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On the “then” side stands a short President Roosevelt holding a paper that reads, “Railroad Regulation Proposition.” Surrounding him are railroad magnates that are saying, “Oh, I must smile,” “‘Tis to laugh!” and “Hee haw!” On the “now” side stands an extremely tall Roosevelt with railroad magnates bowing at his feet.
Comments and Context
Two days after a notable White House meeting between President Roosevelt and J. Pierpont Morgan, representing the nation’s major railroad interests, cartoonist Clifford Kennedy Berryman drew this cartoon about the adjusted perceptions of power-figures in the momentous legislative and regulatory wrangles over consolidation, routes, and rates.
Among the railroad trusts’ leaders in the “before” image are Morgan; his assistant George W. Perkins (who would be, ironically, be a major figure in Roosevelt’s Progressive Party); and James J. Hill. John D. Rockefeller, in skullcap, is also pictured.
The same figures appear in the “after” image as Lilliputians to Roosevelt’s Gulliver. What changed is that, mostly through 1906, the public (and therefore Congress) had warmed to the concept of rate regulation; Roosevelt proposed by regulatory commissions what could not be achieved in legislation; scandals among the trust magnates were exposed by Muckraking journalists; etc. In fact the president, as in a few other areas (food and drug legislation) actually softened some of Congress’ impulses; the House, especially, sometimes pursued radical proposals.
By circumstances (often managed by the president) and the evolution of public opinion, especially about excesses of the railroad trusts, Roosevelt indeed seemed larger, and had reason to smile.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1907-03-13
Creator(s)
Berryman, Clifford Kennedy, 1869-1949
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Page Count
1
Production Method
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:
Then and now. [March 13, 1907]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301456. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Berryman, Clifford Kennedy, 1869-1949. Then and now. [13 Mar. 1907]. Image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 24, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301456.
APA:
Berryman, Clifford Kennedy, 1869-1949., [1907, March 13]. Then and now.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301456.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 24, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
