Chariots

President Roosevelt, as a Roman emperor, rides in a chariot being pulled by an elephant ridden by George B. Cortelyou. Three captives are tied to the back: William Jennings Bryan, Alton B. Parker, and Populist candidate Thomas Watson. Vice-President Charles W. Fairbanks rides in a smaller chariot with Henry G. Davis as a captive in tow. Next to them Benjamin B. Odell carries a banner labeled “G.O.P.”, except that the “P” has been crossed out and replaced with a “T.” Near Roosevelt’s chariot Secretary of State John Hay bears a standard that says “S.P.Q.R.” (acronym for a Latin phrase which means “The Senate and People of Rome”), except that the “Q” has been crossed out and replaced with a “T.” At the front of the parade, holding the elephant’s trunk, is Speaker of the House Joseph G. Cannon. In the foreground, William H. Taft is carrying a large club. An African American man appears in the lower right foreground.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Joseph Keppler Junior, owner and chief political cartoonist of Puck magazine, departed from his generally light treatment of Theodore Roosevelt to cast the triumphant Republicans in severe caricatures, including the exultant Roosevelt himself. This center-spread cartoon appeared only days before the inauguration; and the issue’s from cover was graced with a mild, even favorable, depiction of Roosevelt.

President Roosevelt wears an olive branch crown and rides in a chariot followed by “Trusts,” “Morgan,” “Foraker,” “Bryan,” “Rockefeller,” “Tillman,” “Harriman,” “Haskell,” “Hearst,” “Pulitzer,” “Congress,” a “stork,” “undesirable citizens,” “grafters,” “muckrakers,” and “nature fakirs.” A dove tries to escape the “peace” cage.

comments and context

Comments and Context

As the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt drew to a close — seven years and several months, instead of the normal eights years, as Roosevelt assumed office upon the death of President William McKinley — cartoonist Jay N. “Ding” Darling drew a valedictory summation of the president’s triumphs.

President Roosevelt, dressed as a victorious Roman conqueror, drives a chariot that contains a teddy bear. Two unsavory men labeled “Enemy’s Country” and “Populist Vote” are chained to the chariot and are being dragged behind it.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1904

A nervous William McKinley rides in a lop-sided chariot with a large gold dollar labeled “Gold Standard” as one wheel and the other wheel a tiny one labeled “Tariff?”. The chariot is being pulled by the Republican “GOP” Elephant with Mark A. Hanna seated on top as the driver. Caption: It is not exactly the sort of chariot he hoped for, but he will get there in it all the same.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1896-08-05

President Wilson, as a pharaoh, rides in an Egyptian chariot drawn by the Democratic donkey. Wilson holds a small sword and ropes attached to a man labeled “Monopoly” whose arms are bound behind him, walking on his knees, and wearing a money-bag crown, a moose, representing the Bull Moose Movement, and the Republican elephant. In the upper right are two figures labeled “Underwood” and “Simmons” leading an army of Congressmen who supported the Underwood-Simmons Act.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1913-10-01