Life, 1925-02-19 · page 25 of 37
Life — February 19, 1925 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes President Calvin Coolidge's management style in the White House. The top cartoon depicts Coolidge as casually dismissive and distracted—tossing his hat across the room, rushing through important matters (a Japanese diplomatic protest, hiring decisions), and issuing rapid-fire orders without engaging substantively. The satire mocks the "popular notion" that he runs the government through superficial efficiency rather than genuine attention to detail. The smaller cartoons below ridicule various subordinates and their fumbling attempts at competence. One shows a child mimicking George Washington's "I cannot tell a lie" speech while actually having broken something—suggesting government dishonesty masked by patriotic rhetoric. The final exchange about a "plant manager" who merely "waters geraniums" mocks the absurdity of inflated job titles for menial work—a jab at government bureaucratic bloat and incompetence. The overall target: Coolidge-era administrative governance as performative busyness concealing actual ineffectiveness.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Business Administration (According to the Popular Notion) (President Coolidge breezes into White House office, on rack and sits down to desk on part of staff.) skims hat across room to pe se and sudden acti : ‘Morning, ‘morning, everybody. Entire Starr (deferentially) : Good morning, boss. Peesipent: Now, then, let's see how much work we can Want to start the week off with a Well, then, get cleaned up to-day. ;! Show competitors where to get off. New, what's in the mail this morning? PostMaster-GeneraL: Letter from Emperor of Japan sir, protesting against our turning out these new 7 submarines. Says—— Meestpent: Damn nuisance, that fellow. Turn matter over to Wilbur. In his department. Tell him settle affair h form letter. Don't annoy me with details. Very busy n. Oh, by the way, Dawes, howzzat new man—oh— g—catching on? Vice-Presinent: Seems to be taking hold fine, sir. He was hard at his books and had his eye-shade on when | came in this morning: Peesipent: Splendid spirit, splendid. Keep eye on him operation of all hands—that’s the ticket. Want every- dy to feel this is just one big happy family. Thought oh—Kellogg would make out all right when I hired Yoo bad that chap Hughes left, though. Good man. s. Would have made something of himself if he'd yed with us. Don't like idea his branching out for him Wildcat scheme. Risky. Oh, well—come, come, me, little more activity around here—want to get things eff with a bang! Mrs. Wildebrandt. take letter Premier Herriot—address on file—"Di Mr. Herriot”—better make MY LITTLE HATCHET. Tony: WA!—I SHAVA DA SKIN OFFA You! Kid: AW, THAT'S THE WORST OF YOU FOREIGNERS—YOU NEVER MAKE THE RIGHT COME-BACK, Swatt (junior lightweight): vat’s Great, Matzie! NOW SING ME OLD FAVORITE, “HEARTS AND CAULIFLOWERS. it “monsieur” instead of “mister”—these foreigners so damn, pardon me, so darn touchy—“Replying to yours of four- teenth instant, would say that all our accounts must be adjusted by first of every month and no special considera- nd so forth.” Dawes, did you tell that new man in charge of the legal department—what's his name—oh, yes, Warren, did you tell Warren to fix up papers about renewing the White House lease? Vice-Presinent: Yes, sir. he can do it O. K. Presivent: Fine, fine. Peps up whole organization knowing going to continue work same pleasant quarters. Pass word around Cabinet must have important conference eleven sharp. supply ten-dollar gold pieces to out—shiny ones. Want this week to be best in history of the business. Drum up trade. et things going with— Extire Starr: Yes, sir—a bang! Tip Bliss, s shown any customer, very. sincerely, Thinks The Busy Executive “WHAT you doing now, Bill?” Kid (emulating the Father of His Country): 1 CAN'T TELL A LIE, 1 DID IT WITH ’m plant manager for old Skidrox.” “Plant manager! What do you have to do “Water the geraniums.” comicbooks.com