The president listened to stories of real hunters from South Africa today.

President Roosevelt listens to two hunters tell stories. They say, “These are no long stories,” and “We’ve been there!” Caption: The president listened to stories of real hunters from South Africa today.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Theodore Roosevelt, the famous polymath and (in today’s parlance) multi-tasker, immersed himself in learning everything he could know, and ought to know, about Africa, once he decided upon a safari after retiring from the presidency. He arranged to collect specimens, and with thousands of possibilities (they eventually numbered more than eleven thousand). He needed to expand his considerable knowledge of animal life, the habits and relationships of species known and barely unknown, and the terrain of a continent that was still unknown to Western visitors.

Despite his normal duties as president, a busy adviser to the presidential campaign of William H. Taft, his normal side-activities, and his role as a father and husband, planning for the trip occupied much of Roosevelt’s time during the summer of 1908.

Cartoonist Clifford Kennedy Berryman correctly depicted a scene that must have been repeated multiple times in the White House. Experts, veterans, explorers, naturalists, hunters, and even prospective financial supporters (including Andrew Carnegie) fill the president’s daily calendars.

The day before this cartoon was published, for instance, White House callers included the naturalist Henry Fairfield Osborn, a longtime associate (fellow member of the Boone and Crockett Club, and head of the American Museum of Natural History, one of the sponsors of Roosevelt’s trip and intended recipient of specimens), and Charles Scribner, who was buying the literary rights to Roosevelt’s expedition and experiences.

With cartoonists’ license, Berryman included a boy reacting to hunting stories — presumably his depiction of Kermit, who would accompany his father on the safari. The cartoonist even had fun with his own cartoon mascot, the Teddy Bear, a bit anxious on behalf of his fellow creatures in the hunters’ plans.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-16

Creator(s)

Berryman, Clifford Kennedy, 1869-1949

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