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Secret Service Agent Flynn presents an extract from the report of Frederick M. Tate regarding the suicide of Lulu Grover. This includes testimony from several neighbors and possible relatives about Grover’s personal history and life in New York City.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-15
United States Attorney Stimson informs President Roosevelt about the funeral arrangements and his investigation into the suicide of Lulu Grover, who left all of her property to Roosevelt. Stimson writes that her only two interests appeared to be her two Angora cats and Roosevelt, as her apartment was filled with his photograph and books about him. Stimson also found in her apartment two letters from Roosevelt in which he thanked her for the gifts she sent to Roosevelt’s son, Theodore Roosevelt III, and asked her to stop sending gifts. Stimson arranged for her to be cremated and for an Episcopalian clergyman to read a service for her. Stimson and the Public Administrator agree that “this woman was one of those harmless cranks.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-14
President Roosevelt tells a “third term” cat to scat. Attached to its tail is the “special message.”
This cartoon includes six vignettes of President Roosevelt. In the first, Roosevelt speaks from a podium with the caption: “Roosevelt—I will not accept another term.” In the second, Roosevelt sits at a desk and writes as a cat labeled “3rd term” sits nearby with the caption: “Under no circumstances will I be a candidate for a third term.” In the third, Roosevelt seems surprised to see the “3rd term” cat with the caption: “I said that I didn’t want to have anything to do with a third term.” In the fourth, Roosevelt attempts to hit the “3rd term” cat with his big stick with the caption: “And I meant just what I said and all I said.” In the fifth, Roosevelt kicks the “3rd term” cat with the caption: “Now, don’t let me see you again.” In the sixth, an enormous “3rd term” cat sits in the foreground as Roosevelt runs away with the caption: “– But the cat came back.”
Two cats, one labeled “Japan” attacking the other labeled “Russia,” have their tails tied to a rope labeled “Manchuria” with a ribbon labeled “Neutrality.”
A bull dog labeled “England,” a whippet (or greyhound) labeled “Italy,” and a dachshund labeled “Germany” gather around a dish labeled “Preferred Claims” full of food labeled “Venezuela.” Sitting above them on a fence are four cats labeled “Belgium, Spain, France, [and] Holland” with the fur on their backs raised. Both cats and dogs are seeking payment from Venezuela for its international debts.
This cover cartoon expands upon Joseph Keppler’s cartoon of the previous week in Puck, which showed only England, Germany, and Italy as animals hungry to collect financial claims again the outlaw government in Venezuela. Here, Pughe adds four cats, on the fence, howling for their own just claims. The only nation both cartoons ignored was the United States, which had its own claims. Cartoons on the same topic in the weekly magazine indicate what a hot topic the Venezuelan debt crisis was, and it led to President Roosevelt formulating the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine.
In the Senate chamber at the U.S. Capitol, a large cat with papers tied around its waist labeled “Ship Subsidy Bill” is making a mad dash for a door as senators throw ink pots and books at it while Mark Hanna tries to get them to stop. Senators Vest and Tillman are identified in the foreground as being in opposition to the bill.
There was a sort of “perfect storm” that doomed the Ship Subsidy Bill in 1902. The American shipbuilding industry was thriving on its own and was not in dire need of subsidies. For instance, Germany’s Prince Henry, an admiral, had recently visited the United States to take possession of his American-built yacht Meteor. However, J. P. Morgan, new chief of trusts, including steel, that had interests in building ships and in international oceanbound trade, desired government subsidies. (When Morgan failed to secure American subsidies he shifted his designs to England where, among other moves, he engaged Bruce Ismay to help him purchase the White Star Line, whose ships eventually included Titanic.) Two of the states, and therefore two of the senators, most desirous of shipbuilding subsidies were Pennsylvania and Ohio, which is why Mark Hanna is shown trying to protect the cat in this cartoon. In addition to the logical economic arguments against handouts, and a rising public tide against trusts, there was resentment of Senator Hanna, even from Republican senatorial rivals.
A British bulldog labeled “Commercial Interests” stands before a plate of food labeled “American Products.” He is looking across a small body of water at four cats labeled “France, Italy, Austria, [and] Germany” sitting on a fence labeled “Continental Jealousy” and flying a banner “Commercial Tariff Blockade.” The bulldog is chained to a dog house draped with British and American flags and a with a sign on the front that states “England Biggest Consumer of American Goods — [as per article in the] London Times.” Caption: There is no danger of a European combination while his appetite lasts.
This cartoon is an example of what has since been called the “special relationship” between the United States and Great Britain. High tariffs in America and England worked to mutual advantage. England’s commercial dominance in the world was long-standing, and its continental relations were set. To the United States, trade favors with England seemed satisfactory until the commercial appetites of the rest of the world became clear. A decade after this cartoon, President William Howard Taft sought to mend this situation by futilely proposing a series of reciprocal trade treaties.
