Willian Jennings Bryan, campaigning for President Wilson, as a private citizen, in 1916 (after having resigned as Wilson's Secretary of State). He stands in a car decorated with patriotic bunting and an American flag, in front of modest house in a rural area. Bryan is accompanied by several associates. A popular Wilson campaign photograph (coming loose at the top) is attached to the car door . The writing under Wilson's picture is not legible. As Bryan sits down in the car, his wife, Mary, is seen next to him. (She had been blocked from the camera while he stood.) The car drives away. In complete change of scene, a crowd is seen completely filling the lawn and grounds of "Shadow Lawn," President Wilson's Summer White House, at Long Branch, New Jersey. They have come to celebrate his renomination as Democratic candidate for President. Camera pans over the crowd. Next, President Wilson is seen standing on a step in the center of the garden, acknowledging and accepting the nomination.
May Day celebrations in the "9th of September Square" in Sofia, Bulgaria. Marching troops of workers, men and women, and troops of children through the streets of the capital. The marching troops carry with them the posters of their leaders, including the late Georgi Dimitrov. They cheer and express their respect for the Soviet Union. Members of the Government and political leaders, including Vulko Chervenkov, are saluted by the marching people and troops.
Political scenario in Europe prior to World War I. King Ferdinand I in Bulgaria. The King in conversation with officials and dignitaries.
Variety of events in World War I years. German merchant submarine Deutschland (a British blockade buster) in 1916 in the United States (then neutral), departing New London, Connecticut on November 21, 1916 headed back to Germany carrying silver bullion. The submarine had just completed repairs following a collision with the tugboat T.A. Scott Jr. when first attempting to leave New London on November 16, 1916. The North German Lloyd Shipping Company submarine Deutschland is seen leaving the dock at New London, Connecticut. The officers on the submarine Deutschland wave. Periscope of submerged submarine is seen slicing through calm water. Sailor on an Italian destroyer blows general quarters call on bugle. Another sailor brings a telescope on deck. Next, crew members fire their deck gun at periscope in the water. Change of scene the shows the destroyer making way, leaving visible wake, astern, as crew members load and fire depth charges from the ship's stern. View of a submarine underwater. Exploding depth charges raise huge columns of water. Underwater view of submarine shows columns of bubbles nearby. View of Austro-Hungarian Battleship SMS Szent Istvan (Saint Stephen), capsizing and rolling after it is torpedoed off the Dalmation Coast of the Adriatic Sea by Italian torpedo boats on June 10, 1918. Survivors being rescued in small boats. View of a merchant vessel at dock and in a harbor. View of survivors of the May 1915 Lusitania disaster, with belongings, arriving in a harbor. Men and women with children posing. Two small girls pose among the group of Lusitania survivors.
Citizens of Sofia, Bulgaria gather to sign the letter of appreciation to Joseph Stalin for liberating them from German occupation in World War 2. A man on a stage reading the letter in front of a gathering of working men, some who appear to be miners. The man on stage is flanked by pictures of Stalin and Lenin as he addresses the crowd of industrial workers. Next a gathering of women workers is seen at an indoor rally, with a woman leading a cheer for Stalin. The women applaud. A group of men and women workers wait in line to sign a registry with notes of appreciation. In another gathering, men in suits, possibly government officials, are seen signing a registry. Stacks of registry books are shown.
Adolf Hitler and key members of his government at a railroad station, as a steam train arrives. As they step from the train, Tsar Boris III, of Bulgaria, and a professor, accompanying him, are greeted by Adolf Hitler, who then introduces the Tsar to German Foreign Minister, Rudolph von Ribbentrop, The Tsar greets other German officers and officials.