He’s still coy

President Roosevelt sits in a chair listening to Uncle Sam play the violin for the “1908 waltz.” Two women labeled “G.O.P.” and “Democracy” sit and listen as well.

comments and context

Comments and Context

J. H. Donahey’s cartoon in the Cleveland Plain Dealer was yet another variation on the common question of editorialists leading up to the 1908 presidential campaign. If it was a burning question, it mainly was because cartoonists fanned the flames: Would President Roosevelt run again for president?

If he chose to, it would have meant breaking his election-night pledge in 1904, along with subsequent explicit statements, hints, and actions.

The wrinkle in Donahey’s clever cartoon — he had a style that many contemporary cartoonists copied — was that the hopeful dance partners were two — the Republican and the Democratic Party. Republicans largely supported the president and hoped for another victorious campaign. In Donahey’s cartoon, the Democrat girl simply might have wanted to know Roosevelt’s intentions; or, almost forgotten by history, there were some Democrats who agreed with the president’s recent policy positions and would have voted, or even drafted, him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-14

Creator(s)

Donahey, J. H. (James Harrison), 1875-1949

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