Following in father’s footsteps
Subject(s): Footprints, Presidents--Election, Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919, Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930, White House (Washington, D.C.)
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William H. Taft follows the many footsteps leading toward the White House, made by President Roosevelt who carries “the big stick.”
Comments and Context
Cartoonist Frederick C. Nash in the Detroit Free Press put a clever spin on the cliche — and a necessity when presidential largesse is bestowed on a potential candidate — of “following in a man’s footsteps,” shown in the drawing and described in the poetic caption.
President Roosevelt had let his preferences about a successor be known within party circles, and to the general public. The president-in-waiting was William H. Taft, a reluctant regent who would have preferred a seat on the Supreme Court, but accepted the honor, and eventually was the Republican nominee and president in fact.
The myriad footprints, and Taft’s huffing, sweating tracing of them (instead of proceeding to Roosevelt’s side at the White House entrance) was the cartoonist’s sarcastic characterization of the president’s many policies, their complexity, and their demanding details.
History would probably record that President Taft ultimately lost his way, or strayed from the path of Roosevelt’s footsteps, after he became president.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1907-04-08
Creator(s)
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:
Following in father’s footsteps. [April 8, 1907]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301492. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Nash, Frederick C., 1875-1939. Following in father’s footsteps. [8 Apr. 1907]. Image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. February 19, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301492.
APA:
Nash, Frederick C., 1875-1939., [1907, April 8]. Following in father’s footsteps.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301492.
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. February 19, 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.
