Taft’s chances improving

President Roosevelt sits at his desk studying a “map of Africa.” Kermit Roosevelt cleans a gun beside him. President Roosevelt’s “big stick” “malefactor of great wealth” costume, “mud,” “undesirable citizen,” and “big noise” drum are hanging up on the wall. To the right of his desk are a number of books with African explorers’ names in them: David Livingstone, Henry M. Stanley, Paul Kruger, John Hanning Speke, and Richard Francis Burton.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Democratic cartoonist W. A. Rogers evidently was convinced that Republican candidate William H. Taft would win the presidency four years hence — or he displayed President Roosevelt’s confidence, as per the title of the drawing, and the preoccupation in the White House.

The trappings of the Republicans’ themes — bugaboos and straw men to Rogers — finally are neglected as the president pores over books and maps about Africa. Presumably it is his son Kermit (depicted younger than his 19 years), who would accompany his father on safari, and here cleans a gun.

In fact Roosevelt, the prototypical multi-tasker, had been devoting time to both campaigning (in absentia, off the actual trail) and preparing for the Dark Continent. Within three weeks of retiring as president, Roosevelt sailed from the United States on his adventure.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-30

Creator(s)

Rogers, W. A. (William Allen), 1854-1931

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