If they all resign

As Uncle Sam stands beside him with a grin, President Roosevelt looks at “Roosevelt’s Illustrated Message on Panama” and points to himself in the book, saying “That’s me.” Written in small handwriting below is “Shonts Resignation.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

The cartoon by Willis H. Thorndike in the Baltimore American, then a Republican paper, appeared on the day that Theodore P. Shonts resigned as head of the Panama Canal Commission. President Roosevelt’s expression and his attitude might be perceived as the artist’s hostile conception of the situation, but in fact it was an endorsement of Roosevelt’s management.

There were rumors, too, that Shonts’s resignation was the result of friction or mismanagement or Roosevelt’s disapproval. In fact, Shonts accepted his position with the understanding that he would remain until organization of the Canal construction was secure. In fact there had been many adjustments and decisions, and some Commission internal viewpoints to reconcile, but Shonts never crossed swords with the president, and their relations were cordial in subsequent years.

Chief Engineer John F. Stevens, also a successful manager, succeeded Shonts, who left to assume direction of Manhattan’s ambitious Interboro Rapid Transit system (IRT) of subway and elevated trains.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-26

Creator(s)

Thorndike, Willis H. (Willis Hale), 1872-1940

Language

English

Period

U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)

Page Count

1

Production Method

Printed

Record Type

Image

Resource Type

Cartoon

Rights

These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.

Citation