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The "Third Term" Trap

The "Third Term" Trap
Artist
Thomas Nast, 27 Sep 1840 - 7 Dec 1902
Publication
Harper's Weekly, active 1857 - 1916
Sitter
John Frederick Hartranft, 16 Dec 1830 - 17 Oct 1889
Ulysses Simpson Grant, 27 Apr 1822 - 23 Jul 1885
Date
June 26, 1875
Type
Print
Medium
Wood engraving on paper
Dimensions
Image: 23.7 × 36.4 cm (9 5/16 × 14 5/16")
Sheet: 27.3 × 40.3 cm (10 3/4 × 15 7/8")
Topic
Personal Attribute\Facial Hair\Mustache
Costume\Headgear\Hat\Top hat
Personal Attribute\Facial Hair\Beard
Imaginary
Architecture\Building\Capitol\US Capitol
Nature & Environment\Animal\Elephant
Newspaper
Cartoon\Political
John Frederick Hartranft: Male
John Frederick Hartranft: Politics and Government\Governor\Pennsylvania
Ulysses Simpson Grant: Male
Ulysses Simpson Grant: Natural Resource Occupations\Agriculturist\Farmer
Ulysses Simpson Grant: Politics and Government\Cabinet member\Secretary of War
Ulysses Simpson Grant: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War
Ulysses Simpson Grant: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General
Ulysses Simpson Grant: Politics and Government\President of US
Ulysses Simpson Grant: Congressional Gold Medal
Portrait
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Object number
S/NPG.76.16
Exhibition Label
In spite of the controversies of fraud and graft that buffeted Grant’s presidency, he remained popular with voters in the North, who were confident in his innate decency. Nevertheless, Grant was weary of his executive duties, and he began looking forward to the end of his second term. Amidst the calls for him to seek an unprecedented third term, there were critics who were calling such an idea “Caesarism.” Thomas Nast caricatured Grant’s situation in this cartoon. Here, Governor John Hartranft of Pennsylvania lays down his state’s resolution against a third term in the form of a plank. It represents his hope to drive voter momentum, which is represented by an elephant, the symbol of the Republican Party. Grant looks on in agreement, and declares, “If that don’t fetch the animal, Governor, don’t blame me any more.”
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Location
Currently not on view