Judge — March 9, 1901 — page 2: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Williams' Shaving Soap Advertisement This is primarily a **product advertisement**, not political satire. It uses patriotic imagery to sell shaving soap. The ad features two portrait medallions labeled "Martin Van Buren" (left) and "William Kinley" (right), positioned around text claiming "The Leader Through 20 Administrations" and "60 Years." The headline claims that nearly every U.S. President has used Williams' Shaving Soap, suggesting the product's longevity and prestige. The satirical hook—"If You Aspire to be President, SHAVE!"—humorously implies that proper grooming with their soap is essential to presidential success. This conflates personal hygiene with political ambition, a playful exaggeration typical of period advertising. The company, J.B. Williams, based in Glastonbury, Connecticut, lists various soap products and prices.