The making of President Roosevelt

In the first vignette, President Roosevelt stares at bill no. 279671 and wonders what New York Senator Thomas Collier Platt thinks of it. Caption: Mr. Roosevelt–“I don’t know whether to sign this bill or not. I wish you would find out what Tom Platt thinks about it. Just tell him I have signed it.” In the second vignette, Platt gives his response, which includes a lot of expletives. Caption: Mr. Platt–“– –!!!–??” In the third vignette, President Roosevelt sees Platt’s response and smiles as he signs his name to the bill. Caption: Mr. Roosevelt– “It’s safe.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

Students of the era’s political cartoons might think, at first glance, that this is a cartoon by John T. McCutcheon. In fact it is by Ralph Wilder, who succeeded McCutcheon when the latter left the Record-Herald, Wilder’s paper, for the Chicago Tribune. McCutcheon graduated from being the most influential Chicago and regional-Midwest cartoonist, to a cartoonist of national fame and acceptance. Whether Wilder was advised to draw like McCutcheon, or could not help himself in the shadow of the master, is not recorded or heralded.

The format of this cartoon is almost to McCutcheon’s style — a strip of unfolding narrative, and exaggerated responses by characters. (The penwork and shading are also similar.)

But it hews most closely to ways that Theodore Roosevelt dealt with both reporters and other politicians — wise symbiosis. He asked reporters he trusted for their opinions, and was open about asking them to sound out others as he developed policies. This respected reporters, but did not “use” or take advantage of them. And it gave them innumerable “scoops.”

With politicians, Roosevelt acted in distinctive ways. Despite his vaunted ego, he frequently vetted his speeches and articles with many people, and had no problems changing sections or incorporating suggestions. One amusing, or revealing, example of this personal policy involved “Boss” Thomas Collier Platt of the New York State machine; and the story might have inspired Wilder’s cartoon.

When Roosevelt ran for Governor of New York, Platt was concerned with retaining the governor’s mansion as Republican, but distrusted the famous independence streak in Roosevelt, fresh from his victories in the Spanish-American War. Roosevelt pledged to Platt that as governor he would consult the “Easy Boss” on every matter — and he did, even to the extent of sharing weekly breakfasts in Platt’s New York City hotel.

But Platt later complained, “Roosevelt consulted me on every matter, yes… and then did whatever the hell he pleased,” or frustrated words to that effect.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05-13

Creator(s)

Wilder, Ralph, 1875-1924

Language

English

Period

U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)

Repository

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

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