Presidential candidates

Uncle Sam sits on a fence and looks at nominees for president and vice-president of various parties: William H. Taft and J. S. Sherman of the Republican Party, William Jennings Bryan and John Worth Kern of the Democratic Party, Thomas E. Watson of the People’s Party, Eugene W. Chafin of the Prohibition Party, and Thomas Louis Hisgen of the Independence Party. Uncle Sam says to a teddy bear, “Well, they all know they’re it now!” The teddy bear replies, “But the worst is yet to come to most of ’em.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

Clifford Kennedy Berryman’s cartoon in the nation’s capital paper, and then the largest circulation in Washington, the Star, was virtually a capstone to the close of the four-year scramble for presidential nominations, and the opening start of the actual campaign. He depicted the major and relatively major candidates. Uncle Sam and the teddy bear mascot, and Berryman himself, commented on the universal smiles in the group; but that was likely due to the cartoonist’s famous reliance on available photographs, as to their optimism that provided the cartoon’s theme.

William H. Taft, President Roosevelt, and William Jennings Bryan wear Rough Rider uniforms and carry big sticks. Roosevelt stands in the middle, and his stick reads: “My policies.” Taft and Bryan face each other. Taft’s stick is labeled “My policies please,” while Bryan’s is labeled “No! My policies.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

One of America’s early histories of political cartooning was entitled Wordless Journalism. This cartoon by W. A. Rogers, one of his best, is an example of that model. With no dialogue, and no complicated labels or symbols, this single drawing speaks volumes about President Roosevelt’s popular sway, his relationship with his chosen successor, and the issues of the 1908 presidential campaign. It also concisely summarizes a dozen years of policy evolutions in the Democratic Party.

President Roosevelt places a “my policies” crown on William H. Taft who holds Roosevelt’s big stick. In the background is a man labeled “labor” and a newsboy who cries, “Extra! Extra! Democrats gain 32 per cent in Maine election!” Roosevelt says, “A stauncher friend labor never had.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

The awkwardly designed and executed cartoon by Edward Joseph McBride was similarly obscure about its point, beyond what probably was the wishful thinking of the cartoonist and his newspaper — that President Roosevelt and his putative successor William H. Taft were oblivious to the concerns of, and the electoral threats posed by, the labor vote in 1908.

President Roosevelt tells William H. Taft “I’m getting disgusted with you, too, Bill Taft,” as he runs from “Oyster Bay” on “Sept. 22” with his big stick chasing Senator Joseph Benson Foraker and Frank H. Hitchcock. In Foraker’s hand is the “Standard Oil exposure.” Meanwhile, Taft says, “Foraker! Foraker! Foraker! Foraker! Foraker!” as he thinks back to “Sept. 2nd at Toledo, Ohio” where he shakes Foraker’s hand and both men say, “There never was any ill feeling between us,” as Roosevelt looks on and says, “Delighted.”

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Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

President Roosevelt drives a “White House lawnmower” down “Taft Ave.” that has a sign: “Keep off the grass.” William Jennings Bryan runs away and says, “And I thought that I was running against Taft.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

Cartoonist P. B. McCord made two salient points about the 1908 presidential campaign in this drawing. The first is that the canvass of Democratic candidate William Jennings Bryan virtually was bereft of issues; that is, to attack William H. Taft was to attack the policies of the incumbent, President Roosevelt. And “keeping off the lawn” of Taft meant a somewhat electoral argument, as Roosevelt remained overwhelmingly popular with Americans.

Alton B. Parker faces two different ways. On one side, he stands up straight. On the other, he puts his hand to his head. Caption: “From the Judge is expected cautious deliberation; from the candidate, inspiration, energy, promptness and aggressive impulse.” —Advice from a Parker enthusiast.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-26

A figure representing a combination of trusts—”bank trust,” “coal trust,” “sugar trust,” “steel trust,” “tobacco trust,” “insurance trust,” “oil trust,” “paper trust,” “beef trust,” and “railroad trust”—puts a “campaign funds” gag over President Roosevelt’s mouth.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10

Circus performers Alton B. Parker and Henry Gassaway Davis shakily stand on two galloping horses, labeled “free trade” and “protection.” August Belmont walks along as the ringleader, while David B. Hill watches as a clown.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-05

