Strenuous days for the president

President Roosevelt writes on a “Defi to Congress” as he also looks at a man holding a “dandy” gun, who asks, “Can’t I sell you one of our dandy guns?” A “rebuke from Congress” missile flies behind Roosevelt near a copy of the “N. Y. World” that Roosevelt is hitting with “the big stick” thanks to “spanking machine” that he is operating with his left foot. “Bill possum” chases a “teddy bear” near Roosevelt’s feet, and there are “Ananias Club tickets,” a “message,” and “98-mile ride” boots on the ground. Roosevelt uses his right foot to send a “wire to California.” He holds a “pat. gladhander” in his left hand as he shakes hands with a “big game hunter,” an “office hunter” and a “prize fighter.” A phonograph plays “Delighted, delighted” on it. Meanwhile, a man carries out a mattress and sings, “Moving day.” Caption: With only a few weeks more in which to finish up his work.

comments and context

Comments and Context

For two presidential terms political cartoonists of all persuasions had dutifully drawn cartoons trying to capture the omnivorous activities of the polymath in the White House; Theodore Roosevelt as cognoscente, strenuously pursuing interests and guests of all sorts. Willis H. Thorndike of the Baltimore American would have been one of the last, in the last weeks of the Roosevelt presidency, and he covered many areas of the president’s activity (or hyperactivity) — almost a compendium of minor issues and passing disputes.

In his cartoon of Rube Goldberg-like inventions and devices (before the advent of Goldberg’s cartoon inventions) were the kicking device that put a knot on the cranium of publisher Joseph Pulitzer; an open telegraph to California, where the president mediate racial peace over Japanese immigration; the iconic Teddy Bear being chased by its putative successor, the “Billy Possum” that represented President-Elect William H. Taft (it never caught on); attacks made and received in the war with Congress over expansion of the Secret Service; speeches and social obligations; planning for his upcoming African safari; and a boot representing his (truly) strenuous 98-mile horseback ride with aides in a snowstorm, as a model to sedentary military offices; and so forth.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-22

Creator(s)

Thorndike, Willis H. (Willis Hale), 1872-1940

Language

English

Period

U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)

Repository

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

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