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CHAPTER XXII
Refusing a Third Term
N
OTHING like the Roosevelt third-term movement had ever before been known in American history.    The struggle to give President Grant a third term was entered upon by his friends and political beneficiaries, in the very face of a disapproving national and party sentiment.    But the movement to give Roosevelt a third term

PRESIDENTIAL   TRANSPORTATION.—Both   cartoons on this page are from the Journal, Minneapolis the G. O. P. elephant :  " Come, Mr. President, I'll furnish you another free ride if you'll just get aboard.'

FOR RENT
WHITE HOUSE AFTER MAR-4-
1309 APPLY  TO UNCLE SAM

THE   HOUSE-HUNTERS    (BRYAN,   TAFT,   AND    FAIRBANKS) bbyan :   " That  house  looks  good  to  me,  if  the  present   occupant really expects to give it up."

Refusing a Third Term

163

JUST   A   LITTLE   BIT   NERVOUS
the elephant : " I don't like the looks of that fellow,   Theodore.     You'd  better  stay   with  me  till
past 1908."—From the Saturday Globe  (Utica)

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was national and almost irresistible, ^and its successful resistance was due to hi's own firm will and the use of his prestige and power to secure a different result.    -

Naturally the Republican party desired success, and it was sure to win under his leadership. But he had made his announcement on election night in 1904, and he saw no good reason for changing his mind. He was, of course, plainly bound not to seek in any way a renomination, or to abet the movement. There was, however, no reason of honor or good faith that could have prevented his taking the oath of office and serving again, if he had been nominated and elected.

THE HUNTER HUNTED From the Journal (Minneapolis)
ALTHOUGH PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT HAS " IRREVOCABLY " REFUSED THE THIRD TERM NOMINATION, IT MAY COME TO THIS IN 1908.
Prom the  Spokesman-Review   (Spokane)

164

A Cartoon History of Roosevelt's Career

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Refusing a Third Term

165

C.ESAR'S   NO! From  Puck.    Copyright   1908.     By  permission.
The President of the United States exercises in reality a greater power than do the hereditary rulers of monarchical countries. A masterful and positive President like Mr. Roosevelt, though loyal in all intent to the Constitution, drives swiftly to the ends he deems wise and right, and builds up for the executive an authority and an influence that tend to permeate the whole government. So popular a President as Roosevelt influences political situations in the States, and without any such precise purpose may bring under his moral sway many men in the Congresses he has helped to elect. He fills vacancies in the federal judiciary,—from the Supreme Bench to the district judgeships in all the States; and without a thought of undue influence over the judiciary, he may name a good many judges of his own way of thinking.
Thus the power of a strong President is cumulative; and there is wisdom and safety in the tradition that limits the President to a consecutive period of eight years. Mr. Roosevelt had not read American history amiss. If we had been in the thick of a great foreign war, and the country regardless of party had insisted upon his taking another term, he might have seen a sufficient reason for remaining at his post. But the country had an abundance of trained and capable men, and there was some reason to think that

166

A Cartoon History of Roosevelt's Career

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RELIEVING   THEIR, ANXIETY (The  aspirants   for   the  Presidential   nomination pressing Mr. Roosevelt to repeat his declaration that he would not run again.)
From the Evening Star   (Washington)
TEDDY AND   HIS  PRESIDENTIAL  SLATE From the American  (Nashville)
the time had come for a President of a different temperament. Few people will ever understand how great a pressure Mr. Roosevelt resisted. Even those politicians who were thought to be opposing him were constantly pressing the idea upon his attention. After it had become certain that Taft would win as against any of the other candidates, there was a renewed effort to nominate Roosevelt, both to make the election easier and also to clear the field for 1912.

THE   COUNTRY   IS   BACK   OF   HIM
Go ahead, Teddy ; whichever path you choose you have U. S. back of you. From the Journal (Minneapolis)

Refusing a Third Term

167

THE   PRESIDENT  AND  THE  GOVERNORS—ALSO   MR. BRYAN (Mr. Roosevelt had called the Governors of the States and others Into a great conference at the White House   in May, 1908, to consider the preservation of natural resources.)
From the Herald (Washington)
From the Eagle  (Brooklyn, N. Y.;
WE MUST PRESERVE OUR NATURAL RESOURCES."
FIRST  OF ALL
From the Eagle (Brooklyn, N. Y.)
A NATURAL RESOURCE
(Speaking of conserving our natural resources, Governor, do you think he could be 'nduced to accept a third term?)
From the Press   (New York)

168

A Cartoon History of Roosevelt's Career

YOU'VE GOT TO REFORM YOUR EXTRAVAGANT
HABITS, OLD MAN From the Herald (New Yorkt

THE  GOVERNORS '. (Were there moving pictures for the Governors?) Prom the Eagle (Brooklyn, N. Y.)

PRESERVE  THE  FORESTS From the Eagle (Brooklyn, N. Y.)