Bennett, James Gordon, 1841-1918

President Roosevelt understands that the clipping William Allen White sent is funny and meant in jest, but he takes exception to the implication that, along with William Jennings Bryan, Oklahoma governor Charles Nathaniel Haskell, and William Randolph Hearst, he is also a liar and a rascal. Roosevelt writes that certain “conscienceless and unscrupulous” journalists who imply that there is no difference between honest and dishonest men, are worse for public life than the worst businessmen and politicians. He believes that White is a decent journalist who does not want to confuse the public and urges him not to publish such jokes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-07

President Roosevelt sends Secretary of State Root an article from the London Times, and wonders if the United States should intervene in Venezuela if it does not pay its debts, as decided by the International Peace Conference at the Hague. Roosevelt says he supposes they should decline to meet with the Korean mission if they come to the United States. In a postscript, Roosevelt encloses a copy of the Tokyo Puck, lamenting its sensationalism. Secretary of War William H. Taft is planning a trip to the Philippines, and Roosevelt asks Root’s thoughts on Taft stopping in Siberia or Japan on the way.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-29

Theodore Roosevelt is disappointed with an American Magazine article that praised James Gordon Bennett. According to Roosevelt, “Bennett represents more brazenly and shamelessly the forces of evil in the United States.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-28

Ida M. Tarbell appreciates Theodore Roosevelt’s opinion on the sketch of James Gordon Bennett. However, she still defends his inclusion in the “Interesting People” exhibit and Henry Watterson’s writing.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-02

Creator(s)

Tarbell, Ida M. (Ida Minerva), 1857-1944

Henry I. Paulding informs Frank Harper that he has political connections and information for Theodore Roosevelt about Senator Chauncey M. Depew.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02

Referring to the libel case against the New York World, District Attorney Stimson agrees with President Roosevelt’s view that it is important to prosecute the “man at the top.” However, Stimson feels that even though Joseph Pulitzer can be suspected as knowing about the libel, there is not enough evidence to actually indict him. If the federal government’s case against Pulitzer is thrown out by the courts, it would cause any future successful prosecutions against the company or the actually responsible individual to lose its significance.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-11

John A. Sleicher writes to President Roosevelt about the upcoming Republican National Convention including the speech to be made by former New York Governor Frank Swett Black and strategies to ensure that Roosevelt will be nominated.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-09

William H. Taft shares commentary on William Allen White’s letter with President Roosevelt. In his upcoming speech, Taft does not address the “negro question” but plans to do so later. Taft enjoyed the speeches of Secretary of State Elihu Root and Representative J. S. Sherman. In a postscript, Taft believes in the necessity of renominating Governor Charles Evans Hughes. He shares misgivings about his election prospects and wants to give speeches in several states.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-20

Richard Croker is pictured as a radiant sun at the center of New York’s “Solar System” with such figures labeled “Pawnbroker, Brewer, Laborer, Hayseed, Fireman, Gambler, Liquor Dealer, Contractor, Soubrette, [and] Heeler,” among others, and people identified as “D. Hill, Belmont, Gould, Murphy, W. Reid, T. Platt, J.J. Astor, [and] Van Wyck” revolving around him.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1898-03-30

A band of street musicians is comprised of yellow journalism newspaper editors/publishers. Two men are playing “The War Wave” on horns labeled Daily Sensation (Joseph Pulitzer) and Morning Exciter (possibly James Gordon Bennett, Jr.). A man (possibly Charles A. Dana) is playing a tune labeled “Rumblings of War” on a bass drum labeled Daily Brawler. Two other men are playing tunes labeled “War Talk” and “War News.” A man with one hand over his right ear is standing at the entrance to a building labeled “Business Interests” and “Commerce and Manufactures”; with his left hand he gestures toward the musicians to stop or move on.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1896-03-25

A large procession crosses the newly-completed Brooklyn Bridge. At the front, dressed as policemen with nightsticks, are several newspaper editors. Among them are James Gordon Bennett, Oswald Ottendorfer, Whitelaw Reid, Murat Halstead, Joseph Pulitzer, Charles A. Dana, and Carl Schurz. Puck follows at center on a white horse, with a group of dandies on the right, one labeled “Freddie,” and a group of “Political Tramps” on the left, including George M. Robeson, Ulysses S. Grant, Thomas Collier Platt, James G. Blaine, and Roscoe Conkling. John Kelly is at the lead of the “Tammany Heelers,” followed by Hubert O. Thompson with the “New York Street Cleaning Department.” Behind them comes “Puck’s Monopoly Target Company” with Russell Sage, William H. Vanderbilt, Jay Gould, and Cyrus W. Field. On the left is a masonic group labeled “F. & A.M.” carrying a goat on a pedestal. Beneath the bridge is a boat labeled “The Dynamiter” filled with angry anarchists. Caption: Puck follows the example of the illustrated newspapers, and gives an accurate picture of the event one day before it takes place – and don’t you forget it!

