Hot air balloons

President Roosevelt hangs from a hot air balloon “The 25th Regiment Affair” and holds onto a big stick labeled, “Prestige.” The U.S. Capitol building and Washington Monument can be seen on the ground. Caption: I’d let go of this Blamed thing, but I might break my “Big Stick.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

Cartoonist G. T. Hayward, in an awkward amalgam of icons and symbols, portrays the famed “Big Stick” of President Roosevelt as a cartoon prop signifying prestige rather than the routine attributes of power and persuasion.

A “beef trust” pumps “rotten ram” air into a “packers meat inspection bill” hot air balloon. New York Representative James Wolcott Wadsworth sits in an “immunity bath” basket. President Roosevelt looks on. Caption: Resident of the White House: “I tell you your flying machine can’t get through. . .”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-16

A photograph of Theodore Roosevelt Jr. (in checked cap) about to make a balloon ascension. On his left is Captain Fitzhugh Lee. The photograph was from Leslie’s Weekly.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1908

A large hot air balloon with Theodore Roosevelt’s face flies a banner of “Republican Congressional Candidates” and carries a basket overflowing with election hopefuls (and a small conventional balloon labeled “Cannon’s Boom,” referring to a short-lived effort to have Joseph Gurney Cannon contest the 1908 presidential nomination. On the ground, Samuel Gompers is using a sling-shot in an effort to shoot down the balloon.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Campaigns for the presidency and seats in Congress were much, perhaps mercifully, shorter in the Roosevelt Era. The cartoon by Udo J. Keppler marks the October commencement of the elections in November.

Theodore Roosevelt, dressed as a Rough Rider, rides an air balloon, followed by his fellow rough riders similarly airborne. Caption: President Roosevelt tells Santos-Dumont at the White House that he might accompany him in an ascension.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-04-17

Postcard showing an overhead view of the Palace of Versailles, its grounds with twelve fountains, and the city of Versailles. Charles C. Myers notes that the view is as seen from an air balloon.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Here is a magnificent view of the gardens and palace as seen from a balloon, showing 14 of the flowing fountains. To the left you can see the open air theatre within the collanades [sic] of marble. You can also see much of the marble statuary scattered around the gardens. In the center is the palace and the city beyond.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Postcard showing a panoramic view of several bridges on the Seine River in Paris. According to Charles C. Myers, the photograph was taken from a hot air balloon, which is a popular way to see panoramic views of the city. Myers notes another hot air balloon and the Pont Alexander III in the distance as well as trees and parkways along the river.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Balloon riding is quite a fashion in Paris and also s [sic] pleasure. Excellent views of the city may be had from a balloon on a clear day and good panorama views may be taken from balloon. This picture was taken in that way and you can also see in the distant [sic] another balloon that perhaps has a party of tourists seeing the city. This gives a good view of the Sein [sic] river and part of the city. You also see in the distand [sic], with statuary at either end, the noted bridge built by Alexander 3rd. We will see a closer view of this bridge later. Also see that there are parkways and shade trees along thr [sic] river banks.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

Postcard showing an aerial view of the Arc de Triomphe and the surrounding streets, as seen from a hot air balloon. The twelve streets radiate from the arch in a star pattern. Charles C. Myers notes the arch is a notable point of reference for people traveling in the city, especially while using the subway system.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Paris is noted for having the finest driveways and boulevards in the world. Here is a picture taken from a balloon and showing the streets of the city and how they radiate from the Triumphal Arch as a center.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

President Roosevelt tries to fill a Republican elephant hot air balloon with a basket labeled “Roosevelt’s presidential boom” with “hot air,” but Ohio Senator Marcus Alonzo Hanna steps on the pipe.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-12-10

An “Ohio G.O.P.” elephant rejoices as it sees a hot air balloon with Ohio Senator Marcus Alonzo Hanna’s face filled up by the “presidential main” pipe line but a hot air balloon with President Roosevelt’s face deflated.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-12-15

“The Roosevelt Bears Leaving the Balloon” is number 7 in a series of postcards depicting scenes from Seymour Eaton’s “Roosevelt Bears” books. Message written on front: “A white bear, did you say?”

Collection

Fritz R. Gordner Collection

Creation Date

1906-11-24

Joseph B. Foraker holds a hot air balloon fashioned from shirts stitched together and labeled “Bloody Shirt” with the initials “J. G. B.” for James G. Blaine. John Sherman leans over a small pot labeled “Sectional Hatred” that is fastened to the bottom of the balloon (the basket and anchor has been discarded in the background), attempting to generate enough hot air to get the balloon off the ground by using a bellows labeled “Stump Speeches” to fan a fire in the pot. A notice pasted on a fence on the right states “John Sherman’s Mt. Gilead Speech.” A portion of the text states, “The Solid South, held together in political fellowship by crimes, violence and fraud.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1885-09-02