Your TR Source
George Gardner Rockwood shares an amusing anecdote with Theodore Roosevelt about George W. Perkins’ stenographer’s quip of “and Teddy did it” in response to “honesty is the policy.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-11
George Heber Jones relays for David Thompson a conversation he had with Prince Itō Hirobumi, the Japanese Resident General of Korea, wherein the Prince praised President Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-01
Nicholas Murray Butler notes that President Roosevelt was correct in his assessment of matters concerning Maksim Gorky and that there is “clearly” a “break-up of all order and restraint” going on in Russia. Butler also excitedly tells of “some most astonishing things” going on in Kassel, Germany, in relation to Herman Ridder of the Staats-Zeitung. After struggling for an imperial audience with Kaiser Wilhelm II, Ridder was helped by American ambassador Charlemagne Tower to get access. However, when Ridder arrived and did not see as much of the Kaiser as he would have liked, Ridder fabricated a story about his visit and what the Kaiser told him, which was printed in the papers. Butler shares the press statement from the Palace, which reacted by contradicting Ridder’s claims. Butler is excited to see what the American papers will publish in relation to the incident since Ridder telegraphed his own story to America.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-23
John A. Sleicher believes that President Roosevelt has called attention to the presence of graft everywhere. He hopes that the President’s next message will focus on honesty and economy in public service.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-07-21
Alton B. Parker uses a “courage” and “honor” gavel to hold down a “St. Louis telegram” on a cannon. Meanwhile, President Roosevelt holds a string to pull the trigger on a “Republican campaign gun” to which Dame Democracy is tied by a rope.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-13
On the left side of this cartoon, President Roosevelt carries a large “public interests” scroll on his back as he walks up stairs: “courage—Monroe Doctrine upheld,” “opposition to graft—regulation of trusts,” “Cuban freedom—Northern Securities decision,” “honesty in the public service,” “Cuban reciprocity,” “Panama Canal,” “justice for capital and labor,” and “patriotic purposes.” Caption: The Roosevelt as real history will picture him. On the right side of this cartoon, Roosevelt holds a sword in his teeth and rides a horse, leaving men labeled “trust,” “Cuban,” and “Filipino” on the ground. He drags “Panama” by a rope. Caption: The Roosevelt as the demagogues now paint him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-04
Uncle Sam uses a shovel labeled “for an isthmian canal (anyplace)” to disrupt a card game with bribes, grafts, and dishonesty between “Nicaragua” and “Panama.” Caption: Uncle Sam—Excuse me, gentlemen; spades are trumps.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-11
President Roosevelt watches Uncle Sam hold a rifle pointed toward the rats–dishonest post office officials–going after the money bags in the “U. S. Post Office Department” crib. The White House is in the background. Caption: “Glad to see you, Teddy. Get your gun and we’ll clean out this crib.” A handwritten note is also included: “Teddy, call Jno. R. McLean & McBride as to lottery in Cin Enquirer. it will keep you busy.”
Elmer Andrews Bushnell’s political cartoon is notable for several reason, including the artist’s style; the explication of a burgeoning Post Office scandal that threatened to scandalize the administration; and the handwritten note on the clipping pasted in the White House scrapbook.
President Roosevelt looks over a fence covering his mouth and nose, as Postmaster General Henry C. Payne stirs a pot of soup labeled “Post Office Department” with a stick labeled “Investigation.” Steaming out of the pot are “Foul Oders,” “Postoffice Scandal,” “Corruption,” “Dishonesty,” and “Fraud.” Caption: “Say, Payne, don’t stir that pot any more than necessary. I’m afraid the odor might undermine my political health.”
This amateurish cartoon in the Nashville News — which would in 1906 become a paper in the growing Scripps-McRae chain — nevertheless carried water for the Democrat refrain that perennial Post Office corruption was inherited by President Roosevelt’s new administration, which it was; and that Roosevelt would try to conceal it, which he did not. In fact Post Office reforms were vigorously carried out, earning the praise of Democrats and such Democrat journals as Puck; and were touted as triumphs of his presidency when he ran for reelection in 1904.
