Archbold, John D. (John Dustin), 1848-1916

William H. Taft writes to Chairman of the Republican National Committee Hitchcock to ask for the resignations of both Treasurer of the Republican National Committee George Rumsey Sheldon and Head of the Speaker’s Bureau T. Coleman DuPont, on the grounds that Sheldon solicited funds from trust affiliates and DuPont is currently involved in a trust suit. He suggests possible replacements for DuPont, and asks for a system of campaign funding that solicits small subscriptions through western cities.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-22

Frank B. Kellogg, a member of the Republican National Committee, writes to Republican National Committee Treasurer George Rumsey Sheldon protesting the acceptance of money from the trusts and those who run them. In particular he lists the Standard Oil Company, the Union and Southern Pacific railroads, and the Powder Trust, and names the men he knows who are associated with them. He states that it would be wrong for the Republican Party to take money from any trust when these same trusts are violating the law.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-21

Senator Lodge has received the very incriminating newspapers covering the situation between Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker and John D. Archbold. Although it is distressing to see such an outcome for a politician, it also validating due to Foraker’s actions against President Roosevelt and William H. Taft. Lodge wonders what effect it will have on the public view of the Brownsville affair, on the presidential campaign, and on Governor Charles Evans Hughes. Being on Nantucket has been good for Lodge’s health after a stretch of exhaustion and a cold.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-21

Jonathan Bourne believes that a settlement of the Standard Oil matter will be made through the executives—President Roosevelt, Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte, and John D. Archbold—and not through the attorneys for the government and the company. Bourne agrees that working through him is inadvisable at this point, but he takes credit for having started negotiations and for convincing Archbold and others that Roosevelt would be fair to both labor and capital.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-07

Jonathan Bourne asks President Roosevelt if he thinks they should try to get Congress to pass a federal incorporation bill. Bourne is in favor of the idea, and asks Roosevelt who he thinks would be the best person to introduce the bill. He suggests that Roosevelt ask Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte to prepare a bill, which could then be moved through Congress. John D. Archbold will have D. T. Watson prepare a bill when he returns from Europe. Bourne has been working very hard, and is thinking about taking a vacation soon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-06

This program describes the events during a week of celebration in Marietta, Ohio, and Parkersburg, West Virginia. Events include the dedication of two buildings at Marietta College, excursions to Blennerhassett Island, reunions of the Union Veteran Association of Washington County, the conference of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the dedication of a bronze tablet commemorating the first settlement in the Northwest Territory. The tablet was unveiled by Alice Roosevelt Longworth and dedicated by Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10

Program for the unveiling of a bronze tablet on the campus of Marietta College commemorating the first permanent settlement in the Northwest Territory. Includes several illustrations, the inscription on the tablet, and a description of the ceremony, which included the unveiling by Alice Roosevelt Longworth and a speech by Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-18

In the top left hand corner, “Ananias” and “Munchausen” speak. Ananias says, “Our Congressmen and Senators are poor but honest. To my personal knowledge they would scorn to hire out to trusts and monopolies.” Munchhausen says, “The delicate and retiring modesty of the president would make it impossible for him to assume any authority not given him by the Constitution.” Caption: A–Prominent liars who have inside information regarding fight between President and Congress. In the top right hand corner, two letters are visible. One reads: “My dear Senator, Our Trust is overjoyed at your good work for us in Congress. I enclose check as per your request. Archbold.” The other reads: “My dear Harriman, You and I are practical men. Come and see me after dark and bring some campaign funds. Knock once and whistle three times. T. R.” Caption: B–Important documents which have mysteriously disappeared. In the middle on the left side, “Congress” and President Roosevelt step on “the common people,” who says, “Lemme up. Caption: C–Innocent bystander who is endangered by fight. In the middle on the right side, “Crooked Trusts and Corporations” laughs with arrows pointing to his face. Caption: D–Interested party greatly worried over outcome of fight. (Arrows show expression of anxiety). At the bottom, Roosevelt talks to the “Secret Service Dep’t.” He says, “Meet me in the ruined mill at midnight with evidence against the Senators and Congressmen. Remem-bar-r!” The “Secret Service Dep’t” replies, “I will be ther-r-re!” Caption: F–Scene from forthcoming melodrama entitled “Why Senator Scrubbs Left Home, or No Mother to Guide Him.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

The brilliant Frederick Burr Opper, often called “The Mark Twain of Cartooning,” was on one of the most influential political cartoonists of his generation; his career spanned the 1870s to the 1930s. Prominent outlets he appeared in were Puck magazine until 1899, and the newspapers of William Randolph Hearst until 1932.

President Roosevelt sits at a desk labeled “Associate Editor” and filled with papers. On the ground is a bear skin rug and two papers: “Onward Standard Soldiers” and “The Science of Rebating.” There are three other offices: “Mr. Rogers, Managing Editor,” “Mr. Rockefeller, Editor and General Manager,” and “Mr. Archbold, Stenographer.” Rogers says, “Tell Teddy to put a four line head on that story defending our rebates!” Rockefeller says, “Tell Teddy to write an editorial on the persecution of the trusts!” On the wall is a picture of Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis and a sign that reads, “In oil we trust.” Roosevelt’s big stick is in the corner.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Two weeks after the presidential election of 1908, political cartoonist Camillus Kessler of the extreme anti-Republican Women’s National Daily returned to attacking President Roosevelt, who still had approximately four more months to serve in the White House.

