His master’s voice
Subject(s): Parrots, Patronage, Political, Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919, Speeches, addresses, etc., Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930
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A phonograph of “Taft’s speeches” releases “T. R.” glasses and teeth toward a parrot with the head of William H. Taft.
Comments and Context
This outstanding drawing by James Calvert Smith could be a textbook example of an effective political cartoon — humor, symbols, and a salient point or attack. Its one deficiency would be the caricature of William H. Taft. A parrot’s body could easily have had Taft’s face, especially with the identifying tag. As it is, the beak resembles a nose, and therefore suggests someone else.
Nevertheless, the humor is in the cascading pince-nez spectacles and the teeth, trademarks of Theodore Roosevelt to grateful cartoonists. The point could have been made without the props — it was a valid observation that the president urged his policy ideas upon the candidate; and the candidate in turn seemed determined to please the president. But the props make the salient point funnier, and the commentary more memorable.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1908-09-12
Creator(s)
Smith, James Calvert, 1878-1962
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:
His master’s voice. [September 12, 1908]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301793. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Smith, James Calvert, 1878-1962. His master’s voice. [12 Sep. 1908]. Image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 12, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301793.
APA:
Smith, James Calvert, 1878-1962., [1908, September 12]. His master’s voice.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301793.
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.
