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Washington, D.C. Premiere of Summoned: Frances Perkins and the General Welfare
  • Date: Saturday, October 26, 2019
  • Time: 7:00 pm
  • Location: William G. McGowan Theater

In the depths of the Great Depression, Franklin Roosevelt appointed Frances Perkins as the first woman to serve in the Presidential Cabinet. Against overwhelming odds, she became the driving force behind Social Security, the 40-hour work week, the eight‐ hour day, minimum wage and unemployment compensation. Summoned: Frances Perkins and the General Welfare features compelling interviews with David Brooks, Nancy Pelosi, Amy Klobuchar, Lawrence O’Donnell, and others while telling Perkins’ heroic story which explores the history of women in politics, Social Security, our attitudes toward immigration, poverty, Socialism, and the role of government. Following the screening, producer Mick Caouette will be joined by Dr. Christopher Breiseth, past president and CEO of the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, to discuss the film and answer audience questions.

Presented in conjunction with our exhibition: Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote. Rightfully Hers is made possible in part by the National Archives Foundation through the generous support of Unilever, Pivotal Ventures, Carl M. Freeman Foundation in honor of Virginia Allen Freeman, AARP, AT&T, Ford Motor Company Fund, Facebook, Barbara Lee Family Foundation Fund at the Boston Foundation, Google, HISTORY ®, and Jacqueline B. Mars. Additional support for National Outreach and Programs provided by Denise Gwyn Ferguson, BMO Financial Group, Hearst Foundations, Maris S. Cuneo Foundation, FedEx, Bernstein Family Foundation, and The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation/Ambassador Fay-Hartog Levin (Ret.).

All public programs at the National Archives are free. Reservations are recommended; seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. The doors to the building will open 45 minutes prior to the start of the program – please arrive no later than 15 minutes prior to the start of the program. Your seat may become available to any waitlisted guests at that time. Use the Special Events entrance on the corner of Constitution Avenue and 7th Street, NW. Click here for more information on getting to the National Archives and parking.

Live captioning will be available online and in the William G. McGowan Theater. If you require an alternative or additional accommodation for an event (such as a downloadable transcript or a sign language interpreter), please send an email to public.program@nara.gov or call 202.357.5000 in advance.

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