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Theodore Roosevelt wishes Belle Roosevelt a merry Christmas and updates her on the status of things at home. Roosevelt is still very discouraged about America’s late entry into, and lack of preparedness for, the war.
1917-12-25
President Roosevelt describes the family’s “ideal” Christmas celebrations to his sister, Corinne Roosevelt Robinson. He asks Robinson to find out how her son, Monroe Douglas Robinson, could bear being seen with Roosevelt’s son, Ted Roosevelt, when Ted was wearing “such as cap as he seems to have carried.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-26
President Roosevelt and Uncle Sam listen to a “public opinion” gramophone that projects, “relief from oppressive trusts—a square deal for all, both white and black—honesty and efficiency—no foreign entanglements—retrenchment—economy.” The side of the gramophone says, “Xmas present to Theodore Roosevelt and Uncle Sam from the people.” In the background a number of man dance around a Christmas tree with different ornaments, including “larger navy,” “plenty,” “full work,” “peace,” and “army.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-24
Santa Claus, labeled “G.O.P.,” reaches to place the “Star of Hope” on top of a Christmas tree trimmed with lemons, marble hearts, a stuffed bear “From Teddy,” two “Little Big Sticks” and a “Big Stick,” a ball of “Promises,” and three balls labeled “Gas, Guff, [and] Wind.” On a nearby table is Joseph Cannon as a “Joe in the Box,” a “Home made frosted cake from Uncle Joe’s Pantry,” and a book of “Fairy Tales by Uncle Sam.”
J. S. Pughe’s cover cartoon directly addresses a crisis in America’s handling of the Philippine Islands as an American territory, during an important moment of policymaking. The matters at hand were important to the Filipinos, of course: trade, tariffs, and economic sovereignty.
Theodore Roosevelt asks if Kermit is getting any of his letters. He describes how they spent Christmas and tells Kermit about some of the writing he is doing. He closes by saying he has no idea whether the Progressive Party has a future.
1912-12-27
Theodore Roosevelt has received Kermit Roosevelt’s letter about visiting Sao Paolo, Brazil, and everyone was interested in reading about Kermit and Belle Roosevelt setting up their new home. The book about the Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Expedition has been sent to all members of the expedition through the Brazilian ambassador. Roosevelt describes the “delightful Xmas” at Sagamore Hill with all of his children, except Kermit, and three grandchildren. He reflects on the war and views Germany as “clearly ahead” and Austria growing stronger. Roosevelt admires German efficiency, which is greater than the efficiency of the Allies, and the Allies are infinitely more efficient than the United States. President Wilson and Secretary Bryan are the “worst creatures” to lead the nation in foreign affairs. Roosevelt believes the United States should have countered the “unscrupulous” behavior of Germany and intervened on behalf of Belgium. He has signed a three year contract with Metropolitan Magazine to publish his social and political views.
1914-12-28
Thomas William Lawson stands among Christmas gifts and a notice posted on the wall, which states “Christmas Greeting to Lawson Put all insurance proxies in your possession on the State House Steps by 11:15 to night or–!!!” Lawson is surrounded by such gifts as a box of “Dynamite Perfectos Smoke Up! [from] Addicks,” a box of “Poisoned Candy Merry Xmas from McCall,” a large box labeled “Infernal Machine Best wishes of Wall St.,” a large jug with a skull and crossbones labeled “Drink Hearty from PA McCurdy,” a smoking bomb labeled “To Tom from John D.” nestled among flowers “From Rogers,” and a sword “From Hyde.” In the background is a Christmas tree with an oil can and one ornament showing a face.
Udo J. Keppler’s cartoon is a caricature of Thomas William Lawson, whose 14 magazine articles, collected in a sensationalist best-selling book, Frenzied Finance, marked him at the time and in subsequent history as a prototypical Muckraker on a par with Upton Sinclair (the meat industry), Ida M. Tarbell (Standard Oil), and Samuel Hopkins Adams (medicines). Lawson’s expose was of the mining business, specifically Amalgamated Copper and related companies.
Uncle Sam, as Santa Claus with his bag of toys, hands a bag of money labeled “$10,000,000” to a little boy wearing a hat labeled “Panama” and holding a huge ship, some books, one labeled “Ledger,” and towing a model train. A railing on the right divides the space into an area with a Christmas tree and an area without. Hanging on the railing, looking in, are five boys labeled “Colombia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, [and] San Domingo” who are depressed and possibly angered that Santa Claus/Uncle Sam has nothing for them.
