Life, 1929-05-03 · page 43 of 44
Life — May 3, 1929 — page 43: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **Packard automobile advertisement**, not political satire. It uses the Monroe Doctrine—America's 1823 policy of independent action free from foreign interference—as a rhetorical parallel to justify Packard's corporate independence and market dominance. The ad's historical photograph shows James Monroe and his cabinet formulating the doctrine. The comparison argues that Packard's 30-year refusal of "entangling alliances" (partnerships, interference) has resulted in automotive supremacy, mirroring how Monroe Doctrine independence supposedly benefited America. The tagline "Ask the man who owns one" was Packard's actual advertising slogan. The car image below showcases their luxury sedan. **The point**: Packard equates corporate independence with patriotic American values, suggesting that buying their car supports American self-determination—a nationalist marketing strategy typical of early 20th-century luxury brands.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
PACKAR James Monroe, in his fa- mous doctrine, formulated America's policy of inde- pendent action ai ree from outside interference. From its inception the Packard company has been independent — free to follow its own policies in seeking its chosen destiny. In 30 years there have been no entan- gling alliances—there has been no in- terference from outside influence, no change of purpose. And Packard's world-supremacy is the result. Packard has achieved for its product an outstanding and unchallenged leadership in the fine car field. This has been its sole aim, The beauty and originality ASK THE MAN of Packard design, the superiority of Packard engineering, the superb per- formance of Packard cars could only be achieved through such singleness of purpose. That Packard independence of policy and action will continue, that Packard has the means and the intention to re- main supreme, is assured by its chief executive: “We have made our own way from the beginning. We have created a position for ourselves and a reputation that is distinctive and unique. We do not intend to surrender either.” WHO OWNS ONE comicbooks.com