Your TR Source
George von Lengerke Meyer informs President Roosevelt there is opposition to Secretary of Commerce and Labor George B. Cortelyou becoming the chairman of the Republican National Committee at the Republican National Convention. Meyer insists that Cornelius Newton Bliss arrive before Monday with word from Roosevelt that he supports Cortelyou.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-06-17
Democratic Chair Thomas Taggart is undecided on whether he should go to Indiana to help the campaign of the Democratic Presidential nominee, Alton B. Parker. It was announced that he was going to Indiana but Taggart denied it and claimed that George B. Cortelyou planted the story.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-12
James W. Alexander, president the Equitable Life Assurance Society, and generically labeled “Life Insurance Company,” drowns in a sea of papers labeled “Exposure, Bribery, Syndicate Profits, Dummy Deals, Wholesale Graft, Fake Transactions, Juggled Reports, ‘Yellow Dog’ Funds, Rake-off, [and] Investigation.” He is holding in his raised left hand a “Receipt for Campaign Funds Republican Nat’l. Com.” The “G.O.P.” [Republican] elephant dashes over a bluff on the coastline, losing a top hat and halo labeled “Geo. B.” Out at sea, lightning flashes labeled “Publicity.” A bouquet of flowers labeled “J.H.H.” (James Hazen Hyde, the vice president of Equitable, who had recently been ousted from the company’s board) has been tossed meaninglessly before Alexander.
Icons abound in this cartoon, but their meanings would have been clear to headline-followers in 1905. In the middle of the Muckraking Era, when public feelings rose high against Big Business and corporate corruption, the insurance industry — a “Trust” of a few major firms — was rocked by financial scandals and a high society sex scandal involving the heir to the Equitable Life fortune.
President Roosevelt appears as Santa Claus gathering gifts, such as “Consulship, Ambassadorship, Secretary of Navy, Secretary of State, Governorship of Philippines” and others, to place into his bag of Christmas presents, which George B. Cortelyou is holding open. A paper in Cortelyou’s pocket is labeled “Post Master General.”
This cartoon, published at the end of November 1904, between President Roosevelt’s triumphant re-election and Christmas, relies on the fact that the Roosevelt presidency was not merely to continue, but in fact begin a new term. It was traditional for vice presidents assuming the presidency after the death of their presidents, to adhere to the policies, and retain the personnel, of their former chiefs. This tradition was often practiced in the breach, especially when simple, practical matters intervened — political exigencies; voluntary resignations of staff members; unforeseen events, for instance.
In this vignette cartoon, President Roosevelt and members of his cabinet appear at the center in a meeting. Each has a signboard advertising a patent medicine or other product on their back. Roosevelt’s says, “Strenoline The Famous Vigor Producer A De-Lightful Stimulant, Nervy Mfg. Co, Royster Bay.” Surrounding the central image are scenes showing men, animals, and statues, all with signboards, including an elephant labeled “G.O.P. The Great Tariff Comedian – Continuous Performances.”
One of cartoonist Samuel Ehrhart’s now-standard vignette cartoons in Puck, a topic of the day with variations on a theme, in this double-spread was quite standard. The single concept of advertisements encroaching on daily life is played, and stretched, most of the humor derived from puns or association with names of celebrities and professions. Since the 1880s, Puck had lampooned advertising signs on elevated trains and commercial billboards, so this cartoon focusing on sandwich boards was a variation. Present-day eyes might require details about long-forgotten issues and personalities, however.
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.
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.
At center, President Roosevelt shows Uncle Sam and Columbia a large plant with flowers showing the members of his cabinet. The surrounding vignettes show a springtime dance of putti, Alton B. Parker shoveling snow at his home in Esopus, an art gallery, Irishmen marching in the rain on Saint Patrick’s Day, a woman cleaning house by sweeping a dust cloud of policemen out the door, and Roosevelt grafting a branch labeled “Indian School Mission,” with blossom of an unidentified bishop of the Catholic Bureau of Indian Missions, onto the “Interior Dept. Tree.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1905-03-15
An old woman labeled “Miss Democracy” rides on the Democratic donkey along a dirt road labeled “Political Pike.” A banner labeled “S and S” (Safe and Sane) hangs from the donkey’s neck. In the background, the Republican elephant labeled “G.O.P.”, ridden by George B. Cortelyou, is leaning against a tree. Caption: The Elephant — Well, gee whiz! Who’d have thought it?!
Cartoonist Pughe’s depiction of the Democratic Party’s happiness, and Puck‘s own confidence, over the transformation of Populist ideology and return of conservative values, reflected facts, but the reality was short-lived as well as futile. Theodore Roosevelt’s Republican Party was moving closer to reform views first advanced by William Jennings Bryan (the Democratic presidential candidate in 1896 and 1900) and, overall, was overwhelmingly popular with citizens.
Thomas Taggart, Democratic National Committee Chairman, on the left, and George B. Cortelyou, Republican National Committee chairman, on the right, milk a cow into buckets labeled “Dem. Campaign Fund” and “Rep. Campaign Fund.” A bell labeled “Wall Street” hangs from a ribbon labeled “Trust Interests” around the cow’s neck.
Cartoonist Keppler’s caricatures of Tom Taggart and George B. Cortelyou generally reflected their gifts used in 1904 as chairmen of their national political parties.
