Africa | - Theodore Roosevelt Center

The careless lion and the resourceful naturalist—A possible incident of the African hunt

In the first cartoon, a lion runs toward President Roosevelt writing on a notepad labeled “The African Chickadee ($3.00).” In the second cartoon, the lion gets close to pouncing on Roosevelt who holds a paper. In the third cartoon, Roosevelt opens the paper and shows the lion what it says: “Secret Service Report on Lions (To be given to the press in case I am attacked) (Copy).” In the fourth cartoon, Roosevelt runs toward the lion.

Comments and Context

Chicago cartoonist Ralph Wilder, the stylistic disciple of John T. McCutcheon, combined two thematic preoccupations of the day’s news, attempting a new treatment of both. The imbroglio between the White House and Capitol Hill over the president’s request to expand the role of the Secret Service was already months old when this cartoon was drawn.

That African hunt

President Roosevelt hides in “The Nile” reeds as a crocodile opens its mouth and swims down the river. Caption: The President–When anything makes a personal dental appeal to me like that, I wouldn’t shoot for the world. The President proposes to finish his African hunt when he reaches the Nile.–News Item.

Comments and Context

Students of history and political cartooning might expect that one of America’s most notable Socialist newspaper cartoonists, drawing for a Socialist syndicate out of Baltimore (this cartoon was picked up by a Honolulu paper), would lodge a pro forma attack on the outgoing president, Theodore Roosevelt, as Democratic cartoonists were doing.

Night is falling

President Roosevelt leans on his big stick with “On Hunting in Africa” strapped around his shoulders. He looks across the “Potomac” at the United States Capitol Building and “T. R.’s presidential” and “twilight zone” as the darkness of “March 4th” descends.

Comments and Context

F. Victor Gillam, after leaving Judge magazine, a reorganized and Republican version of Puck magazine that was led by his older brother Bernhard, freelanced for a variety of newspapers. As a consistent Republican partisan with Judge — it was he who invented the iconic campaign symbol of the Full Dinner Pail to boast of Republican Prosperity — it is odd that his subsequent career was with Democratic or independent papers. This drawing, for instance, is more of an editorial cartoon, not a political cartoon attacking nor attempting to persuade, merely inviting readers to be as pensive as President Roosevelt, as the Administration’s days dwindled down to a precious few.

Joy in the jungle

A monkey holds a paper that reads “Washington D. C.–Jan 9th 09–Cable: Roosevelt in hot water / Congress.” A variety of African animals like an elephant, a hyena, a lion, a giraffe, and a zebra look on.

Comments and Context

The legendary cartoonist Homer Davenport, once a fierce critic of Theodore Roosevelt when he drew for the papers of William Randolph Hearst, ultimately became an admirer, then a friend, of the president. After his conversion he drew the most famous cartoon of his career, and one of the most memorable in American history, the 1904 endorsement by Uncle Sam, “He’s Good Enough For Me.” Likewise, the New York Mail was a consistent proponent of Roosevelt and his policies.

Force of habit

In the first section of the cartoon, President Roosevelt intently looks in the weeds as he holds his gun. An African says, “It must be a herd of elephants he sees.” In the second section, Roosevelt runs toward the weeds with his gun raised. The African says, “Must be the white rhino!” In the third section, Roosevelt hits “a congressman” on the head as the African says, “Horrors!” Caption: A warning to all Congressmen to keep out of Africa during the open season.

Comments and Context

In the last weeks of Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency some cartoonists seemed unable or unwilling to surrender their focus on the incumbent, even as President-Elect William H. Taft assembled his cabinet and policy agenda.

Roosevelt: “Poo, poo! Why, I could get a bigger roar out of Congress any day by just sending in a special message.”

President Roosevelt chuckles as he holds his gun and watches a lion roar in Africa. Caption: Roosevelt: “Poo, poo! Why, I could get a bigger roar out of Congress any day by just sending in a special message.”

Comments and Context

Cartoonist Jay N. “Ding” Darling drew one of his favorite subjects, Theodore Roosevelt, in a clever pastiche of a humor cartoon and a prescient political comment. At the time of the cartoon’s publication there were only two months before Roosevelt would embark, headed for a year-long African safari. His attention, as with most cartoonists and many citizens, was on that exotic expedition.

