Cigars

President Roosevelt thanks Charles C. Wertenbaker for the cigars.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-01

Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon with a cigar in his mouth holds a folded up umbrella and a suitcase labeled “Uncle Joe” with a paper, “The Show Me,” walking toward “Panama.” Behind him is an elephant also with a cigar in its mouth. On the ground are footprints of others: President Roosevelt, Uncle Sam, and Secretary of War William H. Taft.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Joseph Gurney Cannon was one of the most colorful, flinty, and dictatorial Speakers of the House, a position he held from 1903-1911. He was touted as a Republican presidential aspirant for 1908, but he sometimes averred that he had more power as Speaker than any president could wield; yet his name was frequently discussed in the gaggle of hopefuls, very likely to enhance his influence and prestige as a Favorite Son of Illinois.

President Roosevelt, standing on the threshold of “Statehood School, T. Roosevelt, Principal,” holds a paper and says, “Your credentials are all right, but you’ll have to throw away that cigar,” as he looks at a boy labeled “Oklahoma” holding an enormous cigar labeled, “objectionable laws.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

Oklahoma Territory (sometimes called “Indian Territory”) was granted statehood in 1907, officially adding its star to the American flag on November 16. It had a vestigial reputation as a wild and wooly place, so legislators and Eastern powers were careful to voice hesitations and restrictions, as pictured by the Post‘s new and interim cartoonist Robert Isbell (Clifford Kennedy Berryman has just left for the crosstown rival Star).

On the left side of the cartoon, President Roosevelt gives a “D.C.” man a “post master” cigar. Roosevelt says, “Have a cigar.” On the right side, the man smokes out a picture of Benjamin F. “Barnes.” Roosevelt says, “April Fool!”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-02

There is a flurry of activity in Washington, D.C., with people running around and an “express wagon” and “florist.” A number of signs are posted: “Bulletin—It is proposed to run Mr. Longworth for governor of Ohio,” “Later!! He has just been mentioned for U.S. Senator,” “Bulletin—A real lace hat from Paris has just arrived via messenger boy,” and “Important bulletin—Mr. Longworth has just lighted another cigar. Great excitement prevails.” A newsboy holds a newspaper that reads, “Extra—Nick has just had a sandwich.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02

President Roosevelt rolls up his “president’s message—peace, justice, order” as Uncle Sam holds a cigar and looks on.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-07

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.

comments and context

Comments and Context

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.

On behalf of Theodore Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt, Frank Harper thanks Gonzalo de Quesada for the cigars.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-10-31

President Roosevelt sends Governor Magoon the text of a letter from Cardinal James Gibbons outlining the Catholic Church’s plan to sell property to the provisional government. He asks Magoon to prepare a report on the matter. Roosevelt also thanks Magoon for the cigars and preserves.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-06

President Roosevelt thanks William O. McDowell for the cigars. He said they will be smoked in celebration “if things come out right” in the election.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-22

President Roosevelt thanks Archbishop Chapelle for the cigar and box.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-03-28

Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt asks White House steward Henry Pinckney to send an updated inventory of the amounts of cigars and liquors present in the White House to Captain William S. Cowles so that he can purchase some replacements and make sure everything is stocked. She informs Pinckney of some of the family’s travel plans between Sagamore Hill and the White House, and offers to send him a photograph of her son, Quentin Roosevelt, and his, Roswell N. Pinckney together.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-08-30

The cigars have arrived and President Roosevelt would like Governor Hunt to thank the maker on his behalf.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-08-04

Leopold J. Neugroschl asks Theodore Roosevelt’s permission to market a cigar under the name “Bwana Tombo Africanus.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-22

Secretary of War Taft writes to President Roosevelt to report on his campaign efforts in Indiana. He will be back in Washington on Tuesday and would like to meet with Roosevelt to discuss the cigar tariff issue and the Philippines.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-10

Governor Guild writes to President Roosevelt about Acting Secretary of the Treasury Robert B. Armstrong and recent public relations scandals relating to his work, including the “pickled sheepskin case,” the cigar stamps, and “reduction of the conveniences of the Port of Boston.” Guild suggests Armstrong might need to be replaced and speaks highly of the work of Deputy Collector Fiske of Boston.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-03

Republican National Committee Chairman Cortelyou tells William Loeb that members of the tobacco industry have been “camping on [his] trail for a day or two” over the question of whether boxes of cigars will be required to carry an additional stamp. He suggests Loeb assemble all the facts for President Roosevelt’s review.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-17

Acting Secretary of the Treasury Taylor received a memo regarding the change in customs stamps on cigars. The only change is that the stamps are slightly smaller. Senator Nelson W. Aldrich said he was pleased with the change.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-14

Various men hold up resolutions. John D. Rockefeller holds a can of “Standard Oil” can and a paper that reads “Resolved that I’ll still do business in Missouri. John D.” President Roosevelt holds his big stick and a paper that reads “Resolved that I’ll abandon the Ananias Club.” President-elect William H. Taft reads a “my policies” pamphlet. Caption: Taft might forget Roosevelt. Herbert S. Hadley sits on top of a goblet with “the lid” and holds a paper that reads “Resolved that I will take off the lid. Hadley.” Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon smokes a “gag rule” cigar. Caption: Cannon must swear off using the same old brand. Andrew Carnegie holds a paper that reads, “Resolved that I’ll refuse to reveal any more secrets of the steel trust. Carnegie.” Arthur N. Sager holds a paper that reads, “Resolved that I’ll absolutely refuse to run for mayor.”

Comments and Context

Edward McBride’s cartoon in the reliably, and highly partisan Democrat, newspaper the St. Louis Republic features seven prominent figures referring to major news stories, disputes, and scandals. Rather than attacking the figures or seeking to persuade readers, the cartoon’s publication date reveals that it simply was a humorous treatment of New Year’s resolutions.

It then was common, and to an extent still is among political commentators and cartoonists to exploit holidays for their thematic preoccupations– in fact, sorts of holidays for themselves. The humorous New Year’s resolutions (or, sometimes, “the Millennium has come!”) presented an opportunity to show prominent figures doing things opposite of their normal pursuits.

The “Reichstag” runs after “the Kaiser” with a switch and says, “Willyum! Come here!” Meanwhile, President Roosevelt smokes a cigar that puffs out “speeches, statements, letters.” On the ground is a cigarette that is smoking “interview.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

One of the notable features of the 1908 presidential campaign was the participation of Theodore Roosevelt. He was not a candidate. As the incumbent president, tradition and propriety of the time forbade him from making speeches. Politicians like Roosevelt and William Jennings Bryan — who was the Democratic candidate in 1908, opposing the actual Republican candidate, William H. Taft — enjoyed giving stump and railroad-car speeches and were known to deliver twenty or more in a day. But as the president, Roosevelt was restrained.