But that was a long time ago
Subject(s): Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919, Statues, Truthfulness and falsehood, Washington, George, 1732-1799
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President Roosevelt looks at a statue of George Washington with a sign that reads, “George Washington–He could not tell a lie.”
Comments and Context
James Calvert Smith, who seldom drew a complimentary cartoon about President Roosevelt, might have regretted the imminent end of the administration’s second term; cartoonists have favorite targets when deadlines loom.
This attack on Roosevelt is slightly unfocused. The president frequently branded politicians, newspapers, and opponents “liars,” and even consigned them to an asylum of his invention, the “Ananias Club.” Many of his opponents fired back in kind, sometimes with the same epithet. In fact at the time of this cartoon’s publication, various Congressmen (of both parties) applied the word to Roosevelt, as did publisher Joseph Pulitzer.
On the other hand, Calvert (as he eventually would sign his cartoons) perhaps meant to imply that finally Roosevelt met someone he could not brand a liar.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1908-12-28
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:
But that was a long time ago. [December 28, 1908]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o302003. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Smith, James Calvert, 1878-1962. But that was a long time ago. [28 Dec. 1908]. Image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 12, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o302003.
APA:
Smith, James Calvert, 1878-1962., [1908, December 28]. But that was a long time ago.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o302003.
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.
