The Wasp — 1877 — page 140: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is the title/cover page of *The Illustrated Wasp*, a San Francisco satirical magazine costing 10 cents. The lower illustration, captioned "One of the First Experiences of a new President," depicts a bearded man (likely President Rutherford B. Hayes, inaugurated March 1877) holding a basket labeled "OFFICES" above his head while surrounded by aggressive dogs snapping at him. The satire targets the immediate post-election chaos of presidential patronage—the overwhelming demands from party members seeking government positions. The dogs represent hungry office-seekers attacking the new president for their share of government jobs. This reflects the intense pressure Hayes faced regarding political appointments during the contested 1876 election aftermath.