A large, decorated Christmas tree is surrounded by some of the characters who routinely appear in Puck’s cartoons, such as the automobile driving scofflaw holding a gift of “Horse Liniment,” the domineering servant with her gift of an alarm clock, the housemaid and her gift of “China cement,” an Irishman holding a box of “English Soldiers” labeled “For Patrick,” and “For Mr. Henpeck” two tickets to the “Theatre – to night Taming of the Shrew” which he is offering to his contemptuous wife. Puck is standing on a step ladder at center, offering a crown “For Miss Gotrox” to a stylishly dressed young woman straining to reach it. Others are receiving equally poignant gifts. Caption: A little something for each of his characters.
This holiday cartoon by Ehrhart serves as a virtual visual encyclopedia of the era’s humorists’ and cartoonists’ cast of characters: “types,” ethnic sorts, professions, members of social strata, stereotypes, and butts of common jokes.
Puck offers a small Christmas tree, with ribbon stating “Compliments of the People,” to President William McKinley.
comments and context
At the end of a contentious political year, Puck offers a well-earned Christmas present to the recently re-elected President McKinley. Although Puck was typically a fairly reliably Democratic organ, during these months it favorably regarded the Republican politician. In the following Roosevelt years, Puck varied its compliments and praise.
A fashionably dressed young woman holds on to a Christmas tree as Puck chops it down with an axe.
On the artistic staff of Puck, Nankivell was the cartoonist most influenced by the flat colors and heavy outlines of “Japonisme,” and the prevailing poster look in popular art.
President Roosevelt thanks Corinne Roosevelt Robinson for the gift of Frederic Remington’s Done in the Open and describes his family’s Christmas activities.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-12-26
President Roosevelt thanks James Abram Garfield, a grandson of President Garfield, for the gift and then relates the Roosevelt family’s Christmas activities.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-26
On behalf of Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt, William Loeb thanks Newton L. Collamer for the invitation to have the children see the Christmas tree, but says that the season is so busy that she will not be able to.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-01-03
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!”
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.
A large Christmas tree is decorated with ornaments labeled with political offices and presidential appointments. Thomas Collier Platt and Matthew S. Quay, who is dressed as a woman, are standing in front of the tree. In queues on both sides are diminutive figures anxiously awaiting their presents, including from right to left, Jerry Simpson, Joseph B. Foraker, William E. Chandler, William McKinley, Whitelaw Reid, Thomas B. Reed, Levi P. Morton, Benjamin Harrison, William B. Allison, George F. Hoar, John Sherman, Chauncey M. Depew, and Robert T. Lincoln. Caption: The two big bosses have full charge of it, and the most obedient boys will come in for the best gifts.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1895-12-25
Two young women ice skate and tow a sleigh in which Puck is riding, holding a Christmas tree.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1894-12-05
A well-dressed couple sit on a sofa before a fire in the fireplace, with the spirits of three young children dancing around a Christmas tree. There are art-nouveau style furnishings (lamp and flower vase) on the table in the background.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1896-12-09
Print shows Uncle Sam and Columbia taking Christmas presents off a Christmas tree and distributing them to Native children labeled “Hawaii, Samoa, Puerto Rico, Cuba, [and] Philippine.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1899-12-27
Several members of Congress stand around a large Christmas tree labeled “Tax Surplus” decorated with money bags labeled “Surplus.” The legislators carry bags in which to place the bags of surplus they pluck from the tree. Among those identified are Charles W. Jones holding a bag labeled “Naval,” William E. Chandler holding a bag labeled “Subsidies for a Merchant Steam Marine,” William Mahone holding a bag labeled “Public Buildings and Grounds,” John A. Logan holding a bag labeled “Appropriations” and reaching for a sack on the tree, Joseph W. Keifer lifting George M. Robeson holding a bag labeled “Partners in the New Naval Scheme,” John Roach holding a bag labeled “New Navy Scheme,” Henry L. Dawes holding a bag labeled “River & Harbor Bill,” Francis M. Cockrell holding a bag labeled “Improvement of Mississippi River,” Eugene Hale holding a bag labeled “River & Harbor Bill,” John J. Ingalls holding a bag labeled “More Pensions,” Benjamin F. Jonas holding a bag labeled “Improvement of Mississippi River,” and Elbridge G. Lapham who is speaking to two well-dressed women, one holding a bag labeled “Lobby.” Lapham is also depicted in the angel at the top of the tree holding a banner labeled “Help Yourself.” Uncle Sam dances with three men in the foreground and, on the right, a lone “Taxpayer” stands outside in the snow.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-12-19