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William L. Ward asks Theodore Roosevelt to indicate a time and place, such as a friend’s house, where they might talk privately, without the newspapers knowing they are meeting. Ward met with Herbert Parsons, who spoke of the possibilities of a third term, but Ward is satisfied with the results of the efforts in Washington.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-14
President Roosevelt found the letter that Cecil Spring Rice sent to Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt about safari dangers to be quite hilarious, as did she, in a morose way. Roosevelt felt it would not be right to stay on as President, and he is glad the Africa trip is ahead. Roosevelt expresses his interest in the complex political situation unfolding in Turkey and the surrounding countries. He hopes Spring Rice can come to England and discuss politics in person.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-17
President Roosevelt updates Secretary of War Taft on his conversation with Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou in which he made clear that the nominee for president will be chosen based on what is best for the party. Men from various states have contacted Roosevelt attempting to convince him to run again and expressing whether they would support Taft. Evaluating the potential candidates, Roosevelt focuses on Governor Charles Evans Hughes, who is the biggest potential threat. Roosevelt says that Bishop Charles Henry Brent recently delivered a ridiculous sermon on the Philippines and that Attorney General Charles J. Bonaparte has been doing well this summer despite his difficult work.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-03
President Roosevelt asks if Cecil Spring Rice and his wife Florence Spring Rice can delay their return to England to visit the White House and discuss matters “while I am still among the men whose armor is on and who are standing ready to do their part in the fight.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-19
Senator Lodge brings several small matters to President Roosevelt’s attention about Senator William E. Chandler resigning from the Spanish Treaty Claims Commission, interviews that Lodge has had with blenders of whiskey who feel they have been misrepresented by the journalist, Henry Beach Needham, and that Philip Hildreth Reade ought to be promoted to Brigadier General in the United States Army. Lodge also mentions that he gave an off-hand speech encouraging people to support the Republican ticket, but it had been misrepresented in the papers. The senator closes by including a quotation from a man who believed that Roosevelt was a drunkard and addicted to morphine and that his family constantly stays with him to prevent others from discovering his condition.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-19
Charles Dewey Hilles informs William Loeb that the “rank and file” of New Jersey Republicans are loyal to President Roosevelt and William H. Taft but that prominent officials are not. Francis Hendricks believes that if Charles Evans Hughes becomes an active candidate, he will have a large following even though Taft is regarded highly right now.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-19
Senator Bourne believes that centralization of capital and labor is inevitable, but man can create laws to ensure that both operate efficiently. He believes that the individual who comes up with a solution will be greater than Julius Caesar or Napoleon I and thinks that President Roosevelt could be that man, but must serve a second elected term. Bourne suggests that a national arbitration committee should be established between labor and industrial interests and that the members will be appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate and asks about Roosevelt’s thoughts on his suggestions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-19
Senator Lodge returns the papers pertaining to the matter of the colliers. In his opinion, it is fine if the Department sends coal in foreign vessels just as long as there are not any more American vessels that can carry it. Lodge also mentions that some New York newspapers say he supports a third term. In fact, Lodge would like to “smash them thoroughly.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-11
President Roosevelt thanks Paul Dana for his letter and is glad Dana supports his actions on the “third term matter.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-14
Henry Bazeley Wolryche-Whitmore congratulates President Roosevelt on the election and wishes him a happy second term. Wolryche-Whitmore explains his wife, Harriet Douglas Robinson Wolryche-Whitmore, is in New York with her mother, Francis Monroe Robinson, so Roosevelt may very likely see her.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-10
Sarah Bancroft Leavitt express her joy at President Roosevelt’s election. She had been hoping Roosevelt would receive more votes than William McKinley did for his second term and believes it must be wonderful for Roosevelt to know that he was chosen. Leavitt observes how much it would have meant to Roosevelt’s father, Theodore Roosevelt, to know that his son was elected. She concludes by hoping Roosevelt’s name will be included as one of the greatest presidents in history.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-10
President Roosevelt fires a “rapid-firing message gun” from the White House at Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon as a “third term” animal looks over Roosevelt’s shoulder. Cannon bends over as he is hit with “forest reserves,” “postal bank law,” “anti-injunction,” “executive control,” “power over securities,” and “control of wealth.” The United States Capitol building is in the distance and a “big maul” gavel and “former messages” are on the ground.
Joseph Harry Cunningham’s drawing in the Washington Herald is an unfortunate example of how an important and even salient point might be buried at the hands of an inferior cartoonist. The context is simple — and historically significant — about the management of President Roosevelt reform program; a major policy address, recently delivered to Congress as a Special Message; and the growing intransigence of the Republican Old Guard regarding Roosevelt’s initiatives.
President Roosevelt rides alongside a bull labeled “organized labor vote” as a “third term” bear labeled “I am blind” watches from atop a fence post. William H. Taft attempts to get the African American vote with some “salt.”
