Eclipses

Uncle Sam looks up at the sky and sees several eclipses: a “partial eclipse in New York” with Charles Evans Hughes, a “partial eclipse in Penns.” with Philander C. Knox, a “partial eclipse in Wisconsin” with Robert M. La Follette, a “partial eclipse in Indiana” with Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks, a “partial eclipse in Illinois” with Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon, a “total eclipse in Chicago,” and a “partial eclipse in Ohio” with William H. Taft. “My world” with President Roosevelt is about to overshadow Taft.

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Comments and Context

Things were looking up in 1908. . .or at least people were looking up to the heavens. An unusually high number of solar and lunar eclipses were due that year, and the spectacular once-in-a-lifetime Halley’s Comet was due to brighten the skies in 1910. All were matters of public discussion and newspaper feature stories.

President Roosevelt watches as Russian Emperor Nicholas II and Japanese Emperor Meiji shake hands. Nicholas II says, “Oh joyski,” while Meiji says, “Banzai.” In the background, “France,” John Bull, Russian General N. P. Linevich, and Japanese Field Marshal Iwao Ōyama cheer. Linevich says, “Have a vodka with me, my dear Ōyama,” while Ōyama says, “No, this is on me, general.” Roosevelt says, “Bless you, my peaceful children, de-lighted,” as a large Roosevelt face eclipses the “war” sun.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-08-30

The sun, with Theodore Roosevelt’s beaming face, is partially covered by smaller planets having the faces of Elihu Root, William H. Taft, and Charles W. Fairbanks. Other “planets” in the background include Leslie M. Shaw, Joseph Benson Foraker, and another that is unidentified. Caption: Political astronomers are watching some aspiring planetoids.

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Comments and Context

For working political cartoonists, the shortest and happiest lines between two points occurs when the points are a current-event piece of news, and a political situation pleading to be described. Such was the case in this Puck cover cartoon by Joseph Keppler, Junior, when the public anticipated the sun being blotted out by the moon, and the (forever inevitable) discussion about the upcoming presidential contest.

New York’s Appeal Judge Alton B. Parker as the sun labeled “Sane Democracy” emerges from behind William Jennings Bryan as the moon labeled “Bryanism.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

Still two months from the Democratic National Convention, Puck engaged in wishful thinking — albeit with changing political winds on its side — as it depicted New York State Appeals Court Judge Alton B. Parker as the bright and shining alternative to William Jennings Bryan. The conservative jurist became the party’s presidential nominee at the St. Louis convention. He resigned from the bench, and lost the election to President Roosevelt by an unprecedented margin.

President Roosevelt holds up “the big stick” and looks into “the G.O.P. strenuous telescope” as he sees a “2nd term” shooting star pass a “Democratic eclipse.” There is a broken “1st term” star on the ground and a paper that reads, “Explanations of all the mysteries for the universe by T. Roosevelt.” Charles W. Fairbanks is in the background saying, “Give somebody else a chance.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09