Democratic donkey (Symbolic character)

President Roosevelt tries to get a car labeled “Congress” to start with Uncle Sam, in the back seat, holding “needed legislation” and “urgent legislation” in his hands. A happy Democratic donkey looks on.

comments and context

Comments and Context

History knows that the volatile Theodore Roosevelt — quick both to anger and mirth — seldom cursed; and virtually never drank spirits (confirmed in a libel suit he filed) — but his emotions seemed always on display. Jay N. “Ding” Darling’s cartoon shows one attitude that was reflected in Roosevelt’s speeches and quotations; in articles and books; in letters and conversations: his frustrations with Congress.

President Roosevelt holds a large document labeled “Roosevelt policies” as an elephant sits against a tree in the background. House Minority Leader John Sharp Williams holds a donkey and says, “If you mount isn’t on the job, try mine.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

The day after a major message was transmitted to Congress by President Roosevelt, the Democrats’ leader in the House of Representatives endorsed “most” of Roosevelt’s legislative proposals. Representative John Sharp Williams of Mississippi accurately is pictured in Clifford Kennedy Berryman’s cartoon (the suggestion that the president would switch parties is cartoonists’ license); and a major story on this same day addressed Williams’ admiration of the president’s program.

President Roosevelt and William Jennings Bryan sit in an “our policies” wagon with boxes labeled “speeches W. J. B.” and “messages T. R.” The wagon is drawn by an elephant and a donkey. In a much smaller wagon, Arkansas Senator Jeff Davis is riding in “the inspirer” wagon drawn by a dog. He says, “Hooray!”

comments and context

Comments and Context

Cartoonist Joseph Harry Cunningham looked ahead to the 1908 presidential nominating conventions and elections with the observation that President Roosevelt (who had declaimed interest in succeeding himself) and twice-defeated Democratic candidate William Jennings Bryan shared increasingly similar views on some issues. The observation was not rare among cartoonists, but the amity depicted between the two men was certainly exaggerated.

President Roosevelt drives a chariot with the Republican elephant and Democratic donkey while William Jennings Bryan stands by the side in a clown outfit with whip that says “govt ownership” and “16 to 1” on the end.

comments and context

Comments and Context

This drawing, probably by Kirk Russell, the Washington Post’s interim cartoonist after departure of Clifford Kennedy Berryman, addresses a topic much on the minds of politicians and pens of editorialists and cartoonists in 1907: the appeal that President Roosevelt held with portions of the national Democratic constituency.

“Democratic Ruth” looks at President Roosevelt labeled, “The Republican Boaz” who pushes a shredder attached to a tractor labeled “G.O.P.” in the “Democratic stubble-field.” In the shredder are “issues,” while in the background is a donkey that says, “Hurry Ruth. I’m starving.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

Political cartoons usually are reliable and gifted windows to the past, as illuminating to students of later times as to contemporary readers. But occasionally, as windows, they are closed, or of dark glass through which one cannot see clearly. This cartoon by Kirk L. Russell is one such example, poor in theme (an Old Testament analogy, from the book of Ruth) and execution.

President Roosevelt shakes the hand of a Republican elephant dressed up in a tuxedo as he says, “De-lighted!” A donkey labeled “Democracy” sweats as it says, “Well, it’s all up with me again!”

comments and context

Comments and Context

Clifford Kennedy Berryman’s cartoons usually specialized in depicting current events rather than advocating policy positions or attempting to persuade readers. As such he routinely was called, or in later years recalled, as “amiable.” In fact, despite his invariable political subjects, he was more of an editorial cartoonist than a political cartoonist.

A “rate bill” man with a locomotive head leaps over a Republican elephant and a donkey ridden by South Carolina Senator Benjamin R. Tillman, dressed as a circus clown. President Roosevelt stands in front of a pillow while Uncle Sam looks on.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-04

President Roosevelt and a Democratic donkey are yoked together with the “railroad rate bill” in a coat of arms that has a “big stick” and a pitchfork up at the top. The phrase at the bottom of the coat of arms reads, “The tie that binds.” Caption: They unite for a common cause.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-01

President Roosevelt looks at South Carolina Senator Benjamin R. Tillman holding a “R. R. rates bill” and a pitchfork standing beside Dame Democracy riding on a donkey. Caption: By turning the bill over to Senator Tillman it really becomes a Democratic measure.—News item.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02

South Carolina Benjamin R. Tillman holds a pitchfork and rides down “Pennsylvania Avenue” on a donkey toward the White House where President Roosevelt hides.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-20

President Roosevelt participates in a variety of events at the circus, including taming “political lions” to riding “trust” bulls to flying on a trapeze to juggling to directing the Republican elephant.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12

