United States. Congress

In the first vignette, President Roosevelt hugs Benjamin F. Barnes. Caption: If the president was your friend— In the second, Roosevelt thinks about a woman being thrown out of the White House as he looks at Barnes. Caption: —And he grinned when you committed assault and battery. In the third, Roosevelt hands Barnes a “postmaster of D.C.” paper. Caption: —And rewarded you with a fair job. In the fourth, Barnes thinks about congratulations from “Congress,” “Nova Scotia,” and “Washington.” Caption: —And you expected something like this. In the fifth vignette, Barnes is punched in the nose by “public disapproval.” Caption: And got this— In the sixth vignette, Barnes says, “Oh!” Caption: Wouldn’t it jar you?

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-04

President Roosevelt plays a fife as Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon and South Carolina Senator Benjamin R. Tillman beat on “House” and “Senate” drums respectively. William Loeb walks behind them with a “railroad rate bill” flag that uses a “big stick” and pitchfork as a flag pole. They are dressed in colonial attire, in a recreation of the famous painting The Spirit of ’76 by Archibald Willard.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-21

President Roosevelt drives a “railroad reform” car with William Loeb and a “railroad rate regulation bill” in it across a “Congress” bridge toward a “railroad opposition” car.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-10-05

A number of men offer papers to President Roosevelt that read, “latest roster of Roosevelt’s cabinet,” “the message to Congress,” “the President’s Southern tour,” “reorganized cabinet,” “what the President will do to Congress,” “outline of Roosevelt’s foreign policies,” and “Roosevelt and 1908.” There are also three barrels beside him: “good advice from Neb.,” “good advice from Nebraska,” and “more good advice from Nebr.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-10-02

President Roosevelt prepares a cannon labeled “the message” as the “House,” “Senate,” and “trusts” run away. He stands beside a “square deal” flag.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-28

President Roosevelt holds a “legislation” gun that is smoking as two dogs—”the Senate” and “the House”—run away.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-31

Speaker of the House Joseph Gurney Cannon hides behind the United States Capitol building as President Roosevelt, who rides an elephant, charges toward him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-03

In the first vignette, Benjamin B. Odell pulls New York Senator Thomas Collier Platt’s leg as he holds onto a tree. Caption: Rubber. In the second vignette, President Roosevelt—”the good fairy”—holds a “power” wand and taps an “inter-state commerce bill” on the stomach of the “oppressive trusts.” Caption: Roosevelt, “Tag, you’re it.” In the third vignette, John D. Rockefeller pours “Standard oil” into “Congressional waters.” Caption: In his great act.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-14

In the first half of the cartoon, President Roosevelt rides a “Congress” horse toward a “tariff revision” hurdle that Uncle Sam holds up. Caption: The Grand Stand: “Go it, Teddy! Go it, Cong—” In the second half, Congress reaches the hurdle and stops, but Roosevelt has jumped over the hurdle. Caption: “—Aw, h—!”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-13

In the top part of the cartoon, President Roosevelt bows to a seated “Congress,” who holds an empty dance program. Caption: Congress—”No, thanks, I think I’ll not dance.” In the bottom part, “Congress” finds herself with dancing with Roosevelt and a full dance program featuring variations on Roosevelt’s name. Caption: Mr. Roosevelt—”O, nonsense, come on. Get busy. Don’t be a wall flower.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905

Several articles from the Commercial Advertiser are highlighted. They discuss the “terrible” precedent that President Roosevelt set by inviting the African American educator Booker T. Washington to dinner, and criticize Congress for its conduct during the most recent legislative session.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-03-04

The House of Delegates of Puerto Rico submits a resolution to the United States Congress seeking protection for Puerto Rican sugars.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-01-04

President Roosevelt conducts the orchestra at the “Congressional Vaudeville” with a baton labeled “The Big Stick,” with two band members, Elihu Root and William H. Taft, performing “Overture President’s Message.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

This cover cartoon in Puck Magazine appeared one week before President Roosevelt’s annual message. The address was anticipated more than many previous such messages (mandated by the Constitution, but its timing and frequency a matter of tradition, as is its common name, the State of the Union address) because 1906 had been tumultuous year in Washington by any measure; and Roosevelt recently had returned from a trip to Panama to inspect progress on the canal.

President Roosevelt writes to Joseph Bucklin Bishop to discuss appointing Bishop and Colonel George W. Goethals as consultants to Congress regarding the Panama Canal project.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1907-11-27

Congressman Jenkins outlines his beliefs on the trusts. He believes that the first step towards remedying some of the evils that trusts bring would be to grant Congress the power to regulate them. Until this is done, he says, constitutional restrictions make legislation ineffective.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-07-10

Congress authorizes President Roosevelt to purchase the interests of the New Panama Canal Company of France and to construct the Panama Canal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-06-28

Chairman Bacon announces a convention of delegates to be held in Chicago, Illinois, which is intended to impress upon the United States Congress the need for railroad rate regulation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-18

President Roosevelt tells his son Kermit that there has been considerable grumbling over his order regarding physical exercise. In order to put a stop to it, Roosevelt decided to ride 90 miles in one day himself. He and three others rode from Washington, D.C., to Warrenton and back, a distance of 98 miles, beginning at 3:30 a.m. and returning at 8:30 p.m.

Congress feels they do not have to listen to the President since his term is nearly up and he expects fights over some veto messages he will send. He will start his libel suits against The World and the Indianapolis News. Roosevelt says he and Mother have enjoyed life at the White House but are ready to leave.

Collection

Harvard College Library

President Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit about finishing a speech and making more plans for their African trip including vaccinations and rifle practice. He is struggling with Congress to get battleships, to settle the California/Japan matter, and over Congress asking for confidential information from Commissioner of Corporations Herbert Knox Smith.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1909-01-23

President Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit to tell him about the dance they had for Ethel Roosevelt at the White House and his trouble with Congress over the Secret Service. He goes into detail about the guns they will be using on their African hunting trip, including one lent to them by John Jay White. He adds that Quentin Roosevelt was punished for leaving school without permission and he and Mother are worried about him. Roosevelt enclosed a list of the English donors of his rifle.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1909-01-10