Presidents

Rutherford B. Hayes, Chester A. Arthur, and Grover Cleveland are pilgrims on a journey through a rugged Middle Eastern landscape. Leading the way is Hayes, holding a paper that states “Patronage to Reward – The Returning Board” and carrying a canteen of “Cold Water.” Behind Hayes is Arthur who is looking back at Cleveland, with a donkey, who has stopped to help a man labeled “Civil Service” who has fainted from lack of water.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1885-03-18

President Cleveland stands next to a large “Reform Buzz-Saw” labeled “Pat. 1884 by G. Cleveland” at a sawmill, where three members of his cabinet “Manning, Whitney, [and] Bayard” are milling lumber labeled “For the Improvement of the Custom House” and “Props for the Navy.” A carpenter’s square labeled “Honesty” rests against some boards at Cleveland’s feet. A group of newspaper editors, congressmen, and a dog labeled “Blaine’s Pup” have entered on the left. Among them are “Dana, McLean, Vance, Eustis, Reid, Beck, Evarts, Sherman, Medill, [and] Edmunds.” They are standing just outside the “Secretarys Office” where Daniel S. Lamont is sitting. Through the open door is visible a wagon loaded with large logs labeled “Mormon Question, Silver Question, Tariff Ques, [and] Coast Defences.” Caption: Foreman Cleveland (kindly but firmly) “Boys, don’t monkey with the buzz-saw!”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1886-02-03

Print shows James A. Garfield, bust portrait, facing left, in oval, with scenes from his life and death; includes verse.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1881-09-07

President Taft struggles to conduct an orchestra composed of two groups of musicians. On the left, playing the “Eastern Conservatism” on stringed instruments, are “Root, Crane, Smoot, Depew, Aldrich, [and] Gallinger.” On the right, playing the “Western Conservatism” on horns and percussion instruments, are “Knute Nelson, Dolliver, Cummins, Clapp, Bristow, [and] La Follette.” Caption: Pity the poor leader of the Washington Symphony Orchestra.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

President Wilson, as a pharaoh, rides in an Egyptian chariot drawn by the Democratic donkey. Wilson holds a small sword and ropes attached to a man labeled “Monopoly” whose arms are bound behind him, walking on his knees, and wearing a money-bag crown, a moose, representing the Bull Moose Movement, and the Republican elephant. In the upper right are two figures labeled “Underwood” and “Simmons” leading an army of Congressmen who supported the Underwood-Simmons Act.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1913-10-01

Illustration shows Theodore Roosevelt delivering a jolt of electric current through wires spelling “Presidential Message” to two cats labeled “House” and “Senate” asleep on a wall. Caption: Before and after the current is turned on.

comments and context

Comments and Context

The cartoon of Frank A. Nankivell, illustrating the effect of President Roosevelt’s challenges to Congress, is a play on the popular and ghastly rodenticide of the day, “Rough on Rats.” That product was simple arsenic powder cut with coal dust to provide color, and it was likely that neither Roosevelt nor Nankivell wanted to go that far in insinuation.

President Roosevelt thanks Minister Rockhill for relaying information on the Dalai Lama. Roosevelt also states that he will not be giving any appointment recommendations to incoming President William H. Taft.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1908-12-17

A “Party Boss” is fashioning a president from “Presidential Timber,” using parts labeled “Subserviency, Respectability, Party Regularity, Clean Record, [and] Urbanity” which he plans to dress in “Some Body’s Shoes” and a “Presidential Frock Coat.” The surrounding vignettes show that a president must be good at “Reviewing a Parade, Getting His Picture Taken, Receiving Ambassadors, Laying a Cornerstone, Going Home to Vote, [and] Shaking Hands.” Caption: So, as usual, when we get a live one, we don’t know what to make of him.

comments and context

Comments and Context

S. D. Ehrhart’s double-page cartoon in Puck at the end of 1907, obscure today, might have been any artist’s greatest back-handed compliment of President Roosevelt of any cartoonist’s during Roosevelt’s lifetime. And Roosevelt is neither depicted nor named.

President Roosevelt addresses the farmers of Maine, praising their “self-help” American spirit and forecasting changes in the agricultural sector of the U.S. going into the 20th century. Roosevelt specifically mentions the obligations of all citizens to help their fellow Americans.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1902-08-26

In his speech, Theodore Roosevelt discusses his record with labor and the Adamson Law. Roosevelt makes a comparison of his own handling of the 1902 Anthracite Coal Strike with President Woodrow Wilson’s more recent dealings with labor. The speech also mentions major leaders in labor affairs, including Samuel Gompers and Mexican President Venustiano Carranza.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1916-10-14

Theodore Roosevelt as Martin Luther drafts his “Message to Congress Series H No. 4723.” He is standing at a desk and is about to throw an ink pot at the devil who is hovering to the right, holding up a crown labeled “3rd Term” while shying away from possible injury.

comments and context

Comments and Context

“Martin Luther Roosevelt” is one of Udo J. Keppler’s most famous cartoons. Starkly simple yet powerful in presentation, it requires modern readers to know something of Theodore Roosevelt’s position on another presidential race, in 1908; and of a momentous event in the life of Protestant reformer Martin Luther.

Exploding firecrackers labeled “Land Grafter, Congressman, Financier, Senator, Deliberate & Unqualified, Rail Road Pres., Undesirable Citizen, [and] Nature Faker” have been ignited using a “Teddy Punk” stick. Caption: Every day is Fourth of July with Theodore.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Many cartoonists through the years of Theodore Roosevelt’s life and presidency found inspiration in his many interests, multitude of activities, and ranger of accomplishments. As a true polymath, Roosevelt was a magnet for cartoonists who were amazed, as were average citizens, by the many aspects of their president.

Civil Service Commissioner Roosevelt compliments author John Torrey Morse on his biographical publications on Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, making notes of specific details he enjoyed.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1893-05-05

George B. Cortelyou thanks Edwin Brockholst Livingston on behalf of President Roosevelt for his letter of condolence and congratulations.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1901-09-25

In his telegram to the 1916 Republican National Convention, Theodore Roosevelt expresses his opinion of several issues, the “gravity” of selecting a candidate for the party nomination, President Woodrow Wilson, and relations between the Republican and Progressive Party. Item includes several drafts and copies of the missive.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1916

Theodore Roosevelt challenges President William H. Taft’s Philadelphia speech, in which he identified himself as a Progressive. Roosevelt also discusses his opinions on the fair and direct representation of the People, and financial conditions in America.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1912-04-03

President Roosevelt gives an address in commemoration of the Thanksgiving holiday, and calls for appreciation of national and individual liberties.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1906-10-22

In his speech to the Saint Louis, Missouri City Club, Theodore Roosevelt shares his opinion on public service, describes his own service and he makes the case for social progressivism. Among his examples of public servants, Roosevelt mentions past Presidents Abraham Lincoln, James Buchanan, and Franklin Pierce.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1912-03-28

In a speech titled “Elementary Honor, Theodore Roosevelt responds to President William H. Taft.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1912

Theodore Roosevelt thanks William Warland Clapp for supporting his work as Civil Service Commissioner. Roosevelt says that he may be a small part of Benjamin Harrison’s administration but his policy must accepted as part of the administration’s policy. He says some “mugwumps” are trying to separate his work from the administration.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1889-07-02