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David B. Hill and “Aunty Democracy” stand behind “Parker—famous talking parrot.” “Roosevelt’s reply” is on the ground. Parker says, “The trouble with me was I talked too d-n much!” Caption: Aunty Democracy—Dave, you should never have taught that bird to talk.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11
William Jennings Bryan, as a parrot, chatters at an old woman labeled “Democratic Party.” He is perched on a stand labeled “Dead Issues” with a food dish labeled “Populism,” and squawking “The Moral Issue!! Free Silver!! Kansas City Platform!! [and] 16 to 1.”
The clear message of this cartoon by Pughe, Puck‘s go-to animal artist in most cases, is that William Jennings Bryan, Populist firebrand who stormed the Democrat Party in 1896 and held it in thrall for eight years, had clearly worn out his welcome, especially after two failed presidential runs.
President Roosevelt encloses some “cunning” letters from the Garfield boys. He has been busy with work and has not had much time for romps with the children. Loretta the parrot has become one of the household and Roosevelt is surprised at the bird’s sociability and intelligence.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-23
A phonograph of “Taft’s speeches” releases “T. R.” glasses and teeth toward a parrot with the head of William H. Taft.
This outstanding drawing by James Calvert Smith could be a textbook example of an effective political cartoon — humor, symbols, and a salient point or attack. Its one deficiency would be the caricature of William H. Taft. A parrot’s body could easily have had Taft’s face, especially with the identifying tag. As it is, the beak resembles a nose, and therefore suggests someone else.
An old woman sits in a chair with a parrot labeled “Infant Industries” perched next to her and a cat playing beside her chair with a ball of yarn labeled “Dingley Yarn.” Sitting on a stool at her feet is a boy labeled “Young Republican.” The parrot squawks “Polly Wants Protection.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1899-01-11
A large parrot with New York Governor David B. Hill’s face perches on a stand next to President Cleveland’s desk. The parrot fills the air with its cry, “A Public Office is a Public Trust,” repeating a statement once made by Cleveland and that appears on a sign on his desk. President Cleveland is sitting at the desk with his hands over his ears. Caption: Will this political poll-parrot ever stop imitating President Cleveland?
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1886-01-13
A well-dressed man labeled “Plutocracy,” wearing a top hat, holds a parrot labeled “State Legislature” on his right hand. He is trying to get the parrot to repeat a phrase after him, and he promises it “some nice crackers” in return for correctly learning to repeat the phrase. Caption: “We don’t want an Income-Tax Amendment! Say it, Polly! We don’t want an Income-Tax Amendment! Say it, Polly! Amendment! Amendment! We don’t want it!”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1909-08-18
William Jennings Bryan, as a parrot, perches between two small buildings, one labeled “Commoner” with the roof opened up and the other flying a flag labeled “Chata…qua” [sic]. On a table below are two boxes of crackers, one labeled “Cabinet Portfolios” and the other labeled “Ambassador Snaps.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1913-01-15
Uncle Sam’s Christmas tree is about to topple over onto him because there are too many heavy ornaments near the top, including a red devil labeled “Politician,” a cannon labeled “Sherman Law,” a jack-in-the-box labeled “Wickersham,” a basket filled with food labeled “Cost of Living,” a parrot labeled “Woman Suffrage,” a ball labeled “Increased Taxes,” a large book labeled “Over-Legislation,” another ball with a “$” and the face of big business, an automobile labeled “Extravagance,” a large ball labeled “Bill” with the face of President Taft, and an angel labeled “Teddy.” Caption: Uncle Sam’s Christmas crash.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1911-12-20