What’s the answer?

President Roosevelt fires a “rapid-firing message gun” from the White House at Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon as a “third term” animal looks over Roosevelt’s shoulder. Cannon bends over as he is hit with “forest reserves,” “postal bank law,” “anti-injunction,” “executive control,” “power over securities,” and “control of wealth.” The United States Capitol building is in the distance and a “big maul” gavel and “former messages” are on the ground.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Joseph Harry Cunningham’s drawing in the Washington Herald is an unfortunate example of how an important and even salient point might be buried at the hands of an inferior cartoonist. The context is simple — and historically significant — about the management of President Roosevelt reform program; a major policy address, recently delivered to Congress as a Special Message; and the growing intransigence of the Republican Old Guard regarding Roosevelt’s initiatives.

Cunningham’s culpability as an inferior cartoonist is due to the confusing graphics he summoned to his task, and inept use of iconography. For instance, the puffs of smoke from the cannon represent some of the proposals Roosevelt offered in his speech. The impression, rather, is that the president was aiming to harm Speaker Joseph Gurney Cannon. If anything, the opposite was the case. Further, confusion might arise from the difference proportions of the cannon and the cannonball, as well as the futile gesture of stomping on live ordnance. The Old Guard leadership in the House and the Senate indeed resisted Roosevelt’s reforms, and one of the great narratives about his presidential leadership is how he largely achieved his goals despite their persistent opposition.

But drawing the cannonball as the dot under the Speaker’s contorted shadow — in order to form a question mark on the ground — was needlessly confusing. Further muddying the water is the inclusion of a mascot labelled “third term” — possible leverage against Congress if Roosevelt changed his mind and ran for reelection? And the “Big Maul” — presumably the Speaker’s gavel — evidently is the Congressional equivalent of the “Big Stick.”

Readers should not have to guess or surmise when a political cartoon greets them.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-29

Creator(s)

Cunningham, Joseph Harry, 1865-1946

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