George B. Cortelyou, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, appears as Sisyphus rolling a large boulder labeled “Majority for Roosevelt” up a steep hill.
George B. Cortelyou is one of the most neglected of the important figures in the career and accomplishments of Theodore Roosevelt. He worked for the United States Post Office and rose through the ranks until he was recommended to President Grover Cleveland to serve as his chief clerk. When William McKinley assumed the presidency in 1897 he named Cortelyou as personal secretary to the president upon the recommendation of Grover Cleveland, despite the part differences between the presidents.
A procession is pictured, led by Secretary of State John Hay cradling the Big Stick, followed by President Theodore Roosevelt and the Republican elephant wearing banners stating “World Power and Empire,” “Rooseveltism,” “High Protection,” “Prosperity,” “Open Door Treasury,” “Good Crops,” “Increased Population,” and “Fine Weather.” Collecting money from the crowd is George B. Cortelyou. Also shown are Republican leaders Elihu Root and Chauncey M. Depew, both of New York; and the journalist and campaign biographer Jacob Riiis; and Secretary Leslie M. Shaw; and plutocrats J. P. Morgan, James J. Hill, and John D. Rockefeller.
A remarkable aspect of this cartoon by Joseph Keppler Junior is that it argues little with Republican boasts in the presidential campaign of 1904. That is, it does not deny Republican boasts but largely makes fun of hyperbole. There was little doubting that there was, for instance, increased prosperity and the exercise of international power.
At center, Uncle Sam looks into a mirror while descending a stairway in a hall. “Swallow” and “Watson” are standing in the hall, holding candles. In the vignette at lower left, the presidential and vice-presidential candidates, Roosevelt, Fairbanks, Parker, and Davis, arrive in costume. On the lower right they are unmasked and engaged in a game with Columbia. On the middle left is “Bryan” as “An Old Timer,” and on the middle right “Taggart” and “Belmont” play a prank on an elderly woman with a “Bogie Man” labeled “Militarism.” At top left, bobbing for “Campaign Funds” are “Taggart, Bliss, Cortelyou, [and] Belmont,” and at top right “Odell, Shaw, [and] Hill” are “Jumping the Issues.”
Puck, a major Democratic publication, seems extremely unconcerned with the outcome of the imminent presidential election: little more than a week before balloting, its center-spread cartoon — traditionally a forum for powerful, persuasive political cartoons — instead published genre cartoons on a Halloween theme. Yes, with politicians as the characters, but more humorous than partisan. It possibly saw the writing on the wall, a massive Democratic defeat.
George B. Cortelyou turns a vice to squeeze money for Theodore Roosevelt’s campaign from a bloated man labeled “The Trusts.”
This Puck cover cartoon by Joseph Keppler Junior ran a week before the 1904 presidential election. Its simplicity is typical of this underrated cartoonist: Campaign chairman George B. Cortelyou squeezes campaign contributions on the eve of the election, and from the hated trusts, while a beaming President Roosevelt, predictably clad in Rough Rider uniform, looks on approvingly.
In a battle scene, President Roosevelt is about to make a final charge on “Fort Democracy” labeled “Peace, Constitution, [and] Prosperity.” Performing various functions in Roosevelt’s camp are “Foraker,” “Morton” spying from a balloon, “Allison” raising a flag labeled “Up with the Trusts,” “Woodruff” attending to wounded T.C. “Platt,” “Higgins” and “Odell” with cans of money from a box labeled “Groceries N.Y. State,” “Cortelyou” sharpening a sword, “Shaw” with binoculars, “Bliss” and “Fairbanks” loading a small cannon labeled “National Committee Gun,” and “Rockefeller” with a hod full of money bags labeled “Standard Shot.”
This cartoon by J. S. Pughe was the closing salvo, so to speak, in the campaign of Puck, a leading Democrat publication, in the 1904 presidential campaign. As such, it is surprisingly mild and generic. President Roosevelt is the only figure denigrated by caricature, and the cartoon shows neither the Democratic candidate, Judge Alton Brooks Parker, nor any real representation of his party’s substantive platform positions. Beyond the assertion that the Republican Party contained rich men devoted to using their wealth in an election, the crowded cartoon diverted its focus to smaller issues and controversies.
John E. Wilkie, chief of the Secret Service, has received the box and papers about Leon F. Colgosz that George B. Cortelyou sent him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-12-10
George B. Cortelyou spoke with various police and Secret Service personnel regarding President Roosevelt’s upcoming trip to new York City and Oyster Bay.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-11-03
Frank J. Price instructs President Roosevelt to read Mr. Hobbs’s letter from the 18th of November. A handwritten note from Roosevelt to his secretary, George B. Cortelyou, asks what the telegram means.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-11-20
Memorandum provides information about the tickets to the West Point-Annapolis football game that will be given to the Secret Service.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-11-29
President Roosevelt asks Secretary of State Hay to consult with Secretary of War Elihu Root and Secretary of Commerce and Labor George B. Cortelyou whether it would be advisable for Roosevelt to donate $100 to a fund for the relief of Russian Jews. A later notation shows that Root advises against a donation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-05-21
President Roosevelt instructs Postmaster General Payne to remove John W. Pettit but advises that no action should be taken regarding S. Davies Warfield until further notice. Secretary of Commerce and Labor George B. Cortelyou should be consulted on the situation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-08-19