In July 1984 the Corcoran Gallery of Art exhibited a retrospective of Clifford Berryman political cartoons.

Among the 37 cartoons on display was one that appeared on the front page of The Washington Post on November 16, 1902. It depicted President Theodore Roosevelt. Even though he had spent days of hunting in the swamp of Smedes, Miss., without killing a bear, Roosevelt refused this one.

The teddy bear moved in and out of Berryman's cartoons for the remainder of his career. He added Uncle Sam - often picturing him cavorting with the bear cub.

After 16 years of drawing for The Post, Berryman moved to the Baltimore Evening Star, where for years he drew a cartoon a day, seven days a week. He knew all the presidents he drew. He was restrained in depicting them, tweaking rather than goring them. Even Harry S. Truman praised him as being "a Washington institution comparable to the Monument."

Berryman died in 1949, having drawn more than 15,000 cartoons.

LESSON IDEAS

1. Locate copies of the first Berryman teddy bear with Theodore Roosevelt cartoon. Discuss how the bear is represented. What qualities of Roosevelt are depicted?

2. Research the representation of Uncle Sam in the works of different editorial cartoonists.

3. Research the design and manufacture of the first teddy bears.

4. Have other presidents had items marketed bearing their likenesses? Research campaign memorabilia and White House regulations concerning the image of the president used for profit.