La Follette, Robert M. (Robert Marion), 1855-1925

A “U.S. Senate” horse stands and eats cobwebs as “Senator Root,” “Senator Cummins,” “Senator Roosevelt,” “Senator Bryan,” and Wisconsin Senator Robert M. La Follete push a steam engine that produces steam labeled “umsteen horse power legislative capacity” toward the horse to hitch it up. Meanwhile, the “people” push the “old regime” — “the old family phaeton,” an old-fashioned carriage — including “Sen. Platt” and New York Senator Chauncey M. Depew, as Uncle Sam watches and chuckles in the background.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-15

John Callan O’Laughlin sees no improvement in the Republican political situation and shares his thoughts on various issues with Theodore Roosevelt. He discusses the insurgents’ relationship with President William H. Taft and his recent appointments to the Supreme Court and other administrative agencies. Taft swung around to the tariff commission plan, recognizing it as an important issue for the upcoming campaign. O’Laughlin does not think the ship subsidy bill will pass, although there is an appropriation for constructing fortifications for the Panama Canal. The national committee will not meet next month. The administration knows Taft’s renomination depends upon Roosevelt’s approval or his refusal to be nominated. The Japan question is “muddled,” and there are various “pin pricks which cannot but be harmful” to the countries’ relationship. O’Laughlin disagrees with Senator Henry Cabot Lodge about Senator William Lorimer’s case and asks Roosevelt for a statement on the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-12-31

Creator(s)

O'Laughlin, John Callan, 1873-1949

An examination of contenders for the 1908 Republican presidential nominee, including a number of “favorite sons” and President Roosevelt, who has said he will not run again. However, popular opinion is strong for a “second elected term,” and Roosevelt does not have the right to select who will be president – only the people, who want him to carry on his unfinished work, can decide.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-13

Creator(s)

Unknown

Secretary of War William H. Taft seemed to be the frontrunner for the Republican nomination for president, but his candidacy is losing support. Even thought President Roosevelt supports him, and he is personally popular with the public, he is a poor campaigner and is losing ground in several states to other politicians, including Roosevelt himself, whom some support for a second elected term.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-21

Creator(s)

Unknown

The Kentucky Republican State Convention has resolved to select a candidate who is in full accord with President Roosevelt’s policies at the Republican National Convention. Rather than a Roosevelt supporter, republicans should nominate Roosevelt himself.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-21

Creator(s)

Unknown

In anticipation of Assistant Postmaster General Frank H. Hitchcock making a visit to President Roosevelt at Oyster Bay, William H. Taft reports a recent conversation a third party had with Hitchcock. The latter expressed his intent to oppose Taft’s nomination for the presidency and to press for President Roosevelt to run for a third term. Hitchcock believes that Taft has made an unfavorable impression on a number of important figures in the Midwest. Taft implies that Hitchcock’s views might be influenced by those of Winthrop Murray Crane.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-29

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

An exemplary ballot of the Republican Party for the presidential primary of April 30, 1912, issued by the Taft League of Massachusetts. The ballot includes names of candidates as well as instructions for casting a vote.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation

Creation Date

1912-04-30

Creator(s)

Unknown

The round celluloid campaign pin depicts Theodore Roosevelt on the left and Robert M. La Follette on the right. The pin contains colorized scrolled decoration and the American shield around the images. The reverse side has a paper label from The Whitehead & Hoag Co.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site

Creation Date

1904

Creator(s)

Whitehead & Hoag Co.

Theodore Roosevelt acknowledges Robert Harry Munro Ferguson’s letter to Kermit Roosevelt. He praises Ferguson’s “extraordinary gift of expression.” Roosevelt is having a difficult time and feels that he cannot “shirk leadership” even though he does not expect to win the Republican nomination. He hopes to bring together the two Republican factions under “decent leadership.”

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1912-03-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt, with a bag emblazoned “Dr. T.R.” speaks to the large figure of Uncle Sam while Robert M. La Follette looks on through a window. Roosevelt says to Uncle Sam, “You’re a very sick man. I’m the only one that can help you,” while La Follette protests, “Quack! That’s all!”

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1912-08-06

A group of men, scoffers, labeled “Tillman, Elkins, Penrose, Crane, Lodge, Depew, Gallinger, Aldrich, [and] Sherman” watch four men labeled “Cummins, Dolliver, Gore, [and] La Follette” construct an ark labeled “Principle.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1909-07-28

Creator(s)

Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956

Theodore Roosevelt praises the Armed Forces and veterans of the Civil War. He also praises Father Edward Vattmann and other speakers of the evening as proud examples of loyal Americans with German ancestry. He calls for all of the various ethnic groups in America to come together under one language and one flag and condemns pacifists and anti-war politicians like Senator Robert M. La Follette. Roosevelt says all able-bodied men should join the fight and that America needs to be better prepared for war in the future.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-09-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt speaks out about “the Hun within our gates”, or German Americans he says are helping Germany from within the United States. Roosevelt says the term Hun was attributed to the German forces by William II himself and that it matches the atrocities committed by the German military in Europe and Asia. He gives examples of the Huns within our gates, particularly pacifists, and compares them to the “Copperheads” of the Civil War era. He calls for all Americans, regardless of ethnic origins, to unite under one flag and one language.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-09-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Handwritten draft of Theodore Roosevelt’s lecture at Princeton. Roosevelt compares the ethics of a nation to ethics on an individual level. He calls for a balance between taking care of oneself (or nation) and paying one’s duty to others (at an international level). He points to Germany’s actions during the first World War as an extreme example of caring only for the individual. Roosevelt discusses the current state of the American military and the war with Germany, including reports from the government and newspapers. He presents a list of America’s shortcomings in not being prepared for the war and advises the young university men to learn from the lessons of the past and become leaders in the future.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-11-16

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

In his lecture at Princeton, Theodore Roosevelt compares the ethics of a nation to ethics on an individual level. He calls for a balance between taking care of oneself (or nation) and paying one’s duty to others (at an international level). He points to Germany’s actions during the first World War as an extreme example of caring only for the individual. Roosevelt discusses the current state of the American military and the war with Germany, including reports from the government and newspapers. He presents a list of America’s shortcomings in not being prepared for the war and advises the young university men to learn from the lessons of the past and become leaders in the future.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-11-16

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Supporters of a “Square Tariff Deal,” carried in an ark by “Folk, Clark, Gore, Harmon, [and] Beveridge,” march on Jericho, blowing ram-horns labeled “The Voice of the People” causing the walls of Jericho labeled “Graft Tariff” and “Standpat Republicanism” to crumble. Among those marching are “Bacon, Borah, Bristow, Clapp, Dolliver, La Follette, [and] Wilson” and on horseback “Cummins.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1910-10-05

Creator(s)

Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956

On the left is Theodore Roosevelt, hand resting on a sledgehammer labeled “My Policies,” standing at the entrance to his shop “T. Roosevelt Horseshoer & Wheelwright” with “Dr. Abbott” at his side. A sign on the wall states, “Autos, Air-ships & Bicycles Repaired.” Road signs labeled “Republican Turnpike” are pointing into the background. At center and right is a jumble of ruined vehicles. A small wagon labeled “Direct Primaries” is being pulled in opposite directions by “Gov. Hughes” and “Wadsworth.” “Beveridge” gestures toward a wagon labeled “Indiana Campaign” that has lost a wheel. President Taft is driving a sulky labeled “Aldrich Tariff,” drawn by the Republican elephant, that has lost the rim to one wheel. A woman labeled “Woman’s Suffrage” is holding a bicycle with damaged tires. “La Follette” is pointing to the foot of a horse labeled “Wisconsin Campaign.” “Parsons” and “Woodruff” are in an automobile that has had an accident, while “Murdock” appears to be kicking one of the tires. An airplane labeled “Conservation,” with “Pinchot” and “Garfield” on board, has crashed into a tree labeled “Ballinger.” Also in the mix is a man labeled “Poindexter,” and in the background is “Penrose” walking away from an automobile accident labeled “Pennsylvania.” In the lower left corner is the shadow of the Democratic donkey.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1910-08-03

Creator(s)

Glackens, L. M. (Louis M.), 1866-1933

President William H. Taft speaks from the back of a railroad caboose to a large crowd of skeptical mid-westerners that also includes Jonathan P. Dolliver, Robert M. La Follette, and Albert Baird Cummins. One man is holding a sign that states, “We’re from Missouri also Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska, Dakota & Iowa. Show us!” Taft is holding papers behind his back that state, “Notes for speech how new tariff will benefit the West.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1909-09-15

Creator(s)

Glackens, L. M. (Louis M.), 1866-1933

President Taft, as a railroad brakeman, stands atop a freight car labeled “Administration Route.” He is waving to a woman labeled “Reactionary Politics” driving an automobile. The train is headed for a tunnel labeled “Revolt of the West.” Above the train is a bar labeled “Insurgent Movement” from which strips of rope are hanging, labeled “Burkett, Beveridge, Brown, Nelson, Clapp, Cummins, Dolliver, Bristow, [and] La Follette,” an insurgent group of senators who broke with Taft’s policies. Includes note: “A telltale is a bar to which strips of leather or rope are attached to warn brakemen on freight trains when they are approaching a bridge or a tunnel.” Caption: But there is still time to duck.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1909-11-17

Creator(s)

Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956

President Taft struggles to conduct an orchestra composed of two groups of musicians. On the left, playing the “Eastern Conservatism” on stringed instruments, are “Root, Crane, Smoot, Depew, Aldrich, [and] Gallinger.” On the right, playing the “Western Conservatism” on horns and percussion instruments, are “Knute Nelson, Dolliver, Cummins, Clapp, Bristow, [and] La Follette.” Caption: Pity the poor leader of the Washington Symphony Orchestra.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1909-12-22