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Speaker Herbert F. Baker, Representative Frank Knox, and members of the Michigan House of Representatives have agreed upon a tentative list of members of the house steering committee. The committee aims to determine which pending legislation should move forward before the session closes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-01
Oklahoma Governor Cruce recently signed the bill creating a state board of education, accompanied by a number of prominent Oklahoma citizens. Cruce regards the bill as the most important piece of legislation passed since Oklahoma attained statehood. He has already received a large number of applications for places on the board, but is not expected to make any appointments in the current week.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03
This note, enclosed in a letter from Assistant to the Attorney General Purdy to President Roosevelt, details a recent case in a Kentucky federal court that declared the 1898 Congressional Arbitration Act unconstitutional. This court should have not been able to declare its unconstitutionality, and Congress should pass a law that allows the U. S. Government to appeal criminal cases like this.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-07
President Roosevelt carries two logs—labeled “financial legislation”—towards Washington, D.C., and a special session of Congress. Pinned on the logs is the note, “hewn at Oyster Bay.” Already stacked near the Capitol building are other logs that read, “Cuban Reciprocity” and “Canal.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-09-28
President Roosevelt holds a book of “Jungle Stories” and watches two boys–“Japanese” and “Californians”–stick out their tongues at one another while sitting in a “California Legislature” bed with “anti-Japanese legislation” covers. Roosevelt says, “Stop it, I say, stop it!”
At the end of President Roosevelt’s administration, anti-Japanese sentiment, never completely quieted, flared up in California. Two years earlier Roosevelt exerted enormous pressure and much time — diplomacy with the offended Japanese government and cajoling of California officials — to address the problems. Some Americans resented the pressure on jobs and the economy caused by Japanese labor; and nativist prejudice was involved as well. In some districts Japanese children were forbidden to enroll in public schools. In Japan there arose riots and protests against American residents.
President Roosevelt tries to place as many of his fingers on the switchboard: “arbitration,” “spelling,” “nature fakirs,” “national resources,” “railroads,” “GOP,” “foreign relations,” “Navy,” “Army,” “Taft,” and “business.” His left foot is has just hit the “our colonies” bell and his right foot is on the “legislation” lever. Roosevelt says, “I said no!” A handwritten addition reads, “Keep up the good work! You are doing all right.”
Many cartoonists drew many cartoons during Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency and lifetime about his “strenuous life” — but, they drew more about his catholicity of interests, his fervid activities, his range and mastery of different subjects, his remarkable memory, grasp of issues, and foresight in determining how to act. All manner of observers marveled at Roosevelt’s mature hyperactivity, whether in intellectual pursuits, politics, or leisure; and cartoonists always had a ready-made topic awaiting them on slow days in the newsroom.
President Roosevelt holds up his “latest message showing how Congress has fallen down on much needed and much promised legislation!” to Uncle Sam–“The Country.” An old man labeled “Congress” says “Oh! Yaw-w-w-ah! Now Theodore–surely–not another one!–Heavens, man! How you bore me!!” Caption: Roosevelt–“Oh, very well! I guess the country will be interested!”
Albert Wilbur Steele was a pedestrian cartoonist whose reputation was enhanced by a few of his political cartoons about Theodore Roosevelt being reprinted as illustrations in history books. Therefore his legacy outshone his work; or perhaps he benefitted from drawing in Denver, one of the most fiercely competitive newspaper cities of his day.
President Roosevelt holds a “bill providing for two battleships” as the “Senate” says, “Only two!” Roosevelt replies, “Two every year, tho!”
Budget priorities were a continual point of friction between President Roosevelt and the United States Senate. The disagreements were about more than financial allocations for some issues like conservation — the establishment of national parks, game reserves, bird sanctuaries, and monuments. The very concept of protecting natural resources and wildlife sparked conflict.
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.
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.
A man labeled “59th Congress” sits on a trunk of “Dead Bills.” In the foreground is a book, “Record of Things I Should Have Done.” On the left is a teddy bear with a net looking at a “lame duck” saying, “My meat!” On the right is a “Dep’t Clerk” reading a paper, “U.S. Report–Great Era of Prosperity–Everybody in it But…” Meanwhile, President Roosevelt tells Uncle Sam, “I’m deeply interested in that trunk!” and Uncle Sam replies, “Me too!”
Clifford Kennedy Berryman had transferred from the Washington Post across the District to the Evening Star only months before this cartoon was published, and it seemed to coincide with the cartoonist’s improvements as a caricaturist and conceptualist. Historically, however, the cartoon mischaracterizes the accomplishments of the 59th Congress, which was about to adjourn.
President Roosevelt standing beside a teddy bear watches two men (the “Senate” and the “House”) wrestle for a football: “legislation.”
President Roosevelt was at this time renewing his crusade for safer college football that would promulgate sets of rules, field parameters, and better protective gear, all in his continuing effort to save the sport. He was successful; under his urging, the National Collegiate Athletic Association was established in 1906.
President Roosevelt puts a “substitute bill” in a suitcase as a “beef trust” hand sneaks a similar looking “Beveridge bill” suitcase into the room through a secret door. The “big stick” leans up against a desk.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-16
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-02
A number of men are in a “railroad rate bill” train car, including President Roosevelt, Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon, South Carolina Senator Benjamin R. Tillman, West Virginia Senator Stephen B. Elkins, Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker, Iowa Senator Jonathan P. Dolliver, Pennsylvania Senator Philander C. Knox, Texas Senator Joseph W. Bailey, Rhode Island Senator Nelson W. Aldrich, and Wisconsin Senator John C. Spooner. Some of them hold “amendment” cards. Caption: Engineer Roosevelt—”Who’s running this train, anyhow?”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-24
President Roosevelt walks away from the “White House” holding the “big stick” with a “Hepburn rate bill” on the end of it. South Carolina Senator Benjamin R. Tillman holds the bottom of the big stick.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01
A “trusts” man with a “R.R. Rebates interests” paper in his back pocket rides Uncle Sam. President Roosevelt throws a “legislation” lasso toward the man.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-25
President Roosevelt holds up a “rebate bill” to a Republican elephant. A Democratic donkey looks on and says, “That’s a good thing.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-10
President Roosevelt holds a “legislation” gun that is smoking as two dogs—”the Senate” and “the House”—run away.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-31
In the first vignette, Benjamin B. Odell pulls New York Senator Thomas Collier Platt’s leg as he holds onto a tree. Caption: Rubber. In the second vignette, President Roosevelt—”the good fairy”—holds a “power” wand and taps an “inter-state commerce bill” on the stomach of the “oppressive trusts.” Caption: Roosevelt, “Tag, you’re it.” In the third vignette, John D. Rockefeller pours “Standard oil” into “Congressional waters.” Caption: In his great act.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-14
President-Elect Taft tells President Roosevelt that he did not approve including money to buy two ships in the appropriation bill, and was surprised to find that provision in the bill. Taft approved the resolution passed by the Senate, which directed that everything being carried to Panama should be transported in American bottoms. The later form of the provision was passed during Taft’s absence, and he assumed that Congress intended to buy the two ships. Taft believes that Senator Henry Cabot Lodge’s recollection of the matter may be better than his own.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-24