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Primary sourcePainting9 November 1912

Two American Gentlemen

Charles Jay Budd · 9 November 1912

A 1912 Harper's Weekly cartoon honoring outgoing President Taft and president-elect Woodrow Wilson for the peaceful transfer of power.

The cartoon depicts Wilson as president-elect being congratulated by outgoing President Taft, marking his transition to office.

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Black-and-white cartoon titled 'Two American Gentlemen' from Harper's Weekly. Two men in suits shake hands on the left; the man on the left holds a top hat and has a large mustache, and the man on the right holds a silk hat. A seated woman in a draped star-spangled robe with a cap of stars sits on a stone bench on the right, arms outstretched, with a book beside her. A dove is shown near the bench. Caption reads 'Congratulations, Mr. President' and 'Thank you, Mr. President'.
Charles Jay Budd, "Two American Gentlemen," Harper's Weekly, 9 November 1912.

About this source

What it is

This cartoon, drawn by Charles Jay Budd and published in Harper's Weekly on 9 November 1912, depicts President William Howard Taft and president-elect Woodrow Wilson shaking hands, watched by a female figure representing America.

Why it matters

The cartoon celebrates the peaceful transition from one political party to another after the 1912 election. It reflects a real moment of cordiality between Taft and Wilson, who met in person during the campaign when they discovered they were staying at the same hotel.

Look closer

  • Why might the artist have chosen to show the two men shaking hands rather than competing?
  • What does the female figure representing America symbolize in this scene?
  • What does this cartoon suggest about how the press wanted to frame political rivalry in 1912?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Woodrow Wilson on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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