Beschreibung:

Painted, appliqued, and embroidered textile featuring a depiction of a sly looking "Billy Possum" at center, composed of faux fur, with a long, painted tail, seated on a tree branch painted brown with stitched details. With the following phrase stitched above: If You Wish Good Luck and Cheer / Stroke My Back From Tail to Ear, with TAFT spelled out below in red, but also used as an acronym for the slogan Try And Find it True. 18.5 x 18.75 in., framed, 20.25 in. sq. William Howard Taft, who was Theodore Roosevelt's preferred Presidential successor in 1908, was a reserved and conservative candidate in contrast with Roosevelt, who was extremely outgoing. Up until 1909, Taft gave political humorists and cartoonists little to work with, but this all changed when he attended a dinner in Georgia where he was served possum. He was quoted on that evening in early 1909 as saying that he was "for possum, first, last, and all the time." This statement took on a life of its own, leading to the birth of "Billy Possum." Cartoonists portrayed Taft as a possum, and the character also appeared on a variety of toys, china, campaign pins and other printed campaign ephemera. Provenance: Jim and Pat Gifford Collection of Political Americana Condition: Few nicks in frame.