Disturbing his rest
Subject(s): Presidents--Term of office, Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919, Roosters
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President Roosevelt throws several shoes at the “3rd term” rooster that crows, “Theo-dore-‘ll-do-o” as the sun rises.
Comments and Context
Political cartoonists during President Roosevelt’s second term spent much of their work-time, and earned a percentage of their income, from drawing endless variations on the mystery of a presidential third term. It was never a mystery to Roosevelt, who made a firm declination on election night, 1904, and never wavered, even openly advocating the nomination of William H. Taft.
Yet, as as cable news channels on television profited from political controversies they helped generate, newspaper and cartoonists of Roosevelt’s time enjoyed stirring the waters.
Occasionally, cartoonists found a clever way to present the “issue,” or a new wrinkle. Kirk L. Russell, the successor of Clifford Kennedy Berryman on the Washington Post, combined the stereotypical rooster’s crowing with the conundrum of Roosevelt’s intentions: “Theo-dore-‘ll-do-o!”
Theodore, as history knows, did not.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1907-05-08
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:
Disturbing his rest. [May 8, 1907]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301531. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Russell, Kirk L, -1934. Disturbing his rest. [8 May. 1907]. Image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 12, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301531.
APA:
Russell, Kirk L, -1934., [1907, May 8]. Disturbing his rest.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301531.
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.