Cartoon in the Elmira Advertiser

President Roosevelt sits at his desk and holds a book entitled “Big Game in Africa Shown to Be Extinct” in one hand and “Petition from [T]exas. Spare African Animals. Signed–School Children. Petition from New England. Have mercy on African animals. Signed–School Children” in his other. His rifle–“my pet”–is on his desk as well as “Nature Stories.” On the ground is an open book: “Political Game in America: Dead and Dying.” Kermit Roosevelt says to his father, “Dad, they’re mollycoddles.” President Roosevelt replies, “Oh! No! This needs investigation.”

Comments and Context

As Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency drew to a close. he was not less busy as some Chief Executives who managed to “transition,” but rather more occupied than usual, which famously was hectic and strenuous at normal times. He was involved in a messy dispute with Congress, he hurriedly made appointments, proclamations, and executive orders while he had those powers, he prepared to meet the returning Great White Fleet from its circumnavigational tour, he did what he could to implement the initiatives that grew from the National Governors Conference he convened (on conservation matters), and so forth.

Mr. Roosevelt doesn’t want newspaper men to follow him to Africa

In the first section of the cartoon, President Roosevelt holds a “cablegram” from the “Atlantic Cable Co.” that reads, “Mr. Roosevelt killed an elephant. Roosevelt ($6.00),” as he gestures to the African standing behind him for his gun. There are large footprints in the ground. Caption: Special Correspondent Roosevelt–“Ha! I have a tip that Mr. Roosevelt is about to slay an elephant. It’ll make a hot story.” In the second section, Roosevelt holds “cable blanks” in one hand and his gun in his other hand as he follows the tracks. The African says, “I feel the sleeping sickness getting me!” Caption: “Now for a scoop!” In the third section, Roosevelt stumbles upon reporters from “The Sun” and “The World”. They say, “Fire when you are ready, Mr. Roosevelt.” The elephant is sweating profusely and leans on a tree. Caption: “Dee–lighted!”

Comments and Context

With only a month and two days remaining in the term of Theodore Roosevelt, the cartoonists of America were not about to lose the last opportunities to depict their peripatetic president, nor milk the last drops of comic speculations about his African safari — especially when Roosevelt announced that he would allow no press coverage.

Another aspect of that African trip

An African king shows President Roosevelt a paper that reads, “How about Brownsville?” Roosevelt holds “the big stick” and a book entitled “Habits of the Hippo” and looks distressed.

Comments and Context

Harry Osborn, a cartoonist who drew comic strips in Chicago and for the World Color Printing Company pre-print Sunday funnies, syndicated across America, speculated at the end of President Roosevelt’s administration about the upcoming African safari. Virtually every cartoonist with ink and pen did the same, but usually variations on the theme of wild animals scattering at the sight of Roosevelt.

When Mr. Roosevelt breaks into the advertisements

President Roosevelt appears in a variety of advertisements: “Look Out!–Mr. Roosevelt’s Rifle is a . . .,” “Mr. Roosevelt saves time in Africa by using our safety razor,” “The best ivories in Africa are polished with . . .,” “The good time in Africa is kept by the Jones $1.00 watch. Mr. Roosevelt carries one,” “When Mr. Roosevelt sleeps, he sleeps on a felt mat,” and “Bully!” A woman holds a sign: “Situation wanted–By prepossessing young woman, very accomplished, can cook, sing, sweep, play piano, ride, shoot, golf, eat chocolates, breakfast foods, etc., have had experience as cloak & suit model & nurse, good judge of soaps, summer resorts, automobiles, railroad trains, etc., etc. The advertisement lady.”

Comments and Context

Less than a a week after the 1908 elections, political cartoonists continued to be absorbed by the personality and activities of Theodore Roosevelt. Of course he was still president, but a new president, William H. Taft, would be figured to dominate the commentary in the glow of his landslide and the planning of his cabinet and administration. Or, William Jennings Bryan, the Democratic candidate, vanquished for a third time, might have been expected to inspire cartoon commentary. But Roosevelt was Roosevelt, especially as “copy” for cartoonists; and such would continue for the rest of his life.

