Teddy and taft
Describe how Teddy is dressed
In the political cartoon, Teddy Roosevelt is dressed as a small female shepherd, with a shephard's crook, which represents Roosevelt's policies, in one arm. He seems jolly and comfortable next to the large sheep, which represents William Howard Taft. Roosevelt is the sheepherder who hopes to control/guide Taft throughout the latter's presidency.
Describe how Taft is portrayed
Taft is portrayed as a passive and quite large individual by the big sheep next to Roosevelt. The sheep/Taft is wearing a tag that says "T.R", which represents how Taft was expected to follow Roosevelt's policies. Taft is also portrayed as a somewhat strategic and sly individual.
What is the message of this political cartoon?
The message of this political cartoon is that Theodore Roosevelt's plans to curb and control Taft's powers as president so that his own political policies would survive did not follow through. While TR chose Taft as his "successor" and hoped that the corpulent man would continue TR's policies, Taft increasingly angered/displeased Roosevelt and soon became enemies with him.
BONUS!!!! Why did the artist choose to characterize Teddy and Taft in this manner? The artist chose to characterize Teddy and Taft in this manner in order to depict them as jovial and friendly acquaintances who quickly became enemies. Although Taft had originally been expected to follow Teddy's policies and meet his desires, it was later evident that Taft was not as liberal as Roosevelt and did not wish to follow all of TR's policies. For example, Taft tried to break apart the U.S. Steel despite TR's approval of the trust. The breaking apart of their friendship would depict the schism that formed within the Republican Party between the Old Guard Republicans and Progressive Republicans.
In the political cartoon, Teddy Roosevelt is dressed as a small female shepherd, with a shephard's crook, which represents Roosevelt's policies, in one arm. He seems jolly and comfortable next to the large sheep, which represents William Howard Taft. Roosevelt is the sheepherder who hopes to control/guide Taft throughout the latter's presidency.
Describe how Taft is portrayed
Taft is portrayed as a passive and quite large individual by the big sheep next to Roosevelt. The sheep/Taft is wearing a tag that says "T.R", which represents how Taft was expected to follow Roosevelt's policies. Taft is also portrayed as a somewhat strategic and sly individual.
What is the message of this political cartoon?
The message of this political cartoon is that Theodore Roosevelt's plans to curb and control Taft's powers as president so that his own political policies would survive did not follow through. While TR chose Taft as his "successor" and hoped that the corpulent man would continue TR's policies, Taft increasingly angered/displeased Roosevelt and soon became enemies with him.
BONUS!!!! Why did the artist choose to characterize Teddy and Taft in this manner? The artist chose to characterize Teddy and Taft in this manner in order to depict them as jovial and friendly acquaintances who quickly became enemies. Although Taft had originally been expected to follow Teddy's policies and meet his desires, it was later evident that Taft was not as liberal as Roosevelt and did not wish to follow all of TR's policies. For example, Taft tried to break apart the U.S. Steel despite TR's approval of the trust. The breaking apart of their friendship would depict the schism that formed within the Republican Party between the Old Guard Republicans and Progressive Republicans.