Around 1918, opera singer Geraldine Farrar joined Treasury Secretary William G. McAdoo on a platform draped in American flags to help sell war bonds during World War I. A sign announcing that Farrar would sell bonds made clear that her name was part of the draw. The government regularly called on well-known performers to attract crowds and encourage people to invest in the war effort.
Liberty Loan Crowds
In 1917, thousands filled the grounds in Washington, D.C., for a Liberty Loan rally held to raise money for the First World War. From the platform, a federal official—likely Treasury Secretary William G. McAdoo—spoke to the crowd about buying war bonds to support American troops overseas. Large signs tracked loan totals, reminding everyone of the scale of the effort.