Well, why not?

President Roosevelt sits atop several books with an “Outlook offer” in his back pocket and his “big stick” with an “editor” pen tip attached to the bottom. The books include “Jungle Book,” “Wild Animals Who Have Met Me,” and “African Animals.”

Comments and Context

R. M. Brinkerhoff drew political cartoons for approximately a decade for the Cleveland Leader. Its features, including political cartoons, were syndicated or rather distributed to newspaper clients around the United States by the Central Press Association which it established on the model of the Cleveland Press‘s distribution service, the Newspaper Enterprise Association.

Theodore—Gee Whillikins, I wish it would hurry up and be March 4th!

President Roosevelt sits at a desk and holds several books “Problems of Gov’t,” Presidency,” and Constitutional Government” as he looks down at his “African hunting outfit.” Uncle Sam asks, “Theadore, what are you doing?” In the background, “Congress” reads a “tariff” book. Caption: Theodore–Gee Whillikins, I wish it would hurry up and be March 4th!

Comments and Context

Cartoonist Jay N. “Ding” Darling, despite his certified adulation of Theodore Roosevelt, nevertheless was able to tweak his heron and depict him as a schoolboy impatient for summer vacation of Christmas morning, or, his adventure of a lifetime, the large-scale exploration and hunting trip to Africa. The safari was planned to engage the president, almost immediately after leaving the White House, for nearly a year.

Spending other people’s money!

President Roosevelt runs after a lion that he fires at while “naturalists, professors, etc.” follow behind him. Kermit Roosevelt fires a pistol while sitting on a tree branch.

Comments and Context

The continual and almost preternatural hostility of cartoonist Edward Joseph McBride and the St. Louis Republic toward Theodore Roosevelt extended after his presidency, and displayed animus to the animals. A month after election day, 1908, the cartoonist turned his attention to malign fantasies of the ex-president in Africa on a planned year-long safari.

In rankest Africa

President Roosevelt wears a “typewriter” on his back and points his finger at an elephant in Africa as another man photographs the incident. Caption: Mr. Roosevelt’s equipment need not be expensive.

Comments and Context

Among a multitude of cartoon speculations on Theodore Roosevelt’s upcoming African safari, artists played variations on the simple theme that wild animals would be cowed by the belligerent Roosevelt.

Will he spank the lad?

“Congress” steps on “that message” and holds a “resentment of Secret Service clause” and thrusts a fist a President Roosevelt, who has a “How to Hunt in Africa” book beside him. In the background, Emperor William II laughs.

Comments and Context

A forgotten kerfuffle of President Roosevelt’s last months in office was an incident that attracted great, if brief, public interest. It was a matter that was not destined to be controversial, which might be said of some dust-ups that attended the personality who was Roosevelt.

African “in bad” club soon to be started!

In the first vignette, President Roosevelt holds his rifle as a lion runs away. An African man says, “Golly, dat was a bad shot, boss!” Roosevelt replies, “Liar!” In the second, two African men say, “Let us into your tent, boss, we’se most froze out here!” Roosevelt replies, “Milksops and mollycoddles!” In the third vignette, an African man says, “Dat’s a fine ump you shot, boss!” Roosevelt replies, “Nature fakir! It’s a ring tailed owk!” In the fourth vignette, an African king says, “Oogle ig uppy woof,” and an African man translates, “His majesty says he’ll have to charge you two bushels of beans to hunt in his country.” Roosevelt replies, “Tell him he is a sinister offender and a man with hard face and a soft body.” In the fifth, an African man says, “Say, boss, between ourselves, did you really write that letter to Harriman?” Roosevelt replies, “Muckraker! Shut up or I’ll beat you to a frazzle!” In the sixth, an African man says, “Boss I’se got to have more wages!” Roosevelt replies, “You’re an undesirable citizen and you’re fired!”

