Your TR Source
Two photographs of Nicholas Laub’s “reversible mountain climber” shoes in action. A pair was gifted to Theodore Roosevelt in 1903.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-01
President Roosevelt wears a mask and sits at a desk with Secret Service reports. On the wall are “Rogue’s Gallery no. 1–Members of Congress,” a “list of undesirable citizens–Harriman, Rockefeller, Foraker, Haskell, and Tilman,” and a March 1909 calendar. On the other wall is a sign–“Old Sleuth Hawkshaw & Co.: Private Investigations. Shadowing”–and some disguises, including “mollycoddle masks,” “Ananias masks,” “malefactors of great wealth,’ and a coat “for the frivolous judge disguise.” On the ground are “gum shoes” and a “Muck Rake” cat.
As President Roosevelt’s term drew to a close, many Democratic cartoonists who had routinely criticized him continued without abatement. Other partisans seized the opportunity to increase their level of bitterness and ridicule while he was on his way out.
Uncle Sam looks at a small William Jennings Bryan trying to fit into “Roosevelt policies” shoes and says, “You may claim them, but you can never fill them.”
Archibald G. Allan’s political cartoon can be dissected for its relatively amateurish composition, its clear bias, even a hint of vicious depiction of William Jennings Bryan, but it carries an abundance of clarity and meaning in its one frame. After more than a dozen years as a disruptive and even revolutionary force in American politics, Bryan almost single-handedly introduced new perspectives, new agendas, and new policies before the public. Inspired by the Populists, he captured one of the two major political parties and dominated its positions and the larger public debates to the extent that he crowded other Democrats from upper echelons of the party and was thrice its presidential candidate. Rejected as president by the electorate, he nevertheless inspired a subsequent generation of politicians and activists, and clearly was a godfather of reform at all levels of American politics.
In the first vignette, Alton B. Parker knocks on the door of August Belmont. Caption: Mr. Parker—”Did I understand that there was a $50,000 job vacant around here?” In the second, Henry Gassaway Davis holds a large money barrel while President Roosevelt walks away with West Virginia woman. Caption: At last reports Uncle Henry Davis was still holding his own. In the third, “Dr. Bryan,” “Dr. Hearst,” and “Dr. Watson” all attempt to doctor a bandaged Democratic donkey. Caption: The Doctors—”Cheer up, we’ll begin work on you again.” In the fourth vignette, William Preston Harrison walks from the “West Side” to the “North Side.” Caption: William Preston Harrison leaves from again. In the fifth, Parker stands beside William H. Douglas who holds a sign with a shoe on it that reads, “It pays to advertise.” In the sixth, Chicago Mayor Carter H. Harrison stares at a sign that reads, “Wisconsin for Roosevelt . . . 50,000—Illinois for Roosevelt . . . 230,000—Indiana for Roosevelt . . . 60,000.” Caption: The states he promised Parker.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-10
An invoice from the Army & Navy Co-Operative Society to President Roosevelt for aluminum felt-covered water bottles, shoes, and mosquito boots.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-29
Print shows an Irishman man labeled “Democracy” standing at center, holding a small glass slipper labeled “’84 Presidential Nomination”, with Samuel J. Tilden and Charles A. Dana as courtiers standing behind him. On the left, sitting in a chair is Benjamin F. Butler, as a housemaid, holding up a huge foot, an oversized shoe labeled “Unanimous Renomination” is on the floor next to the chair. Butler claims to be “Cinderella” (and like Dickens’ “Barkis,” he is willing), though the others look with dismay at the size of his foot. Caption: B. Butler “Here’s your Cinderella, gentlemen – you needn’t go any further.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-10-03
An old woman labeled “Monopoly Tariff” sits next to an old shoe labeled “Special Privilege,” around which a number of children are playing. The children all represent a “Trust” and are labeled “Tool, Steel, Copper, Lumber, Sugar, Rubber, Beef, Coal, Tobacco, Clothing, Watch, Leather, Paper, [and] Linen.” Caption: There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, / Whose progeny here are presented by Pughe. / She petted and pampered and coddled the brats, / And guarded her brood from the bad Democrats.
Puck‘s turn on the traditional nursery rhyme could have been published a quarter-century earlier — and was, in variant forms — so standard were the realities and criticisms, with allowance for satirical hyperbole, through the years. In 1908 the trusts surely were in retreat, or at least defensive mode, thanks to awakened public attitudes, revelations by muckraking journalists, and the effect of governmental lawsuits, regulations, and legislation.
If this cartoon contains differences from traditional attacks, many of the “progeny” are overfed brats, hardly innocent children; and readers are given a clue about the pronunciation of the cartooning Welshman’s name. Most of the children are generic, but J. S. Pughe did not resist making the “clothing trust” kid look like a Jewish tailor.
A cartoon uses various sizes of shoes, from booties to riding boots, to create a “portrait” of the Roosevelt family.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1901-1908
1880s advertising card for shoes from Reynolds Brothers. Features a picture of a young girl with dog.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1880-1890
Theodore Roosevelt thanks C. A. Battreall, and notes that he is sending shoes at Battreall’s request.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1917-11-26
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1917-11-01
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1917-10-26
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
President Roosevelt tells Edward North Buxton that his son Kermit wants the same shoes that Buxton ordered for him. He also asks Buxton to forward an enclosed unsealed letter to Alfred E. Pease. Roosevelt discusses travel plans for his upcoming safari. He is debating whether to start at Pease’s ranch, or to take a trip into the desert. Although he appreciates Buxton’s suggestions, he believes he will not go to Uganda.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-28
President Roosevelt updates his son, Kermit, on the delayed rubber-soled shoe order. Kermit should receive the shoes soon. Roosevelt is currently very busy. He enjoyed shooting the double-barreled 450 rifle, but disagrees with the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions. He has given directions about the pipe tobacco, and reports that the pigskin library for the trip is “well under way.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-04
President Roosevelt thinks Ambassador Reid made the right call on not sending him the boots and shoes, as it would have violated a rule set out by the State Department. Because the rifle that had been sent to Roosevelt will be sent back immediately after he tests it, the circumstances surrounding it are different.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-09
President Roosevelt is glad Kermit Roosevelt will be trying out for the football team and taking six half courses, even if it will be difficult. Roosevelt discusses some of the supplies that he has recently received in preparation for their safari, and asks Kermit how many pairs of shoes he will want.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-06
President Roosevelt finds fault with the shoe manufacturing company Potbury & Lee for the boots they have made, as they were much too small. Roosevelt will keep one pair for his son, Kermit Roosevelt, but has no use for the other and therefore returns it. He also sends Potbury & Lee a pair of shoes that he asks them to duplicate exactly. He admonishes them for making a mistake about the boots, as they have based them on a pair of his city shoes, which he does not wear with large socks.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-15
President Roosevelt asks Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte if Secretary of War William H. Taft has spoken to him about a shoe contractor from Philadelphia. Roosevelt understands that he should not be allowed to bid in any Army or Navy competition because of his “scoundrelly conduct in the past.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-03
President Roosevelt gives Governor-elect Guild permission to make his statement public. He says that there is no sign that any leaders in Congress are willing to take up tariff revision, and Roosevelt feels it is foolish to attempt to bring up the issue if it has no effective backing. He also praises Lieutenant-Governor-elect Eben S. Draper.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-12
Dean Sage should address President Roosevelt as Mr. Roosevelt or Colonel, whichever he prefers. Roosevelt would like to hear about the shoes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-08