President Roosevelt rides a Democratic donkey pulled by a member of the “Iroquois Democratic Club” as crowds cheer. There are illustrations of Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Grover Cleveland, and William Jennings Bryan in the background.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-12

President Roosevelt sits at a table with an elephant and a donkey playing cards. Roosevelt hands one card to the elephant, which is sweating. On the wall is a sign that reads, “The square-deal club.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-12

A Republican elephant sweats as he tries to remove a “senatorial opposition” rock in front of the “R.R. Rebate Special” train driven by President Roosevelt. A cow labeled “beef trust” is upside down with an arrow through its stomach while the donkey on the train says, “Get busy, Bolivar!”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-12

President Roosevelt holds up a “rebate bill” to a Republican elephant. A Democratic donkey looks on and says, “That’s a good thing.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-10

In one vignette, Henry Gassaway Davis puts his hand on West Virginia Senator Stephen B. Elkins’s shoulder. Caption: Mr. Davis—That it’s all in the family. In the second, an elephant holds President Roosevelt’s hold “to victory.” Caption: G.O.P.—That it had a strenuous leader. In the third, William Jennings Bryan sits by a grave with a headstone that reads, “Safe & Sane Democrat 1904.” Caption: Mr. Bryan—That it wasn’t his friends. In the fourth, Missouri Senator Francis Marion Cockrell stands by “national esteem” wreaths outside the “White House.” Caption: Mr. Cockrell—That it’s an ill wind, etc. In the fifth, Henry Watterson sits in a rocking chair on a boat bound for Europe. Caption: Mr. Watterson—That there’s another country. In the sixth, a badly beaten donkey stands up by a sign that reads, “Under no circumstances will I again be a candidate for the presidency. T. Roosevelt.” Caption: Democracy—That there’s a ray of sunshine.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-24

Thomas E. Watson, William Randolph Hearst, and William Jennings Bryan push a wagon full of bricks—”free silver,” “government ownership,” “anti-imperialism,” and “populism”—on a rocky road. It is driven by a donkey that sits down and says, “I must sit down on this push.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-27

An “independent voter” pats President Roosevelt on the shoulder as Alton B. Parker looks on. In the background is an elephant, a donkey, and a barn with a sign that reads, “Wanted: a manager for this farm—four years—10 salary—independent voter.” Caption: Independent voter selects a manager for Uncle Sam’s farm for the next four years.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-12

In the first vignette, Alton B. Parker knocks on the door of August Belmont. Caption: Mr. Parker—”Did I understand that there was a $50,000 job vacant around here?” In the second, Henry Gassaway Davis holds a large money barrel while President Roosevelt walks away with West Virginia woman. Caption: At last reports Uncle Henry Davis was still holding his own. In the third, “Dr. Bryan,” “Dr. Hearst,” and “Dr. Watson” all attempt to doctor a bandaged Democratic donkey. Caption: The Doctors—”Cheer up, we’ll begin work on you again.” In the fourth vignette, William Preston Harrison walks from the “West Side” to the “North Side.” Caption: William Preston Harrison leaves from again. In the fifth, Parker stands beside William H. Douglas who holds a sign with a shoe on it that reads, “It pays to advertise.” In the sixth, Chicago Mayor Carter H. Harrison stares at a sign that reads, “Wisconsin for Roosevelt . . . 50,000—Illinois for Roosevelt . . . 230,000—Indiana for Roosevelt . . . 60,000.” Caption: The states he promised Parker.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-10

In one vignette, David B. Hill jumps into a “Wolfert’s Roost” tree with a sign that reads, “I really couldn’t wait until Jan. 1.” In the second, “the silent voter” sphinx shouts, “Roosevelt!” from a megaphone as Alton B. Parker runs away. In a third vignette, Chair of the Republican National Committee George B. Cortelyou tells Chair of the Democratic National Committee Thomas Taggart, “Kindly make allowances for me, Tom, as this was my first campaign.” In the fourth, President Roosevelt looks at a Republican elephant who holds a scroll that reads, “339 + electoral votes.” The elephant says, “Theodore, you’ve established a hard record for me to keep up with.” In the fifth, Henry Gassaway Davis opens a fence as West Virginia Senator Stephen B. Elkins rushes toward him and says, “Welcome home, pop!” In the sixth, Williams Jennings Bryan looks at a piecemeal donkey and says, “I guess there’s enough to work on.” In the seventh, “Southern democracy” looks at the shoes of “Northern democracy” stuck in a snowdrift and says, “Nothin’ but de feet!” In the eighth, Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon looks through binoculars and says, “Wanted! A few minority members for House committees.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-13