Theodore Roosevelt in Political Cartoons
David C. Hanson, Virginia Western Community College
Bull Moose candidate
In the early twentieth century, the proliferation of newspapers and pulp magazines with wide circulation provided the perfect vehicle for political cartoonists to communicate their commentaries. Political cartoons in America go back to the colonial era [example: 1765 engraving by Paul Revere protesting the Stamp Act]. Once the new nation was founded, Republicans attacked Washington and other Federalists in scathing cartoons, and the Federalists retaliated against Jefferson and his party. Jackson was assailed in numerous caricatures, as was Lincoln. Then in the late nineteenth century, Thomas Nast perfected the art, creating the enduring symbols of the elephant for Republicans and the donkey for Democrats. His cartoons attacking William Marcy Tweed, boss of New York's Tammany Hall machine, probably played an important role in Tweed's demise. Tweed was an ideal target, but no political figure was more perfectly suited for the art of political cartoons than Theodore Roosevelt. "His gleaming, oversized front teeth, bull neck, pince-nez glasses, and of course, big stick begged to be caricatured. Cartoonists did not have to stretch the imagination to cast Teddy larger than life; he specialized in that department long before he reached the White House" [James Davidson and Mark Lytle, After the Fact: The Art of Historical Detection].
Attached is an annotated collection of just a few of the many political cartoons depicting the colorful life of Teddy Roosevelt. [Click on each image for the full-size cartoon.] From his days as a rancher in the Badlands of Dakota, reform politician in New York, colonel of the Rough Riders in the Spanish-American War, 26th President, big game hunter in Africa, and explorer in Brazil, Teddy was indeed sui generis.
From Kettle Hill to Capitol Hill
Roosevelt returned from the Spanish-American war to run for Governor of New York. (Cartoon by Charles Bush, 1898)
Origin of the Teddy Bear
Roosevelt was an avid outdoorsman and hunter. He once refused to shoot a small bear on a Mississippi hunting trip and the incident led to the origin of the "teddy bear" as a popular child's toy. His bear friend became a common sidekick in many subsequent cartoons. (Cartoon by Clifford Berryman)
Standing up to Big Business
Upon the assassination of President McKinley, Roosevelt entered office at a time when the giants of business like J. P. Morgan and John D. Rockefeller seemed to dominate the country. Before long the situation was radically different. (Note the bear in the cartoon.)
Teddy the Trust Buster
The familiar theme of Teddy taming the lions (the trusts) in the den of Wall Street
.
Through Treacherous Waters
This cartoon alludes to the perilous course Roosevelt took in his challenges to the status quo.
Teddy the Muckraker
One of Roosevelt's toughest fights was getting the Meat Inspection Act of 1906 through Congress. As depicted here, he used an independent investigation as leverage. The irony of this cartoon is that TR coined the term "muckrakers" as a criticism of journalists like Upton Sinclair, author of The Jungle.
Riding the Elephant
Roosevelt often found himself faced with a difficult path leading the Republican party against opposition to his reforms. (Cartoon by W. A. Rogers, 1905)
The Panama Canal
One of Roosevelt's proudest accomplishments--and most controversial--was acquiring U.S. rights to building and operating a canal in Panama. This cartoon shows him throwing dirt on the Colombian capital. (Cartoon by W. A. Rogers)
Off to Pine Knot
This cartoon makes fun of Roosevelt heading off for a vacation at Pine Knot, his retreat near Charlottesville, Virginia, in the middle of the 1902 coal strike. With winter approaching, he eventually settled the impasse by threatening to have the Army run the mines, winning the gratitude of striking mine workers and the worried public. (Note that Teddy and his sidekick are running from snowballs.)
Election of 1912
After losing the Republican nomination, Roosevelt ran as a "Bull Moose" Progressive party candidate. He finished second in the three-way race, spoiling Taft's bid for re-election by enabling Democrat Wilson to win the presidency. (Cartoon by C. Berryman)
DH 03/09/05