President Roosevelt holds “the strenuous life” big stick as he looks at a Republican elephant lying on the ground. Similarly, Alton B. Parker holds “The Constitution” and looks at a tired donkey. Caption: Roosevelt and Parker—”Wonder how I can get some life into the pesky animal?”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-08

Each of the four 1904 presidential and vice-presidential candidates are drawn with a coat of arms and a descriptive word. President Roosevelt’s word is “imperial,” Indiana Senator Charles W. Fairbank’s word is “splendor,” Alton B. Parker’s word is “Jeffersonian,” and Henry Gassaway Davis’s word is “simplicity.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-12

President Roosevelt holds a football and charges toward Alton B. Parker as David B. Hill and Thomas Taggart look on. Crowds cheer in the background. Caption: This is no case of tackling the dummy. Quarterback Parker now has a chance to show the stuff he is made of. —Minneapolis Journal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10

President Roosevelt and Alton B. Parker, dressed as police men, use batons to attempt to wake up a sleeping elephant and donkey respectively in “Presidential Park.” Caption: “Will the ‘hot-foot’ wake them up?”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-08

A harried-looking Alton B. Parker sits at a desk and tries to write as several megaphones with the titles of various newspapers shout at him. The “Brooklyn Eagle” says, “Hold to the Philippines.” The “N.Y. American” says, “Down with Belmont and trusts.” The “N.Y. Times” says, “Hold the Philippines. Hold everything.” The “N.Y. World” says, “Scuttle. Abandon Philippines. Give up. Scuttle.” The “N.Y. Post” says, “Come out for free trade.” Another megaphone says, “Down with the South.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-11

Alton B. Parker of Esopus throws a “record of Republican extravagance” brick at President Roosevelt of Oyster Bay.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-09-10

John Callan O’Laughlin sees no improvement in the Republican political situation and shares his thoughts on various issues with Theodore Roosevelt. He discusses the insurgents’ relationship with President William H. Taft and his recent appointments to the Supreme Court and other administrative agencies. Taft swung around to the tariff commission plan, recognizing it as an important issue for the upcoming campaign. O’Laughlin does not think the ship subsidy bill will pass, although there is an appropriation for constructing fortifications for the Panama Canal. The national committee will not meet next month. The administration knows Taft’s renomination depends upon Roosevelt’s approval or his refusal to be nominated. The Japan question is “muddled,” and there are various “pin pricks which cannot but be harmful” to the countries’ relationship. O’Laughlin disagrees with Senator Henry Cabot Lodge about Senator William Lorimer’s case and asks Roosevelt for a statement on the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-12-31

Timothy L. Woodruff opposes the resolution calling for the Kings County Republican Committee to endorse New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes for the Republican presidential nomination. When delegates are chosen from New York, they should follow the wishes of the electorate, and Woodruff does not believe that Kings County should commit itself at this point.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-17

William Randolph Hearst expresses his opinions about potential presidential candidates for the 1908 election. Hearst believes that President Roosevelt would be the strongest presidential candidate that the Republican party could select, and that neither Secretary of War William H. Taft nor Governor Charles Evans Hughes of New York would be particularly strong candidates.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-25

Attorney General Bonaparte updates President Roosevelt about the work of United States Attorneys throughout the country. He delivered an address at the University of Chicago, where he was questioned about the conduct of United States Attorney William H. H. Llewellyn. Oklahoma is about to gain statehood and Bonaparte would like to discuss the matter with Roosevelt, given his earlier opposition. Many people Bonaparte met in Chicago support a third term for Roosevelt. He believes they would accept Secretary of War William H. Taft as president if necessary, but would oppose Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-20

Internal Revenue Commissioner John G. Capers reports that Southern Republicans do not consider Secretary of War William H. Taft a serious presidential candidate and insist President Roosevelt take the nomination. Although Capers does not share how he will compel Roosevelt to run for a third term, he believes the people “and not Mr. Roosevelt should be permitted to act as judge” in the matter of nominating a suitable candidate.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-27

Secretary of War Taft responds to President Roosevelt’s letter regarding the candidacies of different Republican Party candidates. Taft thanks Roosevelt for talking to Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou and believes that Philander C. Knox would be a more independent president than his supporters believe. Taft believes Charles Evans Hughes is likely to be the man in the field against him and observes that he has received many expressions of good will while traveling across the continent. Taft mentions that he will set sail for the Pacific tomorrow and encloses a clipping on his speech in Seattle regarding capital and labor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-11