Documentary Released on the Anniversary of Reagan's Historic 1964 Speech: "A Time for Choosing"
FAIRFIELD, Conn.--27 October 2010-- As the Presenting Sponsor of the Ronald Reagan Centennial Celebration, GE released today a short film entitled "Rendezvous with Destiny: Reagan's Journey from GE to the White House". The film, released on the 46th anniversary of Reagan's historic speech "A Time for Choosing", is a documentary chronicling Reagan's rise from GE brand ambassador to the 40th President of the United States. It can be viewed here http://www.ge.com/reagan/. Narrated by MSNBC's Joe Scarborough, the film will also be permanently featured in the new GE Wing of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library when it opens in February, 2011.
Combining rare archival images with personal recollections of those who worked alongside President Reagan and covered him in the media -- from former Attorney General Ed Meese, Reagan speechwriter Ken Khachigian, and Mary Matalin to Tom Brokaw and Lou Cannon -- the documentary illustrates how Reagan's time at GE -- as host of a weekly GE television series to a traveling spokesman visiting GE plants and workers all across the country -- had a profound impact on his ideology, culminating in the 1964 speech that catapulted him to the national political stage.
GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt said, "GE is proud of its long relationship with President Reagan and how he inspired our employees over the years. We're grateful that such distinguished former advisors, biographers and journalists contributed the film. Reagan embodied GE's optimistic and innovative spirit, and later successfully carried those qualities with him to the White House. "
In his memoirs, President Reagan wrote of his time at GE, "Looking back now, I realize it wasn't a bad apprenticeship for someone who'd someday enter public life...the GE tours became almost a graduate course in political science."
From 1954 through 1962, Ronald Reagan worked for GE as host of a weekly television series, General Electric Theater, and traveled as a GE spokesman to 139 GE plants meeting more than 250,000 employees. As part of each episode, Reagan highlighted the work of these employees by promoting the latest GE that were transforming American homes with the era's emerging technologies. Reagan punctuated each spot with GE's tag line at the time: "Progress is Our Most Important Product."
Today, GE employs 150,000 American workers and is the 6th largest corporation in the world. Consistently lauded by outside sources such as BusinessWeek and FORTUNE magazines for principles considered core to President Reagan himself, GE has been ranked among the world's best companies for leaders, as one of Fast Company's most innovative, and as one of GI Jobs magazine's top military friendly employers while consistently scoring well as one of the best places to launch a career.
GE's participation as Presenting Sponsor of the Ronald Reagan Centennial Celebration includes:
- $10 Million in the form of cash, advertising and promotion to support the Ronald Reagan Centennial Celebration, including funds to support the completely transformed, state-of-the-art Museum at the Reagan Library that will be unveiled on February 5, 2011. This will include a new General Electric Theater that will focus on Reagan's career in radio, television, and film.
- An additional $5 million to the Reagan Presidential Foundation to launch and support the GE-Reagan Scholars Program, an effort that will begin in 2011 and that will provide 200 four-year college scholarships over the next decade to deserving students who embody the vision and values personified by President Reagan.
- A donation from GE/NBC Universal to the Reagan Foundation of 208 restored episodes of General Electric Theater in which Ronald Reagan hosted or appeared from 1954-1962. The episodes, many of which were thought to be lost and some of which were damaged, were recently uncovered and restored to broadcast quality for purposes of the renovated Reagan Museum.
- An ad campaign and interactive Internet presence located at http://www.ge.com/reagan/ to promote the Centennial and honor President Reagan's service to our nation and time with GE. TV, radio and print advertisements in support of the Centennial that will remind audiences of Reagan's optimistic spirit as well as his legacy at both GE and as President can be found on this site.
- A series of public affairs lectures with Reagan-era luminaries that will focus on President Reagan's legacy and qualities as a leader. The events will take place at venues around the country with details to be announced in the coming months.
About GE:
GE (NYSE: GE) is a diversified infrastructure, finance and media company taking on the world's toughest challenges. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, medical imaging, and television programming, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.ge.com.
Megan (Parker) Newhouse
GE Corporate
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1-203-414-1257