Comments and Context

Even with more than two months before he would retire from the presidency, many people — not least the corps of cartoonists — speculated on Theodore Roosevelt’s upcoming safari to Africa. It was not merely another aspect of the omnivore Roosevelt, nor the prospect of a very public man choosing to disappear from headlines for a year. The concept of almost any American save a few iconic explorers, plunging into what was then known (or unknown, literally) as the “Dark Continent” was something that attracted the attention, and inspired the imaginations, of an entire population.

Just what he wanted!

President Roosevelt points one dart gun at toy “jungle animals from Africa” and another gun at “Congress.” Uncle Sam and Miss Columbia look on standing beside the Christmas tree. “Congress” says to Roosevelt, “Hey, look out where ye’r pointin’ that!”

Comments and Context

Jay N. “Ding” Darling, in his half-century as a political cartoonist, was known as a progressive, an advocate of conservation (he designed “duck stamps” for federal revenue and program funding in the 1930s; and two wildlife areas are named in his honor), and a partisan who frequently defended his friend Theodore Roosevelt.

What is going on in Washington

President Roosevelt rushes toward William H. Taft. On the ground are several books: “Time Tables: Steamers to Africa,” “Catalog: Guns, ammunition, and type writer supplies,” and a children’s book that shows a kangaroo for the letter “K” and a lion for the letter “L.” Caption: “W. H. Taft, who formerly worked for Mr. Theodore Roosevelt of this place, made a call upon his old employer to-day. Mr. Taft is now in business for himself and contemplates returning to Washington. Mr. Roosevelt was delighted to hear he is doing well.”

Comments and Context

Three weeks before election day, President Roosevelt welcomes his chosen successor William H. Taft back to Washington in this cartoon by Ralph Wilder of Chicago Record-Herald. If there are deeper messages in the cartoon, they are not very deep, but more about journalism and cartooning history than about the politics of the situation.

Cartoon in the Washington Star

President Roosevelt sits in his chair with various papers around him–“tiger trapping,” “jungle hunting,” “lion taming,” “how to bring down an elephant,” “suggestions for message to Congress,” and “happy hunting grounds Africa.” He says, “Now for an hour of African anticipation.”

Comments and Context

In the aftermath of a presidential election, Theodore Roosevelt is pictured lost in thought with immediate plans for his “retirement,” the African safari he carefully had been planning. Any president might reasonably be understood as weary after two terms in the White House; and in Roosevelt’s case the typically strenuous president was as active as any incumbent not running to succeed himself. In many ways he created William H. Taft the candidate, counseled him, and was active in many other non-traditional ways. He would have had a right be lost in reveries, as cartoonist Clifford Kennedy Berryman pictured.

In case the “sleeping sickness” attacks Mr. Roosevelt in Africa

In the first cartoon, two doctors look at a sleeping President Roosevelt. Caption: Doctor–“It is a very severe case of sleeping sickness. Our remedies have no effect. Mr. Roosevelt must be aroused. But how?” In the second cartoon, the doctors have an idea. Caption: “An idea!” He might respond to a severe shock. Let’s try it!” In the third cartoon, one doctor reads a paper. Caption: “Ah, doctor! I see here an account of an African hunting trip, written by the–” In the fourth cartoon, Roosevelt starts to wake up. Caption: “Famous nature lover, Jack Liverpool. He says: ‘I was hastening over the mountains in pursuit of the savage crocodile when suddenly I beheld–‘” In the fifth cartoon, President Roosevelt has a questioning look. Caption: “A lion leap madly from the top of a tall palm tree, pursued by a frantic springbok, which was beating him terribly with her wings. The king of beasts had evidently been robbing her nest–” In the sixth cartoon, Roosevelt jumps up with a pen in his hand. The doctors shake hands, saying “Congratulations!” and “He’s cured.” Caption: Mr. Roosevelt–“Nature faker!!! I’ll show him up!”

Comments and Context

The multi-panel cartoon by Ralph Wilder in the Chicago Record-Herald was published before election day, but reflected in a comical way the public’s perception of President Roosevelt’s upcoming safari in Africa — and speculated on his own preoccupation with the trip. In passing the cartoonist also relied on the subject of Roosevelt’s crusade against “nature fakers,” writers who ascribed human emotions and abilities to animals.