The father of his country
Subject(s): Birthdays, Calendar, Holidays, Public schools--Centennial celebrations, etc., Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919, Uncle Sam (Symbolic character), Washington, George, 1732-1799
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Uncle Sam, looking a bit startled, sits in a chair, holding a page from a calendar with “February 22” printed in red, for George Washington’s birthday. Theodore Roosevelt stands next to him with a paint brush full of red paint which he has used to change the color of his birthday, “October 27,” on the calendar, suggesting that he, too, might be considered the “Father of His Country.” A silhouette portrait of George Washington hangs on the wall next to the calendar. Caption: A question of dates.
Comments and Context
The subject of L. M. Glackens’s cartoon is Washington’s Birthday — the issue of Puck celebrates it — but the object of the cartoon is to ridicule Theodore Roosevelt. The outgoing president, who would retire in less than three weeks, is dressed in his old Rough Rider uniform and has rudely painted his own birthday on the calendar. It was an ad hominem attack upon Roosevelt; a comment on his supposed ego.
If Puck had wanted to hew closer to current events — but with less opportunity for invective — it could have noted that 1909 was the centennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. In one of his last official acts as president, Roosevelt traveled to Hardin, Kentucky, and participated in ceremonies at Lincoln’s birthplace, also in February.
Collection
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Creation Date
1909-02-17
Creator(s)
Glackens, L. M. (Louis M.), 1866-1933
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 father of his country. [February 17, 1909]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o291091. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Glackens, L. M. (Louis M.), 1866-1933. The father of his country. [17 Feb. 1909]. Image.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 12, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o291091.
APA:
Glackens, L. M. (Louis M.), 1866-1933., [1909, February 17]. The father of his country.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o291091.
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.