President Roosevelt wears a cape and holds a mirror and a candle. In front of him is a “muckrake.”
After the 1908 election, it seemed that some Democratic cartoonists could not let go of attacking President Roosevelt, even as the challenges facing President-Elect William H. Taft and other topics loomed. This cartoon, mocking Roosevelt as a modern Diogenes in search of an honest man, almost seems ad hominem.
“H. Giveaway Davis” holds a “Western Union telegram” that reads, “Democratic National Convention.” Meanwhile, President Roosevelt stands by a wall that reads, “sound finances—honesty in public service—courage to do right—protection to American labor—respect for the flag at home & abroad—fair play for capital and labor—punishment for every grafter.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-24
In this speech, President Roosevelt declares the good citizen does his duty and is not a mere idler. The watchwords of Americans ought to be honesty, decency, and common sense.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-09-07
This newspaper article suggests that West Virginia State Senator Charles W. Swisher has used dishonest means in the governorship campaign and has received delegates through questionable methods. The writer of the article believes that events in West Virginia are reminiscent of Russia and should be stopped.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908
Draft of a speech President Roosevelt will deliver to the school founded by Reverend Dwight L. Moody. President Roosevelt develops his remarks around the biblical verses, “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22), and “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11). He discusses the importance of righteousness in developing young men into good American citizens. Roosevelt urges the necessity of both virtue, to know what is right, and strength, to make it effective, to bring about good in the world.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-08
President Roosevelt greets a crowd in Abilene. He discusses his past travels through Kansas. He calls for his listeners to demonstrate two sets of character qualities. The first includes decency, honesty, and a sense of fair dealing. The second is the “virile, manly virtues,” the power to put good intentions into effect.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-05-02
President Roosevelt emphasizes points made by Harry Pratt Judson (earlier that day) on the foundation for greatness and the importance of universities. He also speaks about “the aim of the production of citizenship” and morality. Roosevelt also remarks on the win of 1876, the Civil War, Lincoln, and ordinary men.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-04-02
William McKinley holds an axe behind his back labeled “McKinley Act” and points to a cherry tree labeled “American Industries” that has been chopped down. He tells Uncle Sam that Grover Cleveland did it. Caption: Truthful Bill–I can not tell a lie, Uncle – Grover did it.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1894-02-21
Newspaper editor Whitelaw Reid sits at a desk, writing editorials condemning the Democrats for the Wilson Tariff Bill, expressing such “Copy for the Tribune” as “The Wilson Bill is meant to increase wages in England and lower them in America!!”, “The country on the eve of fearful financial disaster!! – All caused by the Wicked Democrats,” and “Awful programme of destructive legislation!!!! – Democrats bent on ruining the country.” Three ghosts labeled “The Oldest Inhabitant, Falstaff, [and] Baron Munchhausen,” looking indignant, are standing in the background. Caption: Eminent “Story-Tellers” of Fiction–We thought we were unapproachable in our line; – but we’re nowhere alongside of him!
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1894-01-17
At center, George Washington is being questioned about cutting down a cherry tree. Vignettes around him show Washington as a lover, a joke writer, a lawyer, a preacher, a street vendor selling food, a husband arriving home late and drunk, a friend, and a newspaper editor. In each vignette Washington strives to “Always Tell the Truth,” which in all situations fails him. He has no clients, no parishioners, no sales, and is about to be sued for “Libel.” He is not likely to sell any jokes, get a date, or mollify an angry wife.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1898-02-23
Émile Zola, as a bullfighter holding a cape labeled “La Vérité” and a quill pen labeled “Zola,” faces a charging bull that is wearing a phrygian cap labeled “France” and has been stabbed in the back of the neck with a banderilla labeled “La Débâcle.” After a military investigation and trial acquitted Ferdinand Esterhazy of treason, placing the guilt on Alfred Dreyfus, Zola published an open letter to the president of France demanding that the truth be made known and that the miscarriage of justice, “La Débâcle,” that has come to be known as the Dreyfus Affair, be corrected.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1898-02-16