A Vision Associates Production, “Governor: A Report on High Political Office” (1964) is a black-and-white educational film distributed by McGraw-Hill Text Films. Narrated by Alexander Scourby, the film depicts the typical day to day activities and broad administrative and ceremonial responsibilities that comprise the office of governor of any state in the Union by following Democrat Massachusetts Governor Endicott Peabody. (Note: This film did not help his career; Peabody only served one term in office from 1963 to 1965.)

Opening text (0:06). Montage portraits, photos presidents/statesmen that were once governors: Thomas Jefferson portrait by Rembrandt Peale (0:30). James Monroe portrait by John Vanderlyn (0:33). Photo Theodore Roosevelt laughing (0:33). Photo Franklin D. Roosevelt (0:34). Photo Adlai E. Stevenson (0:39). Photo Herbert H. Lehman (0:39). Still image Massachusetts Governor Endicott Peabody turns into live action footage (0:41). Opening credits roll over various scenes of Peabody at work (0:56). Peabody exits colonial style home and is saluted by police escort before getting into 1960s Cadillac Limousine; close-up license plate that reads “Governor” and features Massachusetts state emblem (1:35). Custom House Tower seen in distance from highway as cars edge closer to Boston (1:54). Massachusetts State House (1:56). Governor Peabody enters office and is greeted by staffers and advisors, sits at desk and they jump into work; narrator details Peabody’s biography (2:00). Governor on phone convincing politicians to pass through new legislature bill House 3000 pertaining to Governor’s Council (3:14). Peabody receives local business leaders in conference room, one of many economic conferences hosted by the governor in effort to curb poverty and stimulate Massachusetts economy (4:29). Flash of press cameras, constituents crowd hallway of state house as Peabody ushered through he stops to greet constituents (5:20). Peabody in conference room meets with veteran of John F. Kennedy’s Peace Corps program John C. Cort, discuss launch of Commonwealth Service Corps (5:43). Peabody sits with advisors at desk going through recent legislation, Peabody goes through facts and details before signing legislation into law (7:04). Peabody, executive staff sit in conference room at long oak table discussing details of Bill House 3000; camera pans faces of executive staff members sitting around table (8:25). Peabody sits with representatives of League of Women Voters appealing for citizen support of his bill; narrator reads quote on democracy by Swedish author, economist Gunnar Myrdal (9:33). Governor and aide go over documents in back of town car (11:00). Peabody presents to room of supporters in formal dining hall, walks with elderly residents grounds of John F. Kennedy Apartments for the elderly, those on Medicare (11:12). Peabody meets with Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara at Massachusetts State House (14:22). Governor and police escort pull into parking lot of Fenway Park, bleachers filled with spectators, baseball diamond crowded with press, statesman as Peabody opens Red Sox 1965 baseball season (15:05). Peabody sits with an aide and secretary as they go through letters, governor dictates message and secretary writes out letter (16:39). Peabody and aids get into helicopter (18:00). Peabody shakes hands with truck drivers, workers at commercial depo issue of parking between freight trucks, personal cars (18:26). Beechmore 1950s cargo ship at port (19:38). POV from inside governor’s car driving through traffic, Peabody and statesmen seen discussing issues in back of vehicle (19:57). Peabody sits for press conference on on defeat of the bill and re-election campaign, camera pans room of journalists, perhaps Auricon 1950s 16mm NBC news camera pointed at governor (21:55). Peabody meets with advisors at home before sitting for tea with wife (Barbara Welch Gibbons) and parents, porcelain tea sets decorate colonial-style sitting room with large fireplace (24:30). Band plays live music as governor takes to stage at political banquet honoring the Governor at Statler Hotel Boston (Boston Park Plaza); various other statesmen take to stage (25:43). Peabody and Ted Kennedy have sidebar conversation (26:56). Freeze frame of Peabody’s profile while sitting in governor’s office, closing credits play (28:18).

This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com