Life — February 11, 1926 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is primarily a **Packard automobile advertisement**, not political satire. The page uses diplomatic prestige to market luxury cars. The ad's central conceit: prominent diplomats representing the U.S. at foreign courts have chosen Packard vehicles, suggesting that ambassadors—people whose mission requires maintaining national dignity—would select Packards as "keeping with the importance of their missions." Specific references include Packard Six automobiles appearing at the Court of Saint James's (Britain) and Packard Eight at the Palais de l'Élysée (France's presidential palace). The illustration shows an elegant sedan outside a grand governmental building. The tagline "Ask The Man Who Owns One" was Packard's famous slogan. This leverages diplomatic authority to imply the brand embodies "beauty, distinction and dependability."