Cadillac - The Penalty of Leadership (1915)
Advertising was referred to as the handmaiden of business.
We were to write as if we have respect & sincerity for our readers in a high minded & positive manner.
The ad was written in response to defects discovered in the new cadillac. The copy states that 'in every field, a man's work becomes a standard for the whole world, it also becomes a target of criticisms of the envious few'. If his/her work be mediocre, he will be left alone but if he creates a 'masterpiece' then others may seek to appreciate or depreciate. This is nothing new. The leader must remain a leader and live on continuing the 'stamp of genius'.
This ad was a huge success despite critics saying that it was mostly 'fluff'. Cadillac salespeople requested copies for themselves as well as their customers. According to Advertising Age (1998), this campaign is ranked 49th out of the top 100 ad campaigns of all times.
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