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At “Ananias Botanical Garden,” there are a number of potted plants with men’s heads in them: “Tillmanus,” “Forakeria,” and “Harrimanium Americanus.” For the last one, the tag lists “Nativity. . . . Wall Street,” “Stock,” “Veracity,” “Acquisition,” “Aspiration. . . . Senate,” and “Analyzed by Prof. T. Roosevelt, B.S., P. Du, P.D.Q.”
Comments and Context
The visual cliche, or device, of political figures as plants in a flower show or botanical garden was frequently employed for decades. In this version (by an anonymous artist in an unidentified publication — at least insofar as the White House scrapbook’s annotation) — the hothouse is named for the Ananias Club. This was President Roosevelt’s partly jocular designation of a fraternity for those whom he considered liars in politics and purveyors of fake news in journalism.
In 1907 the president was embroiled in disputes, or recently had emerged from controversies, with the “flowers” shown, Roosevelt nemeses in big business and in politics.
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:
Another specimen added. [April 1907]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301510. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Unknown. Another specimen added. [Apr 1907]. Image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 12, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301510.
APA:
Unknown., [1907, April]. Another specimen added.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301510.
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 12, 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.
