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President Roosevelt holds William H. Taft, who is depicted as a baby and holds a Republican elephant rattle. Uncle Sam, who has a cigar in his mouth, looks on. Caption: Uncle Sam–My, what a big boy! But Bryan says he can’t talk? Papa Teddy–Oh yes, he can! He repeats everything I say.
Comments and Context
In 1908, James Calvert Smith was honing his cartooning skills and the incisiveness of his political commentary from the outpost of Jacksonville’s Times-Union. Soon he would become a magazine gag cartoonist and work for publications like Judge and Life into the 1930s.
His caricature of President Roosevelt is of such quality that the T and R in the pince-nez lenses are superfluous. In fact, this device had been introduced by J. H. Donahey of the Cleveland Plain Dealer and had not been adopted by other cartoonists. If many had done so, the reference might be considered an homage or a universally understood symbol. For just one other cartoonist to employ the imagery borders on plagiarism.
However, the concept, caricatures, and humorous twisting of William Jennings Bryan’s words in the caption offer a superior commentary on the 1908 campaign.
William H. Taft was widely regarded as Roosevelt’s political creation. Taft’s positions, speeches, and campaign documents were frank restatements of Square Deal policies. The cartoon implies not only that Taft was a “baby” outclassed by experienced politicians, but also that he possessed few talents beyond pleasing his mentor. In the caption, Smith critically implies that Taft lacked his own opinions and served as Roosevelt’s unthinking mouthpiece. Taft’s infantile characterization is enhanced by the visual jab at the presidential hopeful’s physical bulk, which always posed a temptation to cartoonists.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1908-09-16
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:
A prodigy. [September 16, 1908]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301803. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Smith, James Calvert, 1878-1962. A prodigy. [16 Sep. 1908]. Image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. February 26, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301803.
APA:
Smith, James Calvert, 1878-1962., [1908, September 16]. A prodigy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301803.
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. February 26, 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.
