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J. Pierpont Morgan labeled “Flim-Flam Journalism,” John D. Rockefeller labeled “Flim-Flam Business,” and Edward Henry Harriman labeled “Flim-Flam Politics” gather around a table watching a toy of Theodore Roosevelt sitting on an egg-shaped base labeled “Personal Popularity” rocking back and forth.
Comments and Context
The Wobble, a child’s toy of amusement and not skill, was patented in 1906 and was popular when this cartoon was drawn. They were made of tin or wood or paper mache (especially its clone, the Roly Poly) and children were frustrated or amused when the figures proved impossible to fall.
Trust magnates were frustrated too with a Theodore Roosevelt wobble toy when all their best attacks against the president were fruitless. The efforts of Roosevelt’s opponents like J. P. Morgan, John D. Rockefeller, and Edward Henry Harriman were often conducted through surrogates. This presumably is the reason why the moguls are not identified in the cartoon by their famous empires — banking, oil, and railroads, respectively.
The labels affixed to the frustrated enemies of the president are: Journalism — Morgan controlled or subsidized newspapers and magazines; Business — numerous lawsuits at the time revealed how Rockefeller was a silent partner or owner of myriad enterprises; Politics — Harriman bought and sold legislators and contributed massive funds to campaigns, including presidential campaigns. Of course all three men participated in all shady fields simultaneously.
“Flimflam,” for phony, tricking, sham deception, is a word that can be traced to the sixteenth century in occasional usage, but around 1907 it was in vogue, and Puck employed the alliterative term as its own branding of what Thomas A. Lawson called in articles and a popular book, Frenzied Finance.
Collection
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Creation Date
1907-10-09
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:
He bobs up serenely. [October 9, 1907]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o285898. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956. He bobs up serenely. [9 Oct. 1907]. Image.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 12, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o285898.
APA:
Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956., [1907, October 9]. He bobs up serenely.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o285898.
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 12, 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.
