Life — July 28, 1910 — page 15: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon depicts William Howard Taft (U.S. President 1909-1913) as Sisyphus, the mythological figure condemned to eternally roll a boulder uphill. The boulder is labeled "POLICIES" and "PLEDGES," suggesting Taft's struggle to implement his agenda or fulfill campaign promises. The caricature emphasizes Taft's rotund physique, which was frequently mocked in political satire of the era. The cartoon satirizes his presidency as futile and exhausting—his efforts perpetually rolling back down, never reaching completion. This likely reflects contemporary criticism that Taft was ineffectual compared to his predecessor Theodore Roosevelt, or that his policies faced constant obstruction. The classical allusion elevates the critique from mere political disagreement to a commentary on the hopelessness of his administration's direction.