Competitive Enterprise Institute documentary selected for Anthem Libertarian Film Festival, begins streaming on SalemNow May 7

Today, the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) is proud to announce the release of a special documentary project, Dear Mr. President: The Letters of Julia Sand. The documentary will be featured in Anthem Libertarian Film Festival as part of Freedom Fest June 11 and will begin streaming on Salem Media’s SalemNow platform May 7. Additional film festivals, screening tour opportunities, and other ways to see the film are forthcoming.

The documentary tells the story of Chester Arthur who, following the assassination of President James Garfield in 1881, was faced with the daunting task of becoming president. Arthur also faced backlash for being a beneficiary of the spoils system, a system for corrupt appointments to secure government jobs. And based on the tragic circumstances of Garfield’s assassination, Arthur was even suspected by many of being part of the plot to kill the president.

Arthur had not only supported the spoils system but owed his entire career in government to the corruption of the New York political machine. No one expected anything different from Arthur’s presidency – except for one person. A New Yorker named Julia Sand believed Arthur could become something better and began to write to the newly ascended president. Through 23 letters, Sand implored Arthur to forgo his corrupt machinations, become the leader the country deserved, and champion Civil Service Reform.

At a fragile moment in American history, the letters of an everyday citizen challenged a corrupt president to smash the bureaucratic system that brought him to power.

“As individual citizens, we often feel voiceless when it comes to government reform,” said documentary creator and CEI Media Production Manager Destry Edwards. “We may not have the connections or the influence that seem necessary to confront the problems of our nation’s bloated bureaucracy. Yet we can see in our history that an individual citizen really can make a difference for the good of the nation.”

“Dear Mr. President: The Letters of Julia Sand tells the incredible true story of corrupt Chester Arthur’s dramatic and unintentional rise to the presidency – and how an everyday citizen encouraged him to become a champion of government reform,” Edwards said.

• For more information on the film and to sign up for screening tour updates, visit CEI.org.
• If you are interested in partnering with us to host a screening, please email [email protected].
• WATCH the trailer on YouTube or SalemNow.
• Read Julia Sand’s letters on CEI.org.