Metcalf, Victor Howard, 1853-1936

“The Press” looks a number of cabinet officers who have gags in their mouths: Secretary of State Elihu Root, Secretary of War William H. Taft, Secretary of the Navy Charles J. Bonaparte, Attorney General William H. Moody, Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw, Postmaster General George B. Cortelyou, Secretary of Commerce and Labor Victor H. Metcalf, and Secretary of the Interior Ethan A. Hitchcock. The “White House” is in the background. Caption: “Think twice before you speak, then talk to yourself.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-10-19

President Roosevelt holds up two fingers and talks to his cabinet: Secretary of State John Hay, Secretary of War William H. Taft, Postmaster General George B. Cortelyou, Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw, Attorney General William H. Moody, Secretary of the Interior Ethan A. Hitchcock, Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson, and Secretary of Commerce and Labor Victor H. Metcalf. There is a bear skin with two holes on the wall.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-14

Moses A. Gunst encloses a statement from a man named Theobold, which asserts that Major Plumley and George R. Bidwell are working against President Roosevelt. Gunst also relates that at the Criterion Club in New York, 36 out of 38 members voted that they preferred Roosevelt to Alton B. Parker.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-01

In this vignette cartoon, President Roosevelt and members of his cabinet appear at the center in a meeting. Each has a signboard advertising a patent medicine or other product on their back. Roosevelt’s says, “Strenoline The Famous Vigor Producer A De-Lightful Stimulant, Nervy Mfg. Co, Royster Bay.” Surrounding the central image are scenes showing men, animals, and statues, all with signboards, including an elephant labeled “G.O.P. The Great Tariff Comedian – Continuous Performances.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

One of cartoonist Samuel Ehrhart’s now-standard vignette cartoons in Puck, a topic of the day with variations on a theme, in this double-spread was quite standard. The single concept of advertisements encroaching on daily life is played, and stretched, most of the humor derived from puns or association with names of celebrities and professions. Since the 1880s, Puck had lampooned advertising signs on elevated trains and commercial billboards, so this cartoon focusing on sandwich boards was a variation. Present-day eyes might require details about long-forgotten issues and personalities, however.

At center, President Roosevelt shows Uncle Sam and Columbia a large plant with flowers showing the members of his cabinet. The surrounding vignettes show a springtime dance of putti, Alton B. Parker shoveling snow at his home in Esopus, an art gallery, Irishmen marching in the rain on Saint Patrick’s Day, a woman cleaning house by sweeping a dust cloud of policemen out the door, and Roosevelt grafting a branch labeled “Indian School Mission,” with blossom of an unidentified bishop of the Catholic Bureau of Indian Missions, onto the “Interior Dept. Tree.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1905-03-15

During the 1908 presidential election and after William H. Taft’s election, Theodore Roosevelt worked with Taft to prepare the Cabinet and other prominent positions for the new administration. Taft was consulted regarding appointments and he stated his intention to keep the majority of Roosevelt’s Cabinet. Roosevelt made no requests for appointments or for the retention of certain officials. After Taft became president, he apparently changed his mind and did not make many of the appointments. Taft never discussed this change with Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-01-08

President Roosevelt has referred North Dakota Governor Burke’s letter to Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf for consideration. He looks forward to seeing Burke at the ship’s christening, and is very proud that one of the battleships launched during his administration will be christened North Dakota.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-24

President Roosevelt tells Secretary of State Root that the facts set forth by Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf warrant more than “perfunctory action,” as the conduct in Panama that was complained about tended to become habitual. Should this continue, the United States will have to police Colon and Panama “as exactly as we take care of their health.” Roosevelt also says that “fullest amendment and apology” should be made.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-21

President Roosevelt assures Senator Lodge that Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf was misrepresented in an article which said he disowned Lodge over Lodge’s comments on the Navy. Roosevelt believes that Lodge never said that Japan would insult the country if not for the Navy. Regarding the speeches made by Comptroller Lawrence O. Murray, Roosevelt believes that Murray’s statements regarding bank examiners were correct and necessary, but it is unfortunate that he made them during the campaign, when there were going to be misunderstood.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-15

President Roosevelt confirms receipt of a letter from Harris Dickson, and tells him to bring the stinging snake to Oyster Bay quickly, as it would be a tremendous scientific advance if it is genuine.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-19

President Roosevelt thanks Emily Corinne Nicholson Metcalf, wife of Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf, for the letter, and says that he was not hurt at all in the accident. Roosevelt says that Secretary Metcalf will rejoin her soon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-10

President Roosevelt will read the notes with “great interest” and tells Rear Admiral Mahan that he will ensure that he is given authority to get the information he needs from Admiral Robley D. Evans. Roosevelt also comments on what a “ridiculous creature” journalist Edward Dicey is, and relates him to the “solemn mugwumps” who write about subjects they know nothing about.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-08

President Roosevelt has sent Judge Dayton’s letter to Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf, stating that whatever Dayton says should have “really careful consideration.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-27

President Roosevelt will take up Captain Ransom’s case, but does not know who Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf has in mind.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-27

President Roosevelt asks Representative Cockran to tell Father James F. Mackin that he will carefully consider what he says and will take the matter up with Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf. He has heard good things about Commander Robert S. Griffin, but has to consider other men as well. (Griffin has applied to be appointed engineer-in-chief of the Navy)

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-22

President Roosevelt tells Francis E. Warren, chairman of the Senate Committee on Military Affairs, that he does not believe there is need for a court of inquiry regarding the stationing of Colonel William F. Stewart at Fort Grant. It is within Roosevelt’s authority to do so, and he points out that any punishment in such a posting is incidental to the goal of keeping the best and most efficient officers in command. Stewart has not proven himself fit to command troops.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-14

President Roosevelt sends Senator Lodge a letter from Secretary of the Navy Victor H. Metcalf regarding battleships and congressional action. As the letter indicates, the present bill in Congress does not provide for an increase of the Navy and does not allow for two battleships and ten torpedo boats to be constructed due to a lack of appropriation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-22

President Roosevelt informs Senator Lodge about past appropriations bills relating to construction of battleships for the Navy. Roosevelt argues that the current bill providing for two battleships and ten torpedo destroyers is a “sham and pretends to do what it does not really do,” as it does not appropriate proper funds to expand armaments and armor. If Congress wants to expand the Navy it should provide the funds to do so, and if it does not wish to provide the funds, then there is no point in the pretense of allowing the construction of more battleships.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-22

President Roosevelt informs Rear Admiral Sperry that he is to command the Great White Fleet on its return trip. This will require a great deal of responsibility as it involves visiting Australia and Japan and passing through the Suez Canal. Roosevelt exhorts Sperry to be careful during the time he is in East Asian waters, as he does not want there to be any “suspicion of insolence or rudeness on our part.” Outside of maintaining the safety of the ships, Roosevelt would much rather the fleet be insulted than to be seen as giving insult, although he is sure the Japanese will also be taking care to avoid giving any sort of slight.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-21

President Roosevelt sends Lieutenant Commander Key a copy of a letter he had sent to Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf. He tells Key not to worry about any reports being circulated, as they will not affect Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-24