A monkey wearing a plumed hat labeled “European Powers” and a cat wearing clerical robes labeled “Missionary” sit in front of a fireplace. The cat is reaching a paw toward the flames and a chestnut labeled “China.”
The inspiration for this cartoon was the Boxer Rebellion, a native Chinese insurrection against foreign (largely European, Japanese, and American) influences in China. Although disputes over land, trade, and religion lasted many years, the major flash-points occurred 1898-1901, when the Boxers grew militant. In the West, they were known as Boxers because of a translation of the Chinese term for the caste’s martial arts. At the very time of this cartoon, eight concerned nations sent troops to alleviate their besieged nations in the Legation District of the Imperial City. Throughout China, Western communities and Christian churches were being plundered, and Westerners slaughtered, all after years of foreign interference and exploitation of China. America, never a claimant to lands or spheres of influence to the extent of European and Japanese powers, nevertheless participated in the military-led relief effort against the siege.
President Roosevelt kicks a “Sampson Schley controversy” toward the United States Capitol building. An alarmed “Miles fuss” cat looks on.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-04-10
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Mrs. A. W. Taggart and tells her it is an interesting anecdote about a mockingbird that attacked the cat. He suggests she look at his Wilderness Hunter to find his encounters with mockingbirds, but he says that her mockingbird was “a much more noteworthy creature.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-07
President Roosevelt describes his experiences with a local cat while camping in Louisiana to his son Quentin Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-10-13
President Roosevelt tells his son Quentin Roosevelt that the kittens are doing well and will soon be big enough for him to play with. Roosevelt misses Quentin and his siblings, and says that the house feels very big and empty with just him in it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-01
Ambassador Jusserand sends Theodore Roosevelt Christmas wishes and hopes for his continued safety. He informs Roosevelt of his election to the French Academy of Moral and Political Sciences on his own merits, with no opposing votes. Jusserand shares an incident of a mother cat saving her kitten from a caged tiger. Roosevelt’s letter was delightful and complemented his articles in Scribner’s Magazine, which everyone follows with interest. He does not have much to comment on regarding internal politics other than that he deplores the quarrel between Gifford Pinchot and Secretary of the Interior Richard Achilles Ballinger. Jusserand updates Roosevelt on several of their friends. Ambassador to France Robert Bacon was recently injured in a fall from his horse before leaving for his assignment. A letter “full of pleasant chattering” from Justice Alford Cooley hints at a possible improvement in health. Secretary of the Navy George von Lengerke Meyer and Assistant Secretary of the Navy Beekman Winthrop are trying to capture Jose Santos Zelaya in Nicaragua. While Henry Cabot Lodge and Anna Cabot Mills Davis Lodge are in good physical health, they still mourn for their son George “Bay” Cabot Lodge, especially on Christmas. Jusserand includes a newspaper clipping on Roosevelt’s election to the Academy and part of a political cartoon featuring Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-12-25
In her will, Lulu B. Grover bequeaths her cats and all her possessions to Theodore Roosevelt, who has been her “good angel” throughout her life.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-23
President Roosevelt pets a cat with New York Senator Thomas Collier Platt’s face as he holds a “list of smoothed downers” in his other hand: “Morgan. Hill (J. J.) Gould. Harriman. Addicks. Black. Odell. Payn. Platt.” On the wall is a sign: “Oyster Bay. Notice. Smoothing down done with neatness and despatch. T. R.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-17
An “Uncle Hanna” cat plays with a “presidential nomination” mouse. The sentence—”I will (not) be a candidate”—is on the cat’s leg. President Roosevelt peeks in.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01
A cat with President Roosevelt’s face looks at a group of “Senator” and “Representative” mice.
In the first section of the cartoon, the “Congress” cat is asleep as “graft” mice eat from the “public lands & timber” and “Post Office Dept” bags and the “National Treasury” barrel. One mouse says, “Why don’t you get a basket? You can carry more.” Caption: When you consider the conditions that existed for years in national affairs– In the second section, Roosevelt holds a “reform” big stick and tells the “Congress” cat to “Get busy!” Congress replies, “You are violating all precedents.” Many “graft” mice lie dead on the ground.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-13
President Roosevelt wears a mask and sits at a desk with Secret Service reports. On the wall are “Rogue’s Gallery no. 1–Members of Congress,” a “list of undesirable citizens–Harriman, Rockefeller, Foraker, Haskell, and Tilman,” and a March 1909 calendar. On the other wall is a sign–“Old Sleuth Hawkshaw & Co.: Private Investigations. Shadowing”–and some disguises, including “mollycoddle masks,” “Ananias masks,” “malefactors of great wealth,’ and a coat “for the frivolous judge disguise.” On the ground are “gum shoes” and a “Muck Rake” cat.