Solomon, King of Israel

Henry Wallace sends Theodore Roosevelt a copy of his speech on the Rural Church and a book he wrote twelve years ago about trusts. He enjoyed Roosevelt’s recent article in the Outlook, especially because he was preparing to give a lecture about King Solomon. After a lecture series in February or March, he will visit their mutual friends and plans to see Roosevelt. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-04

Uncle Sam, with a sword across his lap, as King Solomon, holds up an imp labeled “My Policies.” William Jennings Bryan, taking a hard line, and William H. Taft, appealing for mercy, address “Solomon.” A distressed Theodore Roosevelt, fearing for his policies, observes the proceedings from around the corner.

comments and context

Comments and Context

The cartoonist Udo J. Keppler borrows here from the Biblical account of two women claiming parentage of a baby in their shared household, after another baby died. The verdict of the wise King Solomon, as recorded in I Samuel chapter 3, responding to the unrelenting pleas of the women, was to threaten to cut the baby in two. One women pleaded to be released of her claim, so the baby could be spared. Solomon decreed that this woman must have been the mother — willing to lose her child so that it might live.

President Taft, as Solomon, holds a baby elephant labeled “G.O.P.” aloft in one hand and a large sword labeled “Party Cleaver” in the other. One man labeled “Stand-Patter” pleads for Solomon Taft to spare the elephant. Another man labeled “Insurgent” stands to the right looking concerned, but not pleading for mercy.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1911-11-29

Theodore Roosevelt, on his way to the “Hall of Fame,” passes between two rows of kings, emperors, military leaders, statesmen, and others, including, on the left, “Alexander, Nimrod, Caesar, Joshua, Solomon, Moses,” and possibly Ramses I, King of Egypt; and on the right, “Wellington, Washington, Napoleon I, Frederick the Great, Cromwell, Shakespere [sic], Luther,” and two unidentified kings, possibly William I and Richard I, kings of England.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1912-09-04