Passing of the teddy bear

President-elect William H. Taft holds “The Solid South” possum in his left hand as he puts as teddy bear on a shelf filled with cobwebs. Taft says, “Back to the shelf with him. The possum for me,” while the teddy bear says, “It’s all off with me.” President Roosevelt looks through the doorway and says, “Well, I swan! Possum Bill.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

Archibald G. Allan’s cartoon documents — or more likely merely perpetuates — the legend of William H. Taft’s appetite for possum, and the original of the failed campaign to duplicate the popularity of the stuffed toy associated with his predecessor, the Teddy Bear.

Accounts through the years have survived regarding a grand dinner in Atlanta in the president-elect’s honor. Before the event Taft was quoted to the effect he hoped “possum and taters” would be served to the hundreds of formally clad notables. After the dinner he told reporters he devoured the possum and taters. Photographs and menus from the event betray no presence of possums on the tables or cards.

It is possible that Republican publicists, or more likely the instantly established Billy Possum Toy company of Atlanta, cooked up the story; a plush toy, and cartoon images in newspapers and post cards were cooked up virtually overnight as well.

It is plausible that Taft partisans hoped for a popular-culture creation with the appeal and affection of a Teddy Bear; “Billy Possum” was the result. Commercial and political appeal scarcely survived Taft’s inauguration.

A perusal of the 1200-page Delmonico cookbook of the era makes no mention of any possum preparations, despite, among standard fare, recipes for bear steaks, peacocks, and terrapins. If there is any truth to the legend beyond Taft’s supposed mealtime craving, it was a commercial gimmick, as well as an oblique outreach of commonality with poor Southern whites and especially blacks among whom possum was as familiar as squirrel and mudfish — but unknown at Delmonico’s Restaurant or Atlanta formal banquets.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-19

Creator(s)

Allan, Archibald G., 1868-1944

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