“Good heavens! I believe I’ve used this club too freely on Willie.”

President Roosevelt stands over a kneeling William H. Taft with his “big stick” in his left hand. Caption: Roosevelt– “Good Heavens! I believe I’ve used this club too freely on Willie.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

Cartoonist John F. Collins, otherwise known as the creator of several children’s Sunday comics for minor syndicates, tried to capture President Roosevelt’s heavy-handedness in guiding the career prospects of Secretary of War William H. Taft, his chosen successor. Taft was reluctant to seek the presidency, clearly aspiring to be a Supreme Court justice (eventually he was president, and a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the only person to hold both positions).

The frustrated figure in the rear likely is Richmond Pearson of North Carolina (albeit sporting a white beard, which he is not recorded as having). He had been appointed to several diplomatic posts by Roosevelt, and aspired — as many in the diplomatic service do — to be appointed to the Court of St. James; that is, Ambassador to England. He supported Taft’s early candidacy, dabbling in politics as diplomats were not supposed to do. He was nevertheless “promoted” within the consular service at the time of this cartoon, being transferred from a post in Persia to be Ambassador to Greece.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05

Creator(s)

Collins, J. F.

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