Prophecy

William II, German Emperor, pushes a statue of “Frederick the Great” seated on horseback, behind a female figure labeled “‘Cassandra’ Stephens,” who is approaching Uncle Sam sitting on the U.S. Capitol Building. “Cassandra” represents a public personage named Stephens, nicknamed in the cartoon for the Greek goddess with the gift of prophecy.

comments and context

Comments and Context

The statue of Frederick the Great was one of Germany’s gestures associated with the American visit of Prince Henry, the Kaiser’s brother, in 1902. The legendary leader was an ancestor of Kaiser Wilhelm and Prince Henry. The equestrian statue originally was placed in front of Roosevelt Hall at the Army War College in Washington, D.C. Because of sensibilities during two World Wars, as well as the relocation of the War College itself, the statue has also stood at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, and its current location at the Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The figure “Stephens” in Pughe’s cartoon is lost to history.

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Father Zahm for his continued friendship during his campaign and hopes that his prophecy is coming true.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-06-06

President Roosevelt tells George Cabot Lee that “one would have to be the seventh son of a seventh son to prophesy about Russia.” He believes that there is currently a slight chance against a serious revolution happening in the near future, and that if Emperor Nicholas II makes a good-faith effort to work with the moderate party revolution can possibly be avoided.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-27

Elizabeth C. Flanigan believes she and Theodore Roosevelt are two prophets through whom the visions she has seen will come to pass. She shares some of her apocalyptic dreams, similar to those in the Book of Revelation, and compares herself and Roosevelt to Saint Paul and Saint John.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-28

George F. Hoar is a modern-day Cassandra prophesying doom, which evokes the laughter of President William McKinley, William R. Day, William T. Sampson, and Wesley Merritt.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1899-02-08