Popularity

Print shows John A. Logan wearing a military uniform with plumed hat labeled “Anti-Arthur” and carrying a large sword labeled “Pension Swindle,” walking across a bridge comprised of three monkeys with the faces of Roscoe Conkling, Ulysses S. Grant, and James G. Blaine. Blaine hugs a tree labeled “Old Time Popularity,” Grant forms the middle link, and Conkling grips the U.S. Capitol building with his feet. There is a coconut labeled “Cocoanut Presidency” on top of the Capitol dome.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1883-12-26

Print shows James G. Blaine slipping off a cask labeled “Whiskey”; under his arm is tucked a paper that states “Distribution of Surplus – Jim Blaine.” Caption: Our star diplomat par excellence, in his great whiskey-tax balancing feat.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1883-12-12

William Jennings Bryan shows a model sailboat labeled “Personal Popularity” to Uncle Sam. Hanging on the wall in the background is a keel labeled “Principle” and identified as the “Taft Model.” Caption: Uncle Sam — Your sail’s all right, son; but where’s your keel?

Comments and Context

“The Same Old Model” might have been the most pro-Bryan cartoon Puck Magazine ran. Cartoonist L. M. Glackens actually conceded that William Jennings Bryan, the presidential candidate in 1908 (after two failed Democratic campaigns for the office) had personal popularity.

In fact, Brayan’s failed campaigns were by crushing margins in the Electoral College. In popular votes he reliably garnered just under fifty per cent of the nation’s ballots. His personal appeal was great, even if the electorate — many from influential and wealthier northern and eastern states — was wary of his reforms.

J. Pierpont Morgan labeled “Flim-Flam Journalism,” John D. Rockefeller labeled “Flim-Flam Business,” and Edward Henry Harriman labeled “Flim-Flam Politics” gather around a table watching a toy of Theodore Roosevelt sitting on an egg-shaped base labeled “Personal Popularity” rocking back and forth.

Comments and Context

The Wobble, a child’s toy of amusement and not skill, was patented in 1906 and was popular when this cartoon was drawn. They were made of tin or wood or paper mache (especially its clone, the Roly Poly) and children were frustrated or amused when the figures proved impossible to fall.

Trust magnates were frustrated too with a Theodore Roosevelt wobble toy when all their best attacks against the president were fruitless. The efforts of Roosevelt’s opponents like J. P. Morgan, John D. Rockefeller, and Edward Henry Harriman were often conducted through surrogates. This presumably is the reason why the moguls are not identified in the cartoon by their famous empires — banking, oil, and railroads, respectively.

President Taft, as the biblical figure Jacob, wears robes labeled “Progressivism” and goat skins labeled “Delegates.” He is kneeling before the Republican elephant labeled “G.O.P.” as the aged biblical figure Isaac, who is feeling the skins worn by Taft. To the left is a steaming dish of “Savory Politics” that Jacob presented to Isaac. Standing in the background are three men, of which two are identified as “Barnes” and “Sherman.” Standing just right of center is Elihu Root as the biblical figure “Rebekah,” who looks anxious at the approach of “Teddy” as the biblical figure Esau, with a deer over his shoulders labeled “Popularity.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1912-07-17

Theodore Roosevelt values Judge John Carter Rose’s opinion of him and acknowledges the many causes he and Carter have accomplished over their 27-year acquaintance. Roosevelt discusses his contentment in retiring from public life because he has worked very hard and has accomplished much in 30 years. Roosevelt is content with non-political work, such as writing for The Outlook and earning a salary sufficient to support his family and his sons’ education. He declines 100 percent of requests for political work and does not feel obligated to take on “big work” for the sake of “big work,” preferring to remain out of public life

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-20

President Roosevelt appreciated Sereno Stansbury Pratt’s recent Wall Street Journal article. Pratt responded to a letter from George Brinton McClellan Harvey which suggested that following tension between Roosevelt and Republican leaders in the Senate, Roosevelt’s popularity would wane by the end of his second term. Roosevelt assures Pratt that he is not concerned with his personal popularity, but rather with doing what is good for the country.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-03

President Roosevelt is happy to hear that his son Ted is having fun and doing well in his first semester at Harvard despite a rocky start. In particular, Roosevelt is glad that Ted’s studies are going well and is surprised that he made the freshman football team. He offers his son advice about gaining popularity and good standing in his class.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-10-10

Governor General of the Philippines Smith has consulted with T. H. Pardo de Tavera, José Ruiz de Luzuriaga, and Gregorio Araneta, who all agree that W. Morgan Shuster would make a good Philippine Commissioner. Shuster is also popular with the Filipino people. David P. Barrows and Arthur W. Fergusson would also be a good fit.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-23

Assistant Secretary of State Loomis believes Jules Hedeman, whom Philippe Bunau-Varilla is sending to the United States, is a good man. Hedeman is the London correspondent of Le Matin. Loomis plans to sail soon and comments that President Roosevelt is as popular in Europe as in the United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-26

Senator Beveridge assures President Roosevelt that his political support is strong in New York City and Philadelphia. If general prosperity continues for a year, Roosevelt will be elected by a wide margin.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-12-19