In the top left, John D. Rockefeller, pours “oil” down Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell’s throat as crowds cheer, “Standard Oil, dah-de! Dah! Bryan, Bryan–Rah! Rah rah!” and “Taft’s a big man–ump-ti-de-de! He’s the guy for the pres-i-den-cee!” John D. Archbold chases down Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker as Secretary of State Elihu Root runs into the fray. William Jennings Bryan fights William H. Taft supported by individuals in their parties: Charles Francis Murphy, Thomas Taggart, Henry Watterson, John W. Kern, Norman Edward Mack on the Democratic side and President Roosevelt, J. S. Sherman, Frank H. Hitchcock, and New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes on the Republican side. Uncle Sam referees.

comments and context

Comments and Context

This cartoon from the beginning of the last month of the 1908 presidential campaign offers a convenient summary of the major players, and a view likewise of the personalities involved the now nearly forgotten subplot that nearly overshadowed the main contest. The cartoonist is unknown, but the signature seems to be “Allen,” tempting one think it might be Clarence Allen, longtime political cartoonist of the Tulsa World but for the fact that he was ten years old when this cartoon was published.

In this detailed cartoon, a variety of individuals try to figure out if Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell—who has run off—touched second base, which has a container of “oil” on it. Uncle Sam stands in the center of the diamond and says, “It’s a draw.” A large group of people congregate just off the first-base line, including William H. Taft, Samuel Gompers, William Jennings Bryan, Norman Edward Mack, William Loeb, President Roosevelt, William F. Sheehan, Alton B. Parker, and George von Lengerke Meyer. A variety of people are around the field: Charles Francis Murphy, Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker, New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes, New York Lieutenant Governor Lewis S. Chanler, William James Conners, and Patrick Henry McCarren. John D. Rockefeller, John D. Archbold, Henry Huttleston Rogers, and James Roscoe Day all watch from the side. In another section of the audience, the Democratic donkey and Republican elephant fight. A handwritten note is included: “Mr. President: This is so good I have to send it to you.”

Comments and Context

Frequently political cartoons have a subtext related news events, gossip about figures being caricatured, and the shadowy realm of the interests and agendas of publishers. All these factors were play in the genre scene composed by cartoonist Thomas E. Powers, nominally about Oklahoma Governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell.

Haskell was also Treasurer of the Democratic National Committee, with financial responsibilities in the presidential campaign of William Jennings Bryan. “Touching second base” or not, as the oil can with Standard Oil’s dollar sign, sits on the base that Haskell clearly avoids, is the nub of the cartoon.

James S. Whipple informs President Roosevelt that Daniel O’Day is anxious for Roosevelt to meet John D. Archbold. O’Day suggests that Senator Nelson W. Aldrich might arrange such a meeting. Whipple comments that the O’Days “are surely good friends” and offers to help bring about the desired meeting.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04-19

A chef labeled “Special Privilege” holds a large platter on which rests a huge turkey with the face of Theodore Roosevelt. He is about to place the platter on a table around which sit several men labeled “Cannon, Rockefeller, Archbold, Haskell, Payne, Dalzell, Elkins, Sherman, Foraker, Harrimen, Day, Rogers” and Nelson W. Aldrich.

comments and context

Comments and Context

The “Teddy-Turk” cartoon by Udo J. Keppler in Puck was the magazine’s strongest — in fact one of its only — comments on the election just concluded.

Theodore Roosevelt has decided that it would be better for him to take the letter books to the committee. William Loeb can submit copies and should travel to Oyster Bay, New York, to find and examine the letter books. Loeb should not copy the letters from Frank B. Kellogg related to political contributions from the Standard Oil Company. Roosevelt will submit these letters himself. Roosevelt does not believe that Loeb was present at the John D. Archbold interviews but he was present during the Edward Henry Harriman interview. He recalls Harriman requesting funds from the National Committee for Mr. Higgins’s election, as well as requesting that Chauncey M. Depew be appointed Ambassador to France. Roosevelt asks if Loeb’s recollection of the meeting is similar.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1912-09-15

Theodore Roosevelt asks William Loeb to find the letters at Sagamore Hill and submit them to the committee. He also requests that Loeb search for evidence that Roosevelt wrote to Mr. Sheldon and William H. Taft protesting against contributions from the Standard Oil Company before the 1908 election. Loeb should also testify about the Edward Henry Harriman incident and the meetings with John D. Archbold if he recalls them.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1912-09-11

Theodore Roosevelt discusses the duty of the American people to stand up and be heard if they believe in the Progressive cause. He explains the corruption that both the Republican and Democratic parties have allowed to enter into American politics and how a vote for the Progressive Party will combat that. He also explains recent testimony in Congress given by Pennsylvania Senator Boies Penrose and John D. Archbold of Standard Oil Company. While those two men were testifying against Roosevelt, they were in fact testifying for actions taken by Cornelius Newton Bliss when he was treasurer of the Republican Party.

Collection

Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound

Creation Date

1912-09-22

Theodore Roosevelt explains his relationship with Cornelius Newton Bliss while he was in a position of power for the Republican Party and that while he respects Bliss, he was never stopped from prosecuting a company or person by Bliss’s advice. John D. Archbold and Senator Boise Penrose know this and that is why they have attacked Roosevelt in their testimony to Congress. Archbold and Penrose know that Roosevelt is the people’s champion as the Progressive Party candidate and will hinder their dishonest work if he were elected.

Collection

Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound

Creation Date

1912-09-22

Theodore Roosevelt addresses John D. Archbold’s accusations that Roosevelt, when president, gave Standard Oil Company the “Abyssinian Treatment.” Roosevelt said he did indeed do so to the Standard Oil Company and he would do so again to any big trust that requires it. Roosevelt notes that Archbold is not afraid of being ignored or regulated by the current administration or by the Democrats, but he fears that Roosevelt and the Progressive Party, the party of the people, will act, which is why he has attacked Roosevelt during his testimony in Congress.

Collection

Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound

Creation Date

1912-09-22