White House (Washington, D.C.)

In the upper left hand corner, a man measures the door of the White House at five feet while Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks stands at six feet, four inches. In the upper right hand corner, Samuel G. Blythe, president of the Gridiron Club, stands as President Roosevelt and Vice President Fairbanks remain seated. In the lower left hand corner is a man dressed up as “Cuba,” and in the lower right hand corner Clifford Kennedy Berryman gives a chalk talk about the teddy bear with the caption, “Initiation Act.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

The exigencies of newspaper publication deadlines seem evident in this cartoon. One of the most famous altercations of the American presidency — certainly the most contentious of a Washington D.C., institution, the annual Gridiron Club dinner — was depicted by an artist of the morning Washington Herald on the published date of the dinner. The anomaly is that the cartoon’s vignettes are presented as a round-up, but a cartoon drawn actually after the fact could not have avoided the tense confrontations at the dinner.

President Roosevelt holds an “ink” bottle and “the message” and marches toward “Pine (K)not.” In the background, cannon balls labeled “N.Y. call for help” assault the White House.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-01

A “meat packer” and a “beef trust” man sit outside of the White House covered in bandages. The “meat packer” asks, “Aren’t you glad Bryan wasn’t elected?”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-12

President Roosevelt lights a “Taft boom” stick of dynamite outside of the “White House.” Beside him are previously lit sticks of dynamite: “Fairbanks boom,” “Shaw boom,” “Root boom,” and “Cannon boom.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-06-22

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

On the left side of the cartoon, President Roosevelt gives a “D.C.” man a “post master” cigar. Roosevelt says, “Have a cigar.” On the right side, the man smokes out a picture of Benjamin F. “Barnes.” Roosevelt says, “April Fool!”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-02

In the first vignette, Benjamin F. Barnes sits in a “Nova Scotia” cradle. Caption: If you were born in Nova Scotia— In second vignette, Barnes types on a typewriter. Caption: And you clerked in the district— In the third, a woman is thrown out of the “White House.” Caption: And you threw a woman out of your office— In the fourth vignette, the “president” kicks Barnes out of the White House. Caption: And instead of getting this— In the fifth, President Roosevelt hands Barnes a “postmaster D.C.” paper. Caption: You got this! In the sixth, Barnes says, “Oh joy!” Caption: Wouldn’t it jar you?

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-03

President Roosevelt camps outside of the “White House,” which is full of gifts. He reads a book entitled “The Simple Life,” as he cooks food over a fire.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02

President Roosevelt walks away from the “White House” holding the “big stick” with a “Hepburn rate bill” on the end of it. South Carolina Senator Benjamin R. Tillman holds the bottom of the big stick.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01

President Roosevelt leaves the White House with a gun and a “Senatorial game bag.” He encounters a number of animal traps: “railway rate trap,” “Panama trap,” “federal ins. trap,” “Santo Domingo trap,” “Venezuela trap,” “German tariff trap,” “state interference trap,” and “campaign expenses trap.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-03

South Carolina Benjamin R. Tillman holds a pitchfork and rides down “Pennsylvania Avenue” on a donkey toward the White House where President Roosevelt hides.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-20

President Roosevelt stands outside the “White House” and fires a “stand pat (?)” cannon toward “Fort Whitney” that has a “free hides” flag. The following words emanate from the cannon ball: “Liar!” “Misrepresentation!” and “Can’t meet you, Sir!”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-22

Cabinet officers march out of the “White House” with each one holding an axe: Secretary of State Elihu Root, Secretary of War William H. Taft, Secretary of the Navy Charles J. Bonaparte, Attorney General William H. Moody, Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw, Postmaster General George B. Cortelyou, Secretary of Commerce and Labor Victor H. Metcalf, Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson, and Secretary of the Interior Ethan A. Hitchcock. A bald eagle looks on and says, “Gee whiz!” Caption: Shade of George Washington!

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-10-18

“The Press” looks a number of cabinet officers who have gags in their mouths: Secretary of State Elihu Root, Secretary of War William H. Taft, Secretary of the Navy Charles J. Bonaparte, Attorney General William H. Moody, Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw, Postmaster General George B. Cortelyou, Secretary of Commerce and Labor Victor H. Metcalf, and Secretary of the Interior Ethan A. Hitchcock. The “White House” is in the background. Caption: “Think twice before you speak, then talk to yourself.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-10-19

President Roosevelt points his finger at a pile of football players on the lawn of “the White House Athletic Field.” A cage with the words “the new mascot—peace” is on the ground while as the wall has a sign that reads “teams coached under the new rules.” German Emperor William II, surrounded by instruments, looks over the wall. Caption: The Kaiser—(enviously)—Just wait until he tries to lead an orchestra.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-10-11

President Roosevelt pulls one football player off from another player. A group of “decent athletes” cheers. In the background is the “White House,” a dove carrying the “peace of Portsmouth,” a “hunting trophy,” “San Juan Hill,” “settling the coal strike,” “Panama,” and a “past performances” big stick. Caption: How the doctrine of the strenuous life goes hand in hand with the gospel of clean sport.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-10-11

Two little bears look at a crying mama bear. Caption: Little Bear-rug—”Where’s papa gone to? Won’t we never see him any more?” Mrs. Widow Bear-rug—”Your father, children, has a prominent place in the white-house. We ought to feel very proud of him, and maybe maybe we’ll all go there some day, darlings.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-24

President Roosevelt points to the White House, which has four bear pelts on it. Uncle Sam and a patriotic lady bow toward it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-12

President Roosevelt carries several bear carcasses on his back as he walks up to the White House gates. A “treasury deficit” elephant greets him and says, “I, too, have been busy.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-11

President Roosevelt holds his gun and walks away from the White House toward “Texas.” A stork and an eagle wish him off, saying, “Have a good time.” 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-03