Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

Political Bandanna or Banner for Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919)
1912
Maker not marked
USA
Cotton; ink
overall: 20"h x 20"w
Gift of Ann L. Armstrong
2003.009

Political campaign bandanna for Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919). Red cotton square bandanna or banner with outer border that shows pattern of Theodore Roosevelt cartoon portrait wearing cowboy hat, glasses and neckerchief. The center is red with a series of the initials "TR" in white. In center of bandanna is a red cowboy hat, surrounded by a white stitched square.

Despite his vow not to run for a third term in 1908, Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) did run for president in 1912 on the Progressive Party ticket. The campaign textiles waved by his supporters show a number of well-known Roosevelt emblems: a stick, recalling his fondness for the proverb, "Walk softly and carry a big stick"; the elderly bear that he famously spared on a big game hunt; and his glasses, grin and cowboy hat. The 1912 field also included Democrat Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924) and incumbent Republican president William H. Taft (1857-1930). Wilson won the race over Roosevelt, with Taft placing a distant third.