If he wears the clothes will he take the crown?
Subject(s): Imperialism, Presidents--Public opinion, Republican elephant (Symbolic character), Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919, Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930
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President Roosevelt stands behind partition screen full of elephants and holds out his “imperialism” crown to President-elect William H. Taft who is wearing clothing labeled “Roosevelt’s policies.” Roosevelt asks, “Here, Bill. Do you want this too?”
Comments and Context
As the dust settled after the recent presidential election, some partisan political cartoonists like James Calvert Smith resumed their attacks on Theodore Roosevelt and William H. Taft.
President Roosevelt’s imputed monarchical pretentions are the focus of this cartoon; but more so the role of Taft as presidential successor. The enormous bulk of the president-elect was an easy and predictable target of caricaturists (“having fun at the expanse” of the 350-pound Taft), but Smith’s larger meaning in the representation was one made by observers of all stripes during the campaign — whether Taft was “suitable” as the legatee of Square Deal policies.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1908-11-14
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:
If he wears the clothes will he take the crown?. [November 14, 1908]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301917. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Smith, James Calvert, 1878-1962. If he wears the clothes will he take the crown?. [14 Nov. 1908]. Image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 12, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301917.
APA:
Smith, James Calvert, 1878-1962., [1908, November 14]. If he wears the clothes will he take the crown?.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o301917.
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.