Cartoonist W. A. Rogers, who had moved to the New York Herald from his longtime post with Harper’s Weekly, correctly pictured the political situation facing President Roosevelt and his chosen successor William H. Taft, in 1908. Roosevelt endeavored to be as neutral in the contest as he could be — this was preceding the nominating convention, and Taft still had Republican rivals aspiring to the presidency — so he balanced an interest in party cohesion with subtlety influencing events for Taft.
A “3rd term” cow runs to William H. Taft to reach for food labeled “presidency” that Taft holds as President Roosevelt rushes out of the White House toward both of them. Several others, including Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon and Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks climb a fence and tree to escape the cow.
Unlike most other cartoonists, Jay N. “Ding” Darling always accepted President Roosevelt’s sincerity in declining to seek, campaign for, or accept another presidential nomination in 1908. Rather than limiting the cartoonist’s options on the topic, it left him free to depict Roosevelt’s frustrations, and allegorize the president’s dilemma in the face of public and party pressures that he break his word and run again. This cartoon is a unique and clever presentation of the situation.
William H. Taft (Roosevelt’s clear choice as a successor) is depicted as a scared little boy. Indeed Taft was a reluctant and inept candidate, properly pictured except perhaps for the “little” aspect. His cookie or pie is threatened by an angry-looking cow that his broken loose — and the third Roosevelt term that she represents is so formidable as to scatter the other aspirants for the presidential nomination. Of the two who can be identified are Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks, up a tree; and Speaker Joseph Gurney Cannon, climbing over the fence.
President Roosevelt begins sweating as he attempts to keep a “third term” demon in a box. Uncle Sam watches on and says, “Your match at last.”
This cartoon appeared in the Washington Herald, and despite its local publication, was clipped and pasted alongside cartoons from across the United States (and the world) in scrapbooks compiled by the White House staff. It was a clever and commendable method for President Roosevelt to maintain contact with opinions across America, and perhaps to assist him in forming his opinions.
President Roosevelt tells a “third term” cat to scat. Attached to its tail is the “special message.”
Cartoonist Joseph Harry Cunningham left readers wondering whether President Roosevelt was a victim of circumstances, or a manipulative politician in this drawing, published after the delivery of a lengthy, electric, policy-laden message to Congress. The annual message summarized the administration’s substantial record of accomplishments, and charted an ambitious agenda of change and reform.
A desk has a sign above it: “Announce yourself NOT a candidate here without a delay.” Below are two papers: “Under no circumstances will I be a candidate for or accept another nomination. Signed, Theodore Roosevelt” and “I have not been a candidate for anything but the confidence of the people. xxxx George B. Cortelyou.” There is a map of North and South America, a telephone, and several books, including “Bears I have met,” “Santiago and way stations,” and “More bears.”
Cartoonist Harold R. Coffman, later one of William Randolph Hearst’s “relief pitchers” on his chain’s art staffs, illustrating features and drawing occasional editorial cartoons in place of Winsor McCay, contributed clever elements to this drawing. “Make Way For Taft!” managed to say much about the breaking news story without picturing a single figure.
President Roosevelt holds up a note that reads, “Under no circumstances will I again be a candidate for the presidency. T. Roosevelt. Election night 1904.” He says to a group of men, “Boys, I stand pat on this decision!” The men, who include Secretary of War William H. Taft, Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon, Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks, Secretary of the Treasury, Philander C. Knox, New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes, and Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker, all responded approvingly.
On the day that President Roosevelt issued a statement repeating, but with finality, his decision of 1904 not to succeed himself in 1908, cartoonist Clifford Kennedy Berryman suggests that the declaration was more for the Republican aspirants than the general public.
President Roosevelt stands on top of the “third term talk” giant with his big stick. Caption: The modern giant killer.
Cartoonists were used to drawing President Roosevelt as a David against the Goliaths of Big Business or the Trusts, or other foreign and domestic situations. But in this cartoon by Willis H. Thorndike, who also drew for the Philadelphia Press, “third-term talk” was the behemoth Roosevelt felled. In a letter released to the public on the day this cartoon quickly was produced, the president successfully squelched all talk — any possibilities, any ambiguity — that he would seek re-nomination in 1908.
President Roosevelt stands behind a fence and tosses an extremely large pair of “Roosevelt’s shoes.” A number of men standing waiting to catch them: Secretary of War William H. Taft, Ohio Senator Joseph Benson Foraker, William Jennings Bryan, Secretary of the Treasury George B. Cortelyou, Iowa Governor Albert Baird Cummins, Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks, New York Governor Charles Evans Hughes; and former cabinet secretaries Leslie M. Shaw and Philander C. Knox.
The immediate context of Jay N. “Ding” Darling’s cartoon was a public statement issued by President Roosevelt the previous day, on December 12, 1907. Hence the “Now” in the cartoon’s title.