Your TR Source
Fred W. Carpenter writes to William Loeb asking whether President Roosevelt approves the proposed telegram accepting Governor Henry C. Ide’s resignation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-18
Hamilton Fish informs William Loeb that Louis Frisbie Payn will be visiting the White House and reminds Loeb that Payn can be helpful to President Roosevelt’s presidential campaign. Fish also would like Loeb to tell Roosevelt that John Clay Davies would like to work with George B. Cortelyou on the presidential campaign. Fish believes that Davies can be an asset to Cortelyou.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-06-28
Variety defines this edition of “News & Notes.” The section highlights numerous ceremonies, celebrations, and exhibitions to mark the ongoing centennial observation of Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency. It also covers the Fourth of July celebration in Oyster Bay, New York, the dedication of a plaque commemorating the attempt on Roosevelt’s life in October 1912 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the 50th anniversary of the opening of Sagamore Hill to the public. “News & Notes” also notes the death of Doris Albert Budner, the struggles of a Rough Rider museum in New Mexico, and the publication of an article by the Cato Institute that criticizes Roosevelt.
The section contains three text boxes with quotations and excerpts from Roosevelt’s writings, and it is supplemented by four photographs, including two of humorist Mo Rocca at Sagamore Hill.
Photograph shows 19 portraits of prominent orators (politicians and businessmen) superimposed over an audience comprised of men. Caption reads, “our prominent political orators in action. The efforts of these men will anchor the floating vote, make converts and win the election.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1908-08-29
A “politician” rushes forward and demands President Roosevelt call off three “secret service” dogs who have treed a man labeled “post office scam.” Roosevelt stands resolutely with arms crossed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-09-27
Drawings accompanied by text captions describe a number of prominent politicians: President Roosevelt, Secretary of War Elihu Root, Admiral George Dewey, Speaker of the House David Bremner Henderson, Rhode Island Senator George Peabody Wetmore, Secretary of State John Hay, Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson, and New York Senator Thomas Collier Platt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-14
New York Senator Thomas Collier Platt and Surveyor of Customs James Sullivan Clarkson fly in the air as they try to stop Uncle Sam who is driving a “Post Office investigation” car toward the “P. O. Dept.” The car crashes through “politics” barriers and throws a “politician” off to the side.
In this awkward cartoon about the beginnings of the Roosevelt Administration’s efforts to discover corruption in the Post Office department and reform the service, Uncle Sam is featured instead of President Theodore Roosevelt. It is a reminder that one of the unique aspects of cartoonists’ treatment of Roosevelt is that he largely supplanted the iconic symbol of the United States, so vivid was in personality. In this cartoon, although seem only from behind, Uncle Sam drives the car — an indiscriminate, road-busting flivver, then often viewed as a menace.
Another interesting figure is James S. Clarkson, still identified with the Post Office. When Roosevelt was appointed Civil Service Commissioner under President Benjamin Harrison in 1889, Clarkson of Iowa was appointed First Assistant Postmaster General, charged with responsibility for fulfilling local Republican patronage jobs. He replaced Democrat postmasters and officials at an annualized rate of 30,000.
An “infamous liars” boomerang intended for a “politician,” “newspaper editor,” and “citizen” hits President Roosevelt on the head instead. The three men say, “Deelighted!!”
James Calvert Smith’s cartoon, replete with misspelling in its title, had its inspiration in the wake of the controversy surrounding alleged financial improprieties during the early days of the Panama Canal’s life. Two newspapers claimed that several “insiders” improperly profited from transactions; two of them, in these reports, were Douglas Robinson (President Roosevelt’s brother-in-law) and Charles Phelps Taft (brother of the current president-elect, William H. Taft).
A “Democracy” woman is chained to “factional leadership” while a scaled and monstrous “apathy” approaches from below. Caption: Wanted, a Perseus! There she stands, poor soul,/Watching the red-gorged monster’s slow advance—/While ever he nearer and nearer creeps/And the gods laugh and the deliverer sleeps!
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-15
Theodore Roosevelt writes George von Lengerke Meyer as he is steaming down the White Nile River towards Khartoum. He thinks Meyer would have really enjoyed the safari. Roosevelt is proud that Kermit has developed so well, and he informs Meyer that they are bringing home the skins of three large eland which will go to a museum. Roosevelt was very impressed with Meyer’s report, but he cannot believe what a “scoundrel” Eugene Hale is.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1910-03-01
Assemblyman Roosevelt expresses surprise that he went into politics, declaring that he only “went to oust a machine man who had misrepresented us a year or two in the legislature.” Roosevelt declares that he will return to law after the session is over.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1881-11-15
Postcard with a rhyme about political life in Washington, D.C. Accompanying the rhyme are related drawings including a teddy bear, American flag, and dancing.
1907
Sheet music “When Andy Dies a Pauper” celebrates the generosity of Andrew Carnegie. On the front cover is an image of Carnegie.
Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection
1914
A man labeled “Graft Politics” pays, with his left hand, a tramp labeled “Floater” at the end of a line of tramps outside a polling place, while with his right hand he attempts to keep a woman from listening to “women’s suffrage talk” because her “place is in the home, caring for the children.” Vignettes show women and children working in sweatshops and factories, living in tenement housing, and children taking care of younger children and being arrested. Caption: “No; they might disturb the existing order of things.”
A full dozen years before women would be able to vote in presidential elections (some states already had equal-rights statutes), Puck went on the record for women’s suffrage. It was not the first time the magazine endorsed the concept, but S. D. Ehrhart’s cartoon was simple and forceful.
Photograph showing President Roosevelt and Senator Fairbanks seated in rocking chairs with Roosevelt facing slightly right and Fairbanks facing front.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1904-07-16
Photograph showing President Roosevelt and Senator Fairbanks seated in rocking chairs facing front.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1904-07-16
Theodore Roosevelt congratulates William Jesse Oliver on what he is doing. As to Roosevelt’s nomination, he comments that it is necessary for the people to make their desires known to politicians. Roosevelt suggests Oliver contact the Progressive Party Chairman, George W. Perkins.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-04-17
George F. Hoar is seen as an old washer-woman, with a large brush labeled “Magazine Articles and Speeches,” white-washing senators from a bucket labeled “Defense of the Senate.” He is applying a fresh coat to Thomas C. Pratt while others wait in line.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1897-11-03
In this vignette cartoon various presidential candidates are depicted with their trappings. David B. Hill as “The Political Suburban Resident” is overloaded with packages labeled “Low Political Jobs, Petty Schemes, Unsuccessful Intrigues, Tricks, [and] Peanut Politics.” William McKinley is “The National Political Brooklynite” pushing a stroller containing papers labeled “High Protection.” Thomas Collier Platt is “The Obstreperous Cook” with William L. Strong and Levi P. Morton standing in the background. Thomas B. Reed is “The Political Lady with the Big Hat” which is labeled “Presidential Boom” and obscures the view of Benjamin Harrison, John Sherman, and William B. Allison. William A. Peffer is “The Amusing Political Hayseed” of “very ordinary” intellect, but long on whiskers, and George F. Hoar is “The Voluble Political Mother-in-Law” who clears the “U.S. Senate” when he stands to speak.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1895-01-30
A “Silverite,” a “Democrat,” a “Populist,” and a “Republican” hold a sheet labeled “Politics” with which they are tossing a “Business Man.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1896-06-10