A presidential conjuror
Subject(s): Arthur, Chester Alan, 1829-1886, Audiences, Brady, Thomas Jefferson, 1839-1904, Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893, Davis, David, 1815-1886, Dorsey, Stephen Wallace, 1842-1916, Evarts, William Maxwell, 1818-1901, Jones, John P. (John Percival), 1829-1912, Keifer, Joseph Warren, 1836-1932, Kirkwood, Samuel Jordan, 1813-1894, Logan, John Alexander, 1826-1886, Magic tricks, Magicians, Patronage, Political, Presidents--Staff--Selection and appointment, Schurz, Carl, 1829-1906, Talmage, T. De Witt (Thomas De Witt), 1832-1902
Click on image to zoom in
President Arthur appears as a magician on a stage, pulling cards out of a hat and tossing them into the audience. The cards are labeled “Secretary of Navy, Foreign Minister, Interior, Consulate, Collectorship, Soft Soap, Minister to Turkey, Quashed Endictment, Secretary of War, Protection, Postmaster, Promises, Gratitude, [and] Reciprocity.” On the stage are other magic devices, a “Great Machine Trick” showing cards and labeled “New Political Deal Trick,” a wheel labeled “Stalwartism Neutrality Halfbreedism,” a bottle labeled “Ever-lasting Patronage Bottle,” a cone labeled “Great Veto Extinguish Trick,” and a drum labeled “Last Grand Trick Resignation.” Among those in the audience are Carl Schurz, John A. Logan, Thomas De Witt Talmage, David Davis, Joseph W. Keifer, John P. Jones, Stephen W. Dorsey, Thomas J. Brady, William M. Evarts, Benjamin F. Butler, and Samuel J. Kirkwood. Caption: What Mr. Arthur must be to satisfy all the politicians.
Collection
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Creation Date
1881-10-12
Creator(s)
Keppler, Joseph Ferdinand, 1838-1894
Period
Youth (October 27, 1858-1881)
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 presidential conjuror. [October 12, 1881]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o287973. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Keppler, Joseph Ferdinand, 1838-1894. A presidential conjuror. [12 Oct. 1881]. Image.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. December 11, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o287973.
APA:
Keppler, Joseph Ferdinand, 1838-1894., [1881, October 12]. A presidential conjuror.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o287973.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
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. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. December 11, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs.
APA:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs.
