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Auction: 284 - Bond, Share & Americana Mailbid & Internet Exclusive
Lot: 1147

Birth of a Nation: Outstanding one-page Program announcing "By courtesy of the President [Woodrow Wilson] D.W. Griffith / presents / to the / Chief Magistrate and his Cabinet / in a special private view / His Epic Production / The Birth of a Nation / founded on / Thomas Dixon´s Historical Novel / The Clansman" in the East Room of the White House on February 18, 1915. With gilt Presidential Seal. In about fine condition. These were printed up by Thomas Dixon, who wrote the book on which the controversial film was based, The Clansman. It was through his connection to Wilson--they had been friends when Wilson was studying for his PhD at Johns Hopkins--that the screening was arranged. Wilson is often credited as saying after this screening that the film was "like writing history with lightning," though it has been argued that the quote was written by Dixon himself, who made much of the film´s supposed executive endorsement Estimate US$ 75-100

Sold for
$240