Panama

President Roosevelt is driving a “U.S. Government” automobile with Secretary of War William H. Taft seated next to him in the front and Uncle Sam in the back seat. Behind them is the aftermath of their reckless driving: a “Panama” wagon, a “Cuban Revolution” man, and a “beef” cow. They have just run over a man labeled “Brownsville affair” and are headed for a “Storer” chicken. Caption: T. R.: “Anything in sight Bill?”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02

As Uncle Sam stands beside him with a grin, President Roosevelt looks at “Roosevelt’s Illustrated Message on Panama” and points to himself in the book, saying “That’s me.” Written in small handwriting below is “Shonts Resignation.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

The cartoon by Willis H. Thorndike in the Baltimore American, then a Republican paper, appeared on the day that Theodore P. Shonts resigned as head of the Panama Canal Commission. President Roosevelt’s expression and his attitude might be perceived as the artist’s hostile conception of the situation, but in fact it was an endorsement of Roosevelt’s management.

President Roosevelt addresses the soldiers at Camp Elliott in Panama.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-02

President Roosevelt and his party, including Chairman of the Second Isthmian Canal Commission Theodore P. Shonts, sit on a tug boat in Panama Harbor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-02

President Roosevelt, dressed in white, and his party walk up Gatun Hill in Panama.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-02

In the first photograph, President Roosevelt walks up Gatun Hill. The second photograph depicts Roosevelt on the way to Mt. Hope Reservoir.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-28

This newspaper article includes two photographs of President Roosevelt aboard the USS Louisiana during his voyage to and from Panama. He frequently visited the bridge and often took walks on the decks of the ship.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-03

The first photograph depicts President Roosevelt running a steam shovel while the second photograph shows him addressing troops at Camp Elliot.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-26

In the first photograph, President Roosevelt gives a speech in Panama. In the second, Roosevelt visits Culebra Cut.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-27

President Roosevelt stands next to a big stick and a suitcase with a “Panama” tag. He looks at Secretary of War William H. Taft who sits on a “25th Inf. ‘Discharged Without Honor'” container. Taft says, “Oh! I was only off a few minutes.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-24

President Roosevelt holds a suitcase, binoculars, and a fan as he says, “Now for a Panama peep!” Behind him are several animal pelts: “R.R. rate legislation,” “meat trust victory,” “N.Y. state,” “60th Congress,” and “1st Ohio Dist.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-09

President Roosevelt leaves the White House with a gun and a “Senatorial game bag.” He encounters a number of animal traps: “railway rate trap,” “Panama trap,” “federal ins. trap,” “Santo Domingo trap,” “Venezuela trap,” “German tariff trap,” “state interference trap,” and “campaign expenses trap.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-03

President Roosevelt points a gun at a “statehood bill” animal while a “Panama” alligator, a “R.R. rates” walrus, a “Philippine tariff” water buffalo, and a “Morocco” leopard look on.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-21

President Roosevelt pulls one football player off from another player. A group of “decent athletes” cheers. In the background is the “White House,” a dove carrying the “peace of Portsmouth,” a “hunting trophy,” “San Juan Hill,” “settling the coal strike,” “Panama,” and a “past performances” big stick. Caption: How the doctrine of the strenuous life goes hand in hand with the gospel of clean sport.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-10-11

Secretary of State Elihu Root rolls up his sleeves and reaches for a large shovel in “Panama” with “engineering difficulties,” “politics,” “yellow Jack,” and “red tape” in it. Meanwhile, Secretary of War William H. Taft uses a megaphone on a crowded “seeing the Philippines” boat.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-10

“The trusts” man holds “the big stick” and rides an elephant that attempts to straggle President Roosevelt. The elephant walks away from the “$acred tariff wall” and steps on a “Panama” man as it heads toward the “markets of the world.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-21

President Roosevelt wears several weapons and walks toward a number of wild animals. He leaves behind the “big stick” and several scrolls: “protocol,” “Santo Domingo treaty,” “report beef trust,” “Panama,” and “Venezu[ela] dispute.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-02

A large Secretary of War William H. Taft stands on Panama surrounded by fighting men. He holds binoculars and carries a suitcase that reads,” Judge Taft, Secretary of War U.S.A.” Caption: Secretary of War Taft is going to Panama to investigate conditions. The administration couldn’t send a better man.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-19

President Roosevelt sits at a desk writing on a paper as a number of paper are behind him: “international peace project,” “Panama,” “negro question,” “federal patronage,” “tariff revision,” “no tariff revision,” “war navy,” “reduced Southern representation,” and “Southern man in cabinet.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-17

President Roosevelt writes to Joseph Bucklin Bishop saying he is pleased Bishop decided to go to Panama and that Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt sends her love to the Bishops. Roosevelt also mentions General Thomas H. Hubbard and his prompt reply.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1907-07-12