The call of the wild
Subject(s): Playing cards, Presidents--Term of office, Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
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President Roosevelt plays cards with “Big Chief Sentiment” who holds four enormous playing cards that read, “Third Term.” Roosevelt has several smaller cards on his pant leg.
Comments and Context
Another view of President Roosevelt and his inability to convince the public — including cartoonists — of his firm intention not to run for another presidential term in 1908 is this variation that draws upon Roosevelt’s days in the Bad Lands of the Dakota Territory.
The forgotten cartoonist (possibly Victor Ralph Lambdin, 1876-1963, of the Syracuse Herald) depicts a wily Indian having the upper hand (literally, a poker hand) against Roosevelt, unable even to use cards up his sleeve to win the game.
Roosevelt prevailed in his declination, and pushed through the nomination of William H. Taft. But as the cartoon suggests, it was more difficult for Roosevelt to avoid the nomination than many men found to gain it.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1907-04
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:
The call of the wild. [April 1907]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301509. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Unknown. The call of the wild. [Apr 1907]. Image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. February 13, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301509.
APA:
Unknown., [1907, April]. The call of the wild.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301509.
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 13, 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.