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1883-05-23

At a dog show, a variety of breeds are competing. In the upper left corner, labeled the “Judges’ Stand,” are several newspaper editors, including James Gordon Bennett, Whitelaw Reid, Murat Halstead, Charles A. Dana, Henry Watterson, and George W. Curtis. They are judging two dogs, Winfield Scott Hancock and Samuel J. Tilden. Other dogs depicted are “Sesquipedalian Sleuth Hound Evarts, Mulligan Mongrel, Rossa Runt – take care dangerous, Lap Dogs Monopoly Breed”, also Chester A. Arthur, William Mahone, Thomas Collier Platt, Roscoe Conkling, James D. Cameron, John Logan, “Pointer Bayard, Tammany Tarrier, House Dog Edson, Dachshund, Toby Dog, Poodle, Water-dog,” David Davis, U.S. Grant, “Tewksbury Ratter, Hoar-Hound, Hybrid Hayes” and at center, “Puck’s entry Cleveland [and] S. Low.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1883-05-09

Grover Cleveland rides the Democratic donkey past the “Republican R. R. R. Hotel” on the way to his inauguration. He is surrounded by a host of characters that includes many political figures and newspaper editors, including Joseph F. Keppler with his diminutive character Puck. Among those depicted are: Roscoe Conkling, George Edmunds, Augustus Garland, “Hampton,” “William H. Barnum,” L. Q. C. Lamar, “Grace,” “Jones,” Joseph Pulitzer, James G. Bennett, Henry B. Ward, Samuel J. Randall, Thomas Hendricks, Abram S. Hewitt, U. S. Grant, Chester A. Arthur, Grover Cleveland, “McDonas,” Daniel Manning, George W. Curtis, Rutherford B. Hayes, Samuel J. Tilden, Thomas F. Bayard (carrying a flag that states “Public Office is a Public Trust. G. Cleveland”), Joseph Medill, William C. Endicott, John Logan, James G. Blaine, Carl Schurz, William F. Vilas, Cox, Winfield Scott Hancock, Benjamin Harrison, Henry Watterson, and Hermann “Raster.” Also shown is Puck’s Independent Party figure and papers labeled “Compliments of C. A. Dana.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1885-03-04

Print shows Puck sitting on a wooden cut-out Pegasus reviewing a procession of soldiers, among whom are John A. Logan, Roscoe Conkling carrying a flag labeled “Third Term”, Joseph W. Keifer, William M. Evarts, David Davis, James G. Bennett, John Kelly, Cyrus W. Field, William H. Vanderbilt, Jay Gould, Samuel J. Tilden, Benjamin F. Butler, Thomas De Witt Talmage, and riding on horseback, Henry Ward Beecher. Following the soldiers, in the background on the right, is a float showing an old soldier labeled “Our Army” and a decrepit ship labeled “Our Navy”. In the background, on the left, is a reviewing stand for the “Foreign Guests”, with a French flag on one side and a German flag on the other. Caption: His army of contributors passing in review before our foreign guests.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1881-10-19

Print shows newspaper editors Charles A. Dana, James G. Bennett, Carl Schurz, Henry Watterson, George W. Curtis, and Whitelaw Reid, as well as Puck, with a fleet of paper gunboats labeled “N.Y. Times, N.Y. Sun, N.Y. Herald, Ev. Post, Puck, Brooklyn Eagle, Courier-Journal, Harpers, Phila Times, Mail, [and] N.Y. Tribune.” The fleet is firing cannons, “ink” bottles, and pens, bombarding a fortress flying a flag labeled “Plunder,” where the walls are comprised of paper bundles labeled “Bills, Jobs, Bargains, Corrupt Bills, [and] Logrolling.” The fortress is defended by “Robeson Bey” standing at center with a bandage labeled “Record” around his head, “Keifer” and “Jones,” with John A. Logan labeled “306,” James D. Cameron, David Davis, John Sherman, and others. Cannonballs burst among them labeled “Criticism, Censure, [and] Condemnation.” The fortress cannons are labeled “River & Harbor Bill $20,000,000, Pension Arrears $103,962,300, Monitor Job, Public Buildings, Mileage Steal, [and] Mississippi Levee.” Within the fortress are the U.S. Capitol and the U.S. Treasury labeled “Ammunition House.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1882-08-02

