ABSTRACT
America's declaration of war on Germany and the creation of the first large-scale, coordinated propaganda initiative in the nation's history, Woodrow Wilson's administration moved to more strategically engage the medium and formalize its connections to the commercial industry. Film's anticipated role in the war effort was highly publicized and frequently the topic of discussion in news periodicals and the trade press. Filmmakers continued to see the attraction of a moving-image record of Wilson as he took office in the White House. Wilson himself expressed a keen interest in viewing the film and was pleased by its wide circulation. Motion Picture Magazine noted how Wilson's strong newsreel presence had made him an established photoplayer. The election sensitized Wilson to the captivating new medium, the president and his administration would become increasingly interested in film's place within public life and the place of topical issues within motion pictures.
