA:
Hassmann, Carl, 1869-1933., [1907, February 20]. The art critic.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o285714.
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.