Print shows a fireworks display with Puck bowing on a stage in front of a “Fan Light” featuring the likenesses of William H. Vanderbilt, Russell Sage, Cyrus W. Field, and Jay Gould; on stage with Puck is a hand holding a smoldering torch which may represent Bartholdi’s hand and torch from the Statue of Liberty. On the left is a pagoda labeled “Puck Office” and on the right is a building labeled “Tammany Hall.” Among the fireworks are many faces of politicians and other prominent figures of the day, some labeled by type of firework, such as “Chicago Shower” – Arthur, Grant, Conkling, Logan and Cameron; “Tumbler” – Tilden; “Twister” – Schurz; “The Falling Tammany Star” – Kelly; “Bomb” – Davis; “Junk Whizzler” – Robeson; “Polar Rocket” – Bennett; “Buster” – Butler; and “Star Route Staggerer” – Dorsey. Others shown are James G. Blaine, Henry Ward Beecher, Elizabeth Tilton(?), Thomas De Witt Talmage, and Theodore Tilton.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1882-07-05

A group of explorers of the polar regions, representing discovery and exploration, float on an ice floe. They may all be on the verge of death. Weighing judgment are James Gordon Bennett of the New York Herald and several European heads of state sitting in an area labeled “Reserved for J. G. Bennett and other Crowned Heads,” as well as a group of men seated in an area labeled “In the Name of Science – More! More!” This latter group has already pronounced judgment by giving the “Thumbs Down” sign. Notices pasted on the walls of the arena state “Kane died 1853, Franklin died 1850, Hall died 1871, [and] G. W. De Long 1882” referring to explorers who died in the name of science.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1882-05-31

Newspaper editors present their candidates for government appointments. James Gordon “Bennett” holds up a bust of Roscoe Conkling labeled “Sect. Interior,” with a tray labeled “Bennett’s Beauties” at his feet. Whitelaw “Reid” holds a tray labeled “Please choose these and suit us, Blaine & Reid,” on which are busts labeled “KKK” for “Sec’y Interior, Sec’y of War, [and] Treasury.” Joseph “Pulitzer” holds up a tray labeled “The World for Pulitzer” on which are busts of himself. Charles A. Dana carries a tray labeled “Dana’s Darlings” with busts of John “Kelly,” Thomas F. “Grady,” George M. “Robeson,” Samuel Sullivan “Cox,” and Benjamin F. Butler. There is also a man carrying a basket labeled “Hens’ Rights Heroines” with busts of “Lockwood, E.C. Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Phoebe Cozzens [sic], [and] Lucy Stone.” President Cleveland is visible through a window on the right, conducting interviews for cabinet positions. Caption: Chorus of Journalistic Candidate-Peddlers – “Here y’are now! – I’ve got the only genuine article! – Don’t mind that other fellow!”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1884-12-17

Print shows New York Herald editor James Gordon Bennett, holding a shotgun and carrying a bag labeled “Game Bag for Sensations J. G. Bennett,” standing next to a scarecrow labeled “$500.00 Herald Cheque” and “This is not the Original Hartman.” The scarecrow, armed with bombs, a knife, and a handgun, looks like Leo Hartmann who was apparently involved in the 1879 assassination attempt of Alexander II, Emperor of Russia. Looking over a stone wall is Secretary of State James G. Blaine who stated in the press that he could not make a statement regarding the extradition of Hartman prior to a request for such action by Russian authorities. In the background, on a mound of earth labeled “Russia,” Alexander III, Emperor of Russia, is sitting on a large chair labeled “Chair of Alexander III,” reading the “New York Herald.” An opening beneath the chair is labeled “The Real and Only Hartman Private Office” and shows a man who also looks like Leo Hartmann, waving. Caption: J.G.B. – This has been a hard hunt for a sham Hartmann!

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1881-09-07

Puck reclines before a table covered with alcoholic beverages, some labeled “V. H. Dusenbury’s P.P. Brandy” and “Puck Punch [No London Punch],” smoking and blowing smoke rings. Among the figures appearing in Puck’s smoke cloud are Chester Alan Arthur labeled “For a Good Veto” and fishing for “Popularity”; George M. Robeson at the helm of a boat carrying a large money bag labeled “Appropriation”; Jay Gould, Russell Sage, and William H. Vanderbilt sailing on a boat labeled “Monopoly”; Susan B. Anthony and another woman, George William Curtis labeled “Civil Service Reform,” Roscoe Conkling, Jay A. Hubbell labeled “Deform,” Ulysses S. Grant labeled “No Third Term,” David Davis, Robert Green Ingersoll boxing with Thomas De Witt Talmage, James Gordon Bennett, “Old Rossa” with “Dynamite,” Cyrus W. Field trying to net a “Coronet,” John Kelly and Samuel J. Tilden on a seesaw, William Russell Grace standing on a rock labeled “Public Esteem” with Seth Low trying to climb up, and James Russell Lowell on a “British Mission.